How To Find Out If One Is A Registered Indian

How to apply for Indian status

Find out if you're entitled to be registered under the Indian Act and how to utilise.

COVID-nineteen-related updates

To find out if it's possible to utilize for registration in person, visit Phone call alee for in-person services.

To find out how to apply for COVID-19-related benefits, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Indigenous communities.

Recent changes

As of December 10, 2020, you tin can select a not-binary gender identifier on the application grade when applying for registration or a condition card: M (male person), F (female) or Ten (another gender).
On July 31, 2020, the Quebec Superior Court issued its conclusion in the case of Hele c. Attorney Full general of Canada (Hele determination), ruling that unmarried women could not be enfranchised under the 1951 Indian Act.
- If you were single or your mother or grandmother was unmarried and enfranchised by application as an adult betwixt September 4, 1951, and Apr 17, 1985, you may be affected by that decision.
- To notice out more nearly enfranchisement and the steps the Government of Canada is taking to address the Quebec Superior Courtroom'south decision, visit Addressing enfranchisement of unmarried women in registration.

Update on eliminating known sex-based inequities

Every bit of August fifteen, 2019, Pecker S-iii amendments addressed all known sex activity-based inequities in the registration provisions of the Indian Act. On Dec 11, 2020, the third and last study to Parliament on the review of Bill South-iii was tabled.

To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to ensure disinterestedness between the sexes in registration, visit Bill S-3: Eliminating known sex-based inequities in registration.

On this folio

Are you entitled to be registered nether the Indian Act
Have known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act affected your entitlement to registration
How do you apply for registration
What do you need to submit with the application for registration
- for an developed (16 or older)
- for a child (15 or younger) or dependent adult
Are y'all entitled to exist registered through a parent not listed on your proof of birth certificate
What other documents do you need to submit if you're adopted
Tin yous apply for someone else
Where can you submit the application
How are original documents returned
How long does it accept to be registered
What is the x-digit registration number
When exercise you become eligible for the Non-Insured Wellness Services plan
Tin can you protest the Registrar'southward decision

Are y'all entitled to exist registered nether the Indian Human activity

Entitlement to registration nether the Indian Human activity is based on the degree of descent from ancestors who are registered or entitled to be registered.

To find out if you lot're entitled to be registered, ask yourself:

Are either or both of my parents registered or entitled to be registered?
Are any of my grandparents registered or entitled to be registered?
Is anyone in my immediate or extended family registered or entitled to be registered?

You lot may exist entitled to be registered if:

at least one of your parents is registered or entitled to be registered under subsection half-dozen(1) of the Indian Act

both of your parents are registered or entitled to exist registered under subsection 6(1) or vi(two) of the Indian Act

Have known sexual activity-based inequities in the Indian Deed afflicted your entitlement to registration

Your or your ancestors' appointment of nascency and life events, such every bit marriages and divorces, may take affected your entitlement to registration.

Between 1985 and 2019, the Indian Act was amended to address sex-based inequities and comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

Pecker C-31 restored entitlement to women who had lost entitlement due to marriage to a not-entitled human, entitling their children to registration likewise
Bill C-iii granted entitlement to grandchildren of certain women who regained entitlement under Pecker C‑31
Neb Southward-3 eliminated all known sexual activity-based inequities non addressed by Bill C-31 or Pecker C-3, entitling all descendants born earlier April 17, 1985, or from a marriage that occurred before that date, of women who had lost their entitlement due to spousal relationship to a non-entitled human being

If your entitlement to registration has been affected past known sex-based inequities in the Indian Deed, you may now take the right to be registered if:

your female parent, grandmother or great-grandmother lost her entitlement through marriage to a non-entitled man before April 17, 1985

your mother, grandmother or peachy-grandmother was born outside of marriage to an entitled male parent and a not-entitled mother between September 4, 1951, and Apr sixteen, 1985

your parent, grandparent or corking-grandparent lost their entitlement because of their mother'due south marriage to a non-entitled homo before April 17, 1985

your parent'southward, grandparent'south or keen-grandparent'southward proper noun was omitted or deleted from the Indian Register or from a Commencement Nation membership listing because of their non-entitled father

