Verifying your identity creates greater confidence between you and our services. This functionality helps ensure that only authorized individuals have access to potentially sensitive corporate information and can perform certain actions, such as filing sensitive documents.
Identity verification is mandatory to access the majority of our services and can be done on your ISED Account profile by signing in through the Online Filing Centre. All users must verify their personal identity, including users utilizing their business’s bank account when creating their My ISED Account and registered intermediaries filing on behalf of a corporation.
How to verify your identity
Quick steps
Follow these quick steps to verify your identity through your ISED Account. Please note that there is no cost associated with the verification of your identity.
1
To access your ISED Account, visit the Online Filing Centre and click on Sign in at the top right of the screen.
2
In the top right corner of your screen, click on your name.
3
In the Profile box, select Update.
4
Under the yellow exclamation mark, click on Get started to verify your identity.
5
Verify your identity by selecting either of the Interac® verification methods or the in-person verification option at a Canada Post location.
Identity verification methods
If you are experiencing technical issues with verifying your identity using Interac verification methods, call Interac® Help Desk at 1-844-778-5409 or report a problem using their online form.
Interac® banking sign-in
You can verify your identity using Interac verification service, a safe and secure service that enables the limited sharing of personal information held by your financial institution only for the purposes of verifying your identity. Currently Interac supports identity verification through 6 Sign-In Partners: BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, RBC, Scotiabank and TD.
What information does your personal banking institution share with ISED?
Through the identity verification process, the following personal information will only be collected, used and disclosed with your consent: given name, family name, date of birth and postal code.
Will I be charged fees if I use this method?
No, you will not be charged any fees. Only your identity is being verified through your banking credentials. ISED and Corporations Canada will not have access to your banking information.
Will Interac save my banking login information?
Interac verification service has no access to your banking information or the credentials you use to log into your personal banking institution.
Interac® document verification
With this option, you must take a photo of your ID using Interac document verification service, as well as a selfie with your mobile device.
What identification documents are accepted?
- Canadian passport
- Provincial or territorial driver’s licence
Will Interac save my photos (selfie and identification document)?
Interac verification service will store your photos for 90 days for account management purposes or in case there are any issues. The photos will be deleted after that period.
In-person visit to a Canada Post outlet near you
To have your identity verified by Canada Post, you have to start the process while signed into your ISED Account by providing basic information. Then, you will be instructed to complete the process in person at a Canada Post outlet. Canada Post will then confirm that you have completed the process by updating ISED. Once this is done, you will be considered verified.
What information is saved by Canada Post?
The address information will not be stored by the ISED program or service; however, it will be stored in the Canada Post system as a transitory record for 120 days.
What do I need to bring to Canada Post?
You will need to present government-issued photo identification that must include your given name, family name and date of birth.
In addition, proof of address information is required by Canada Post to complete the identity verification. If your government-issued photo identification does not include the following elements, a secondary document displaying your address will be required:
- Address number
- Address number suffix (e.g. A)
- Street name
- Unit (e.g. 1202)
- Other address attribute (e.g. 7th floor)
- City
- Province
- Country
- Postal code
Which forms of identification are acceptable?
Acceptable government-issued photo identification to prove identity at a Canada Post outlet
- Canadian passport
- Canadian permanent resident card
- Canadian Secure Certificate of Indian Status
- Provincial driver's licences
- Provincial services cards
- Provincial or territorial identity cards
What information is shared between Canada Post and ISED?
Data ISED shares with Canada Post prior to the identity verification process
- Given name
- Family name
- Date of birth
- Address number
- Address number suffix (A)
- Street name
- Unit
- Other address attribute
- City
- Province
- Country
- Postal code
- Barcode (unique identifier) issued to the Canada Digital Adoption Program applicant to present at the Canada Post outlet in order to initiate the in-person identity verification process
- List of participating Canada Post locations nearest to applicant
Data Canada Post shares with ISED following the identity verification process
- The date the identification verification process was completed
- An identity verification pass or fail indicator
Additional information shared when the identity verification is positive:
- Verified given name
- Verified family name
- Verified date of birth
- Type of government-issued document used for identity verification
- Document place of issuance (province, territory or Canada)
- Document unique identifier
- Document expiry date
6
Once your identity is verified, your ISED Account will automatically be updated.
The next time you log into your account, you will see a checkmark next to your name and on the profile box icon.