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All About ID Verification at Canada Post

Published Date
Author Ben Breitbart

To comply with Canadian Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, you may need to verify your identity, and can do so at a Canada Post location. You also have the option to verify your identity online digitally through Onfido. This verification is required by law to comply with Canadian anti-money laundering regulations and is also for your identity and credit protection.

Eligibility

This extra verification step applies to eligible primary cardholders only. If you’re an authorized user and your primary cardholder has been asked to complete this step, you’ll need to wait for that to be done before you can start using your card.

Verification steps with Canada Post

If you need to verify your identity, you’ll receive an email after you apply. This email will include a barcode and will ask you to visit a Canada Post location near you. Please remember to verify your identity as soon as possible. If you don’t receive the email within 24 hours, please contact us and we’ll re-send it to you.

Acceptable identification documents

Be sure to bring the following to the Canada post office with you:

  • The email you received, which includes the barcode
  • One of the following pieces of acceptable ID that is authentic (unaltered) and current (not expired):
    • Canadian driver's licence
    • Canadian passport
    • Certificate of Indian Status card
    • Permanent resident card
    • Canadian Forces identity card
    • Firearms Possession and Acquisition License
    • Provincial/territorial ID card (valid for all regions except Quebec)
    • Quebec health card (we can't ask you to provide a Quebec health card for identification purposes but can accept it if offered)

Card delivery

Canada Post will record your information and send it to us securely. Once we’ve verified your information, you should receive your card via regular mail in 7-10 business days. You’ll receive your PIN separately for security purposes.

If you choose not to provide the required information to verify your identity, Capital One will need to cancel your application.

My ID doesn’t have my address. Can I submit another document to show proof of residence?

If there’s no address listed on your ID, Canada Post will require you to show them proof of residence, such as one of the following documents:

  • Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions or Québec Pension Plan Statement of Participation
  • Major credit card statement with the related valid credit card
  • Your most recent income tax assessment
  • Bank statement
  • Government cheque or cheque stub with the person’s name and address
  • School, college, or university report card or transcript
  • Hotel confirmation (email, receipt, or invoice)
  • Statement of Employment Insurance benefits paid (T4E)
  • Residential lease (rental agreement lease), mortgage statement, or Agreement of Purchase and Sale
  • Canada Child Tax Benefit statement
  • Insurance policy
  • Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) or of Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4AP)
  • Vehicle ownership or insurance document
  • Statement of benefits from provincial Workplace Safety or Insurance Board
  • Municipal tax notice
  • Statement of direct deposit for Provincial Works or Provincial Disability Support Program
  • Recent utility bill (telephone, cable, hydro/power, gas, or water)
  • Attestation of residence issued by the responsible authorities (shelters, soup kitchens, student or senior residence, long-term care facilities, Indigenous reserves, work camps)
  • Private Post Office Box Rental Agreement (for example, a UPS Agreement)
  • Delivery Notice Card completed by Canada Post indicating the name and address (accepted for call for items only)