Acceptable identification needed to open a personal bank account

To open a personal bank account, you'll need to provide one piece of valid, original and not substantially defaced government-issued photo identification from the following Acceptable Identification List:

Acceptable Identification:

  • A driver's license issued in Canada, as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law. In Quebec, this can only be used if you volunteer it when asked for identification. In British Columbia, a BC Services Card may indicate it is a Services Card and a driver's license; either a standalone BC Service Card or a combined BC Driver's License and Services Card can be accepted
  • A Canadian passport
  • A NEXUS card
  • A CANPASS Air membership card issued by Canada Border Services Agency
  • A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or a Certification of Naturalization, in the form of a card but not a commemorative issue
  • A Canadian Permanent Resident card
  • A Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
  • A provincial or territorial health insurance card, as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law. This form of identification is not valid in Ontario, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island or Yukon. In Quebec, this can only be used if you volunteer it when asked for identification. In British Columbia, a BC Services Card may indicate it is both a Services Card and a driver's license; either a standalone BC Service Card or a combined BC Driver's License and Services Card can be accepted
  • An Ontario Photo Card issued by the Government of Ontario
  • A document or card, bearing your photograph and signature, issued by any of the following authorities or their successors:
    • Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
    • Alberta Registries
    • Saskatchewan Government Insurance
    • Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
    • Department of Transportation and Public Works of the Province of Prince Edward Island
    • Service New Brunswick
    • Department of Government Services and Lands of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Department of Transportation of the Northwest Territories
    • Department of Community Government and Transportation of the Territory of Nunavut
  • A Government of Canada employee ID card with your name and photograph
  • A Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPIC) card
  • A Yukon General ID Card
  • A Canadian Firearms Licence
  • A Provincial or Federal Police force ID card
  • A Canadian Forces ID Card
  • A Correctional Services Canada ID card
  • A United States Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
  • A United States Certificate of Citizenship
  • A United States Certificate of Naturalization
  • A United States driver's licence
  • A United Kingdom driver's licence
  • An eligible foreign passport

Note: If you can't provide at least one piece of identification from the Acceptable Identification List above, you can provide 2 identification documents from the Identification Documents below; one must show your name and date of birth, and the other must show your name and address.

Your account may be set-up with limited Access to Deposited Funds Limits and CIBC Overdraft Protection Service will not be available to you.

Identification Documents List

  • A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or a Certification of Naturalization, in the form of a paper document but not a commemorative issue
  • Citizenship and Immigration Canada Form IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292 or IMM 5688
  • A health card without photo issued by a province or territory — excluding Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Yukon
  • A birth certificate issued in Canada
  • Recent notices of tax assessments issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province, territory or municipality
  • Recent statements of benefits from the Government of Canada or the government of a province or territory
  • Recent Canadian public utility bills
  • Recent bank account or credit card statements
  • An eligible foreign passport

You can also present one piece of identification from the Identification Documents List above that shows your name and date of birth, if your identity can be confirmed by a client in good standing with CIBC, or an individual in good standing in the community in which the banking centre is located. The individual in good standing in the community may be required to present identification in accordance with the above.

For more information on Opening a Personal Bank Account, talk to a CIBC advisor or review Personal Account Service Fees (PDF, 210 KB) Opens in a new window..