How to confirm registration under the Indian Act as a service provider or retailer
Find out what you need to know about status cards and the Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document as a service provider or retailer.
Are you a First Nations person?
Our Indian Status page offers helpful information about registration under the Indian Act, status card applications, the Indian Register, and First Nations membership or citizenship.
Note
Proof of registration documents need to be renewed but registration under the Indian Act doesn't.
On this page
Verify a status document quickly
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provides 3 ways to help:
- To confirm a Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) (automated):
By phone: 1-877-VALIDE8 (1-877-825-4338)
This line is fully automated and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You will receive an immediate response but cannot speak with an agent. - To speak with an agent about a Certificate of Indian Status (laminated card) or Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document:
By phone: 1-800-567-9604 (option 6)
Available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM (Eastern Time)
To validate any type of status document by email:
sc_mc@sac-isc.gc.ca
Do not send the registered person’s information by email. Provide us with:
- your name
- the name of the service provider or retailer
- phone number where we can call you back during business hours
Examples of proof of registration documents
The Secure Certificate of Indian Status, or secure status card, and the Certificate of Indian Status, or laminated status card, and the Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document are all issued to confirm registration under the Indian Act.
Note
Status cards are considered official, federally-issued identification.
Even if the proof of registration is past the renewal date, the holder remains registered and retains the rights and benefits of a registered person.
Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS)
The Secure Certificate of Indian Status, or secure status card, issued centrally by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
SECURE CERTIFICATE OF INDIAN STATUS (SCIS)
The SCIS has a number of security features:
- laser-engraved information burned directly into the card
- raised letters and numbers on the surface
- patterns of extremely fine lines not easily scanned or copied
- ultra-violet imaging and printing visible with special equipment
- secondary photo image of the cardholder visible from both sides of the card
- toll-free number to call to confirm card is valid
- machine-readable zone to facilitate crossing the Canada–U.S. border
Since February 2019, all new and renewed secure status cards are being issued with a machine-readable zone on the back of the card.
Older versions of the status card
Even if a card is past the renewal date or does not have a machine-readable zone, the individual is still registered, and their registration number remains valid.
EXAMPLE OF SCIS
Note
All cards shown may still be in circulation. Due to screen display resolutions, the colours of the images on this page may differ from those of the actual cards.
If you're not sure about the validity of a SCIS, call the automated verification service at 1-877-VALIDE8 (1-877-825-4338), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will receive an immediate response.
You can also send your name, the name of the service provider or retailer and phone number by email and we will call you back during business hours: sc_mc@sac-isc.gc.ca.
If you're not sure if the document is valid, return it to the client and ask them to contact their First Nations office or Indigenous Services Canada by calling 1-800-567-9604 or by visiting a regional office.
Certificate of Indian Status (CIS)
The Certificate of Indian Status, also known as laminated paper status card, is issued in some First Nations offices.
CERTIFICATE OF INDIAN STATUS (CIS)
To help reduce fraudulent reproduction, new security features have been added to the card.
Security features added to the Certificate of Indian Status
The updated version has a number of security features, including:
- micro text below the header
- secure holographic foil in the header
- a watermark visible when a light is cast through the card
- visible and invisible fibers that can be detected both with the naked eye and a UV light
- chemically reactive agents visible when a chemical alteration is attempted
Older versions of the status card
All previously issued versions of the status card are valid until the renewal date on the card.
There are some laminated paper status cards with no renewal date. Those cards also remain valid.
EXAMPLE OF CIS
Note
All cards shown are in circulation. Due to screen display resolutions, the colours of the images on this page may differ from those of the actual cards.
If you're not sure about the validity of a CIS, contact Indigenous Services Canada at 1-800-567-9604 option 6. This service is available Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 6 PM (Eastern Time).
You can also send your name, the name of the service provider or retailer and phone number by email and we will call you back during business hours: sc_mc@sac-isc.gc.ca.
If you're not sure if the document is valid, return it to the client and ask them to contact their First Nations office or Indigenous Services Canada by calling 1-800-567-9604 or by visiting a regional office.
What other documents prove registration
Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document (TCRD) is a valid proof of registration.
TEMPORARY CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION DOCUMENT (TCRD)
A Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document (TCRD) is an official document issued by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) that confirms registration under the Indian Act.
TCRD allows access to benefits, rights, programs and services available to registered persons and is valid for 1 year for adults, children and dependent adults.
Registered persons may request a TCRD in situations where proof of registration is required, for example:
- during emergencies or natural disasters
- when a status card is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
You can accept the TCRD and may request an additional piece of identification.
Note
To verify the authenticity of a TCRD, you need an original to look for the embossed seal and signature at the bottom of the document.
To find out more about the TCRD, visit About the Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document.
EXAMPLE OF TCRD
Description of the Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document
- the ISC letterhead, upper-left corner
- an expiry date (1 year after issue date)
- the raised seal of the Indian Registrar, lower-right side
- the Canada logo with a red flag, lower-right corner
If you're not sure about the validity of a TCRD, please contact Indigenous Services Canada at 1-800-567-9604 option 6. This service is available Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 6 PM (Eastern Time).
You can also send your name, the name of the service provider or retailer and phone number by email and we will call you back during business hours: sc_mc@sac-isc.gc.ca.
If you're not sure if the document is valid, return it to the client and ask them to contact their First Nations office or Indigenous Services Canada by calling 1-800-567-9604 or by visiting a regional office.
How to tell whether the cardholder is exempt from taxation
Some individuals registered under the Indian Act and holding a recognized status document may be exempt from GST/HST in certain cases. For example, when buying goods or receiving services on a reserve.
For full details on eligibility and conditions, visit:
Secure Certificates of Indian Status that say "cardholder not eligible"
If a secure status card says "Cardholder is not eligible for sales/transaction tax exemption" on the back, the person may not qualify for GST/HST relief.
This usually applies when their First Nation has a self-government agreement that changes tax exemption rules. Some cardholders may still qualify if their First Nation has reinstated the exemption or if they have the required certification.
For more details, visit:
Service provider and retailer GST/HST obligations and entitlements
Service providers, retailers and other suppliers, on or off reserve, must register for GST/HST if their taxable sales exceed $30,000 a year. This includes sales to individuals registered under the Indian Act, bands and band-empowered entities when certain exemption conditions apply.
Once registered, you must collect GST/HST on taxable sales (unless exempt or zero-rated) and may claim input tax credits to recover GST/HST paid on business purchases.
To learn more, visit Canada Revenue Agency Guide RC4022 – General information for GST/HST registrants, including registration rules, collection requirements, and claiming input tax credits.
Publication
To order the brochure What does a status card look like?, email: sc_mc@sac-isc.gc.ca