To discover out more than, visit:

Bill S-iii: Eliminating known-sex based inequities in registration
Removal of the 1951 cut-off
How practise yous use for registration

call 1-844-280-5011

If y'all applied for registration earlier the Indian Act was amended

If you practical for registration before the Indian Deed was amended and your application is waiting to be processed, it will automatically exist processed based on the amended Indian Act. You don't need to reapply.

If you applied for registration before the Indian Act was amended and your application was denied, you lot need to reapply.

If you have questions near your application for registration, contact Public enquiries.

Alteration your registration category

If known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act have afflicted your entitlement to registration, your registration category may be amended.

To request a category amendment, you must submit a copy of valid acceptable identification as well equally a signed and dated written request with your name, registration number and mailing accost:

in person at
- whatsoever regional part
- any First Nation function, if applicable
by mail to
- Application Processing Unit
  Indigenous Services Canada
  Box 6700
  Winnipeg MB R3C 5R5

How exercise yous apply for registration

Step one: Go the application form

online
by post, by calling Public enquiries
in person, at any regional role
in person, at whatever Showtime Nation office, if applicable

Footstep 2: Find a guarantor, if necessary

You must notice a guarantor if:

applying by mail
submitting identification that doesn't encounter all of the requirements for valid acceptable identification
submitting an application in person on behalf of an adult or on behalf of a parent or legal guardian applying for a child or dependent developed
submitting a photo using the SCIS Photograph App

Find out who tin can act equally a guarantor.

Step iii: Fill out the application

Detailed instructions on filling out the application for adults (16 or older) and for children (15 or younger) or dependent adults are available online.

You must provide information well-nigh yourself, or the child or dependent adult, and ancestors, such as parents or grandparents, including :

legal proper name
date of nascence
Commencement Nation proper name
registration number, if applicable
contact information
adoption information, if applicative

If your parents are entitled to membership or citizenship with different Kickoff Nations, you may take a selection of Beginning Nation affiliation. Yous may cull which First Nation on the application class or submit a separate Beginning Nation choice statement.

If your Kickoff Nation controls its ain membership or citizenship, yous may need to use to the Kickoff Nation separately to become a member or citizen.

To help decide entitlement to registration, it's also helpful to provide:

the names of any relatives, such equally brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or cousins, who are registered or entitled to be registered
any relevant information that may help place them in records at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and link them to yous, the kid or dependent adult

If your or the kid or dependent developed'south parents or grandparents aren't registered, provide equally much data as possible about your First Nation ancestors or those of the child or dependent developed. ISC will research its records to determine entitlement to registration. Any relevant information provided will help speed up that enquiry. In circuitous cases, ISC may contact you for more information.

To research family unit genealogy, visit Indigenous genealogy.

Betoken if yous wish to receive a Secure Document of Indian Status, or secure status card, when filling out the application.

If you don't submit photos with the awarding, y'all or the child or dependent adult will be registered if entitled, but a secure status card won't exist issued. You can always apply for a condition card after.

Footstep 4: Sign and date the awarding

Before submitting the application, make sure you've:

filled out all relevant sections, including the checklist
signed and dated the grade
included all necessary documents
included photos if likewise applying for a secure status card
included a guarantor declaration, if necessary

If the application is for a kid or dependent adult, all parents listed on the proof of nascency document, or all custodial parents or legal guardians listed on the legal documents, must sign the form.

Step 5: Submit the application

To avert delays in processing the application, you must submit all necessary documents, including the checklist, with the complete application form.

