How to Get or Renew Your Status Card (SCIS) — Step-by-Step
Everything you need to apply for or renew your Secure Certificate of Indian Status: the forms, the photos, the guarantor rules, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause delays.
Step 1: Figure out which application you need
If you're already registered under the Indian Act and just need a card (first card, renewal, or replacing a lost one), you apply for the Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) through Indigenous Services Canada. If you've never been registered, you apply for registration and the card together on one combined form.
Adults (16+) use the adult application; parents and guardians apply on behalf of children under 16. Forms are free to download from the Indigenous Services Canada website, and many band offices keep printed copies and can help you fill them out.
Step 2: Get your documents and photos right
You'll need proof of identity (like a birth certificate, driver's licence, or passport) and two identical passport-style photos that meet the photo rules — taken within the last 12 months, plain background, neutral expression. Photo mistakes are one of the most common reasons applications get sent back, so it's worth having them taken at a pharmacy or studio that knows passport standards.
Depending on how you apply, you may also need a guarantor — someone who has known you for at least two years and belongs to a group ISC accepts (like a registered status Indian, band employee, teacher, nurse, or police officer). The exact requirements depend on your situation, so check the current instructions on the Indigenous Services Canada website or ask your band office before you mail anything in.
Step 3: Submit and track your application
You can apply in person at some Indigenous Services Canada offices and participating band offices, or mail your application to the National SCIS Processing Unit. In-person applications are usually simpler because staff check your documents on the spot.
Processing typically takes several months, so renew early — you can renew up to one year before your card expires. If your card expires while you wait, your status and rights don't expire with it; the card is just proof of registration. Keep your receipt and any temporary confirmation of registration document, since many services will accept those in the meantime.
Lost or stolen card?
Report a lost or stolen SCIS to Indigenous Services Canada right away, then apply for a replacement using the same SCIS application. If you need proof of registration while you wait, you can request a Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document (TCRD) — most businesses and agencies that ask for your status card will accept it.
Quick checklist
- Download the SCIS form free from Indigenous Services Canada — or get one at your band office
- Two identical passport-style photos taken in the last 12 months
- Original or certified proof-of-identity documents
- Check ISC's current guarantor rules for your situation before mailing
- Renew up to 1 year before your card expires — processing takes months
- Your status doesn't expire when the card does
Common questions
How to get your status card
Does it cost anything to get a status card?
No. Applying for or renewing the SCIS is free. The only costs are your photos and any certified copies of documents.
My card is expired — do I lose my status or tax exemption?
No. Registration under the Indian Act doesn't expire — only the card does. That said, businesses and agencies may refuse an expired card as proof, so renew as early as you can and ask for a Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document if you need proof while waiting.
How long does it take to get the card?
Processing times vary, but plan for several months. In-person applications at an ISC office tend to move more smoothly because your documents are checked on the spot.
Can my band office help me apply?
Many band offices help members with SCIS applications, keep printed forms, and some can even accept applications. Call your band office first — it's often the fastest route.
Can I buy a vehicle tax-exempt while my new card is processing?
Possibly. Section 87/GST-HST relief is transaction-specific, and a Temporary Confirmation of Registration Document may be accepted as proof. Required proof, qualifying delivery, exceptions and self-government agreements must be reviewed, and final tax treatment must be confirmed before the sale.
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