The Certificate of Indian Status (CIS), more commonly referred to as the Status card, is an identity document issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to confirm that the cardholder is registered as a Status Indian under the Indian Act. The Status card is provided to assist registered Indians in accessing a wide range of entitlements, programs and services administered by federal agencies, provincial governments and other private sector program and service providers. Annually, about 85,000 Status cards are issued and about 75,000 life events (such as births, deaths and marriages) are recorded in the Indian Registration System (IRS).

The security of the Status card has been questioned for a number of years due to concerns over forgery and counterfeiting. In 2001, INAC in partnership with the Treaty 7 First Nations of Alberta, created a pilot project to introduce a more secure Status card and issuance process. The pilot project has four phases: re-engineer the IRS, enhance the Certificate of Indian Status cards, deploy the re-engineered IRS and launch the SCIS nationally. The first three phases have been completed. The final phase of the project, national implementation, is to take place over a period of 5 years.

This new SCIS features several security improvements that significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized alterations or duplication. This helps to ensure the ongoing integrity of the programs and services by protecting them from fraud and identity theft. Status Indians will have easier access to the services and benefits they are eligible to receive since service providers will be more assured that these cards are legitimate.

The SCIS represents the Government of Canada's continued commitment to strengthening its relationship with First Nations individuals and organizations. All partners continue to work to address concerns around the current Status cards and the broader goal of improving their quality of life by ensuring that eligible individuals receive services and benefits quickly and efficiently.

What Information is Available?

• Frequently Asked Questions
• New Card Design
• Application Information
• Status Cards in the System
• Border Crossing