What do you need to submit with the application for registration

For an developed (16 or older)

You must submit:

a consummate awarding for registration for adults (16 or older)
an original proof of birth certificate with parental information
- to get an original proof of nativity certificate, visit the Vital Statistics website from the province or territory where you were born
original valid acceptable identification or a re-create of the front and of the back of the identification, each copy signed and dated by a guarantor
a guarantor declaration, if necessary
if also applying for a secure status card, a digital photo using the SCIS Photograph App or 2 printed photos that meet the photo requirements

If the proper noun on the application form is dissimilar from the proper name on any of the other necessary documents, y'all must also submit:

an original legal name-linking document, such equally a change of proper noun certificate, a union certificate or a divorce order, that links the previous name with the current name

a copy of a legal name-linking document and a copy of valid acceptable identification with the name that is on the application grade

For a kid (15 or younger) or dependent developed

If applying for a child (xv or younger) or dependent adult

The applying parent, custodial parent or legal guardian must have the authority to human activity for the child or dependent adult in legal and financial matters.

You must submit:

a complete application for registration for children (15 or younger) or dependent adults
an original proof of birth document with parental data
- to get an original proof of nascence document, visit the Vital Statistics website from the province or territory where the child or dependent adult was born
original valid acceptable identification of the applying parent, custodial parent or legal guardian or a copy of the forepart and of the back of the identification, each copy signed and dated by a guarantor
for a kid (fifteen or younger), whatsoever legal documents granting custody or guardianship of the kid to the applying parent or legal guardian, if applicable
for a dependent adult, the guardianship order
a guarantor announcement, if necessary
if also applying for a secure status carte, a digital photo using the SCIS Photograph App or 2 printed photos that meet the photo requirements

If the kid or dependent adult'southward name on the awarding form is dissimilar from the name on the proof of birth certificate or legal documents, you lot must also submit:

an original legal name-linking document, such as a change of name certificate, that links the previous name with the current proper name

a copy of a legal proper noun-linking document and valid acceptable identification with the name that is on the application grade

If the name of the applying parent, custodial parent or legal guardian is dissimilar from the name on whatsoever of the other necessary documents, you must also submit:

a copy of a legal name-linking certificate, such as a modify of proper name document, marriage certificate or divorce order, that links the previous proper name with the electric current name

Are you entitled to be registered through a parent non listed on your proof of birth certificate

A proof of birth certificate listing the names of the parents is the main document needed to support entitlement to registration.

If i of the biological parents isn't listed on the proof of birth document but is registered or entitled to be registered, you tin can submit:

an original amended proof of birth certificate list the unstated parent's proper noun

statutory declarations, 1 from the parent listed on the proof of birth certificate naming the unstated parent and 1 from the unstated parent acknowledging parentage

a courtroom order declaring parentage

original Deoxyribonucleic acid testing results evaluated by a laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada demonstrating a conclusive parent-child relationship

If you tin't submit any of those documents, you may submit:

statutory declarations from family members, close relatives, Elders or community members
census records
church records
hospital records
schoolhouse records
ring council resolutions
Commencement Nation membership or citizenship listing
any other credible evidence

Response to the Gehl conclusion

In response to the Gehl decision, the Regime of Canada amended the Indian Human activity to include a new provision that addresses situations of unknown or unstated parentage.

What other documents practice y'all need to submit if yous're adopted

Applicants who were adopted as minors past registered or entitled to exist registered parents through a legal or custom adoption may be entitled to be registered.

A legal adoption is handled by the court and includes legal documents and an adoption society. If you lot or the child or dependent adult have or has been legally adopted, you must submit a complete application for registration and:

a copy of the adoption social club or a copy of a letter from the social services government confirming the details of the adoption
a consent form signed and dated by the adopted bidder or, in the case of a kid or dependent adult, past the adoptive parents or legal guardians, and so ISC can get data about biological ancestry from social services authorities involved in the adoption

Y'all can too submit a re-create of the pre-adoption birth document listing the biological parents' names, if available.

If adopted in British Columbia, yous'll need to fill out a consent form specific to that province.

