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(Image Credit: The Canadian Press)
By Ian Gustafson
New drivers licenses/ ID cards

Albertans can now obtain new ID cards that replace provincial health cards

Jul 2, 2026 | 12:53 PM

Albertans can now obtain their new driver’s licenses or ID cards as the province introduces its new, redesigned cards.

As reported a month ago, the province has rolled out the new cars as of July 2 that includes a Canadian citizenship identifier and the driver’s personal health number.

“The new cards have enhanced security features and a modern design that celebrates Alberta’s landscape and identity,” the province wrote in a media release. “The integration of personal health numbers on the cards will improve convenience for Albertans by eliminating the need to carry a separate paper health card.”

The province said the new design features the Three Sisters mountain range near Canmore, along with Alberta’s provincial animal and fish, the bighorn sheep and the bull trout.

The cards also include security features that make them more secure and reliable.

When heading to the registry to apply for or renew a driver’s license, Albertans will need valid identification, proof of legal entitlement to be in Canada such as a passport or birth certiifcate, and an Alberta health card.

Residents will be able to obtain the new card at no additional cost.

All Albertans will need to confirm their legal presence in person at a registry agent, and as a result, a “CAN” marker will be added to the top right corner of the card.

The province explained that eligible non-citizens can still obtain a driver’s licence or ID card.

Meanwhile, in a statement by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta, they offered guidance to Albertans.

Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod said the OIPC has developed guidance to enhance protection of Albertans’ personal information and to assist entities that will collect the information on new driver’s licences and identification (ID) cards.

“These changes will create new risks for the added personal information on these documents,” McLeod said. “Because of this, my office has developed three separate guidance documents to help mitigate these risks. One guidance document is tailored for the public and provides background information and advice to help them protect the information that will now be displayed on their new driver’s licences and ID cards. The other two guidance documents were developed with private sector organizations and public bodies in mind. They will inform these two types of entities about the rules in Alberta’s privacy laws regarding the collection of the additional information now included on driver’s licences and ID cards.”

She encourages Albertans to review the three separate guidance documents, available on the OIPC website, including guidance for the public, organizations, and public bodies regarding the changes.

She said the changes to driver’s licences and ID cards are enabled by amendments to legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA). The HIA now permits a “person” to collect a PHN in certain circumstances when the primary purpose of the collection is not to collect the PHN.

“I encourage Albertans to review this guidance to gain a better understanding of how to protect the new information added to their driver’s licences or ID cards when interacting with public and private sector entities,” added McLeod. “I also encourage public bodies and private sector organizations to review the guidance relevant to them, in order to minimize the risk of over-collecting the personal information appearing on these documents, particularly citizenship information and personal health numbers.”

by Ian Gustafson