Starting July 2, 2026, the Government of Alberta is making changes to driver’s licences and identification (ID) cards for Albertans and to the renewal process for these documents.
Driver’s licences and ID cards will display a Canadian citizenship marker for Alberta residents who are Canadian citizens and will be modernized for improved protection against identity fraud.
Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents with existing Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan coverage, who are renewing their driver’s licence or ID card or obtaining one for the first time, will have their Personal Health Number (PHN) added. This is a mandatory requirement.
Albertans will be required to go to a registry office to renew their driver’s licences and ID cards.
What does this mean for the privacy of this sensitive personal information?
Driver’s licences and ID cards are used for a variety of purposes. Having more information on these cards means that this additional personal information may be collected by those persons or bodies to whom you provide your driver’s licence or ID card, as may be required by law or where requested voluntarily for identification or other legitimate purposes.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta is responsible to monitor compliance with Health Information Act (HIA), the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), and the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA).
HIA applies to custodians, including your doctor and other health professionals, as well as larger health institutions, such as hospitals. PIPA applies to private sector organizations, such as law firms, retailers, liquor stores, and bars. POPA applies to public bodies, including government departments and law enforcement agencies.
Collection by custodians – HIA
Custodians are permitted to collect your personal health number to provide you with health services.
It is unlikely that a custodian would be permitted under the HIA to record the other information appearing on your driver’s licence or ID card, including your citizenship marker. This is because HIA restricts the type of health information that custodians can collect.
If a custodian makes a copy of your driver’s licence or ID card, you should ask what their authority is to collect all the information on the driver’s licence or ID card.
If you have concerns about unauthorized collection of the information on your driver’s licence or ID card, you should address your concern with the custodian.
If you are not satisfied with the custodian’s response, you may make a complaint to the OIPC.
Collection by private sector organizations – PIPA
Private sector organizations would not generally have authority under PIPA to make a copy of your driver’s licence or ID card, unless there is a legal requirement by this organization to collect this information in this manner. Instead, in most cases, individuals may display the driver’s licence or ID card to verify identity or age, without the need for a copy to be made.
PIPA limits what personal information an organization may collect. It is unlikely that an organization under PIPA would have authority to collect your personal health number or citizenship marker.
If an organization under PIPA asks to make a copy of your driver’s licence or your ID card, or makes a copy of these documents, ask them for their authority under PIPA to do this. If you have concerns about this, ask for the name of their privacy officer to discuss this authority. You may make a complaint to the privacy officer if you suspect non-compliance with PIPA for this practice.
If you are not satisfied with the organization’s response, you may make a complaint to the OIPC.
Collection by public bodies – POPA
Public bodies would only be permitted to make a copy of your driver’s licence or ID card if they are permitted to do so as part of delivering a program or service, or if authorized by law. Instead, in most cases, individuals may display the driver’s licence or ID card to verify identity or age, without the need for a copy to be made.
There are some programs and services of government that require you to prove your citizenship. A public body may be able to collect this information from your driver’s licence or ID card without taking a copy. It will depend on the program or service requirements. It is unlikely that a public body would have authority to collect your personal health number.
If a public body asks to make a copy of your driver’s licence or your ID card, or makes a copy of these documents, ask them for their authority under POPA to collect all the information on your driver’s licence or ID card. If you have concerns about this, ask for the name of their privacy officer to discuss this authority. You may make a complaint to the privacy officer if you suspect non-compliance with POPA for this practice.
If you are not satisfied with the public body’s response, you may make a complaint to the OIPC.
Additional steps you can take to protect your personal information on your driver’s licence or ID Card
Consider obscuring unnecessary information on your driver’s licence or ID card before a copy is made or the document is viewed. When doing this, take care not to damage the card.
Before a person makes a copy, ask the person to obscure unnecessary information so that only the information that is required from the card is copied.
You may also consider covering up certain personal information, such as your citizenship marker or your personal health number, prior to showing your driver’s licence or ID card to any person.
Things to remember
Take extra precautions when providing your driver’s licence or ID card when you are travelling outside of Alberta because Alberta’s privacy laws do not apply in this circumstance. However, other privacy laws may apply.
Alberta’s privacy laws do apply when you provide your driver’s licence or ID card while you are in Alberta to an organization operating outside of Alberta, such as may be the case for online activities.
July 2026
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