A custom adoption is carried out following the First Nation's practices. Applicants need to submit additional documents to ostend the custom adoption.

To notice out what documents you demand to submit if you or the child or dependent adult were or was adopted through a custom adoption, contact ISC.

Contact ISC if adopted

To find out more nearly what other documents you lot demand to submit if yous're adopted and to get a consent course:

contact Public enquiries

write to
- Adoption Unit
  Indigenous Services Canada
  10 rue Wellington
  Gatineau QC K1A 0H4

Any data provided to ISC by social services government is received in confidence and exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the Privacy Deed. ISC doesn't release any identifying data well-nigh biological parents or ancestors.

Can y'all utilize for someone else

A third-party application is an awarding submitted in person by someone other than the applicant. For a kid or dependent adult, a third person is whatsoever person other than the parent, custodial parent or legal guardian.

When submitting a third-party awarding, you must submit:

a complete application for registration, signed past the applicant
a copy of the front and of the back of valid acceptable identification of the applicant, each copy signed and dated past a guarantor
a guarantor annunciation confirming the identity of the applicant
a signed statement from the bidder providing consent to submit the application through the third political party
original valid acceptable identification of the third party
if likewise applying for a secure status card, a digital photograph of the bidder using the SCIS Photo App or 2 printed photos that run into the photo requirements

Where tin can you lot submit the application

You can submit the awarding, including the checklist and all necessary documents:

at any regional office
at any Beginning Nation part, if applicable

by mail to
- National Processing Unit of measurement
  Ethnic Services Canada
  ten rue Wellington
  Gatineau QC K1A 0H4

If you lot've been afflicted by known sexual practice-based inequities in the Indian Act, you can submit the awarding, including the checklist and all necessary documents:

at any regional function
at whatever Beginning Nation part, if applicable

by mail to:
- Application Processing Unit of measurement
  Indigenous Services Canada
  Box 6700
  Winnipeg MB R3C 5R5

Before you go to any regional office or Showtime Nation office

Call ahead to:

discover out if the part near yous is open
make an appointment
confirm what documents you need to bring
find out what safety measures are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19

How are original documents returned

Original documents submitted, except for guarantor and statutory declarations, will be mailed to you inside i month after receiving the application.

Alter of address

Inform ISC of any change of address by contacting Public enquiries.

How long does it take to exist registered

If you or the kid or dependent adult are or is entitled to exist registered, y'all'll receive a alphabetic character confirming registration in half dozen to viii months.

In circuitous cases

ISC may contact you lot for more data. Processing time for a complex instance can take up to 2 years.

If yous've also applied for a secure condition carte du jour, you should receive it 8 to 12 weeks later on receiving the letter of confirmation.

What is the 10-digit registration number

The ten-digit registration number is a unique number used to confirm registration. The offset three digits of the number identify the Commencement Nation you are affiliated with:

If your Commencement Nation's membership is maintained by ISC, you automatically become a member of that First Nation
If your First Nation controls its ain membership or citizenship, you need to contact the First Nation to apply for membership or citizenship

The 10-digit registration number on the letter of confirmation is also on the front of the condition carte du jour.

If yous demand to ostend your registration number, you can go it from:

whatsoever regional office
your First Nation role
Public enquiries

You lot may exist asked for a slice of valid acceptable identification or to respond questions to verify your identity.

When practise you become eligible for the Non-Insured Health Benefits plan

The letter of confirmation establishing that you or the child or dependent adult are or is registered also confirms eligibility for certain benefits and rights.

Benefits for non-insured health services are bachelor on registration. Services received earlier tin't exist reimbursed.

Children less than 18 months whose parent is registered are eligible for the Not-Insured Health Benefits program.

Can you protest the Registrar'due south decision

If the Registrar determines that y'all or the child or dependent adult aren't or isn't entitled to be registered, yous'll receive a alphabetic character explaining why.

If you disagree with the Registrar'southward determination and wish to protestation, visit If you disagree with the Registrar's decision.