Like many offices, we require new clients to provide us with valid, government-issued photo ID of some kind. When I met with Clare (not her real name) in my Stittsville law office, she told me she no longer drives due to her recent loss of sight. She no longer has a driver’s licence and she has no other government ID.
For most clients, the usual form of ID is a driver’s licence. Like Clare, some of our clients do not have a driver’s licence either because they stopped driving due to a health issue or because they never had a driver’s license.
If that’s you, here’s what to do.
If you are a resident of Ontario, 16 or older, and do not drive, you can apply for an Ontario Photo Card issued by Service Ontario. At present, the fee is $35.The card looks very much like a driver’s license (credit card size) and fits easily in your wallet. If you have an Ontario driver’s license that expired less than a year ago, you can apply for an Ontario Photo Card using just your Ontario’s driver’s license.
Check the ServiceOntario website for a list of other forms of ID that can be used to satisfy identity requirements when applying for the Ontario Photo Card.
Of course, a passport is also acceptable as a form of photo ID. However, we find that most people don’t like carrying around a passport for fear of losing it and also because it isn’t easily tucked into a wallet. For some, the passport won’t be renewed before its expiry date as getting travel insurance is difficult or impossible. For others, physical limitations have made travel more challenging and less enjoyable than it once was.
Reproduction of this blog is permitted if the author is credited. If you have questions or if you would like more information, please call us at 613 836-9915. This blog is not intended to be legal advice but contains general information. Please consult a lawyer or other professional to determine how the information in this blog might apply to you.
Blog posts pre-dated December 1, 2015 were originally published under Neff Law Office Professional Corporation.
