Verifying your identity builds trust between you and our services. This process ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive corporate information and can perform certain actions, such as filing sensitive documents.
Identity verification is mandatory to access most of our services and can be done on your My ISED Account profile by signing in to the Online Filing Centre. All users must verify their personal identity to create their My ISED Account, including those using their business’s bank 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 in your My ISED Account. Please note that there is no cost associated with the verification of your identity.
1
To access your My ISED Account, visit the Online Filing Centre, click on Sign in at the top right corner of your screen, and follow the instructions on screen. You will then be taken back to the Online Filing Centre home screen.
2
In the top right corner of your screen, click on your name.
3
In the Profile box of your My ISED Account, select Update.
4
Under the yellow exclamation mark, click on Get started to verify your identity.
5
Verify your identity by selecting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Identity Validation Service, one of the two Interac® verification methods, or the in-person identity verification option at a Canada Post office.
Identity verification methods
Canada Revenue Agency online account verification (recommended)
You can verify your identity using the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Identity Validation Service (IVS), a safe and secure service that verifies your identity by sharing limited personal information held in your existing CRA account with ISED.
What are the requirements to be able to use the CRA IVS?
To use this identity verification method, you must have:
- an existing online and active CRA My Account (Please note that it is not possible to register for a CRA My Account during the identity verification process.)
- previously filed taxes with CRA.
What information will the CRA share with ISED?
We will use your CRA personal information only for the purposes of verifying your identity. We will collect, use and share the following personal information with your consent:
- Given name
- Family name
- Date of birth
- Address(es)
- Phone number(s)
Will the CRA IVS share my tax or income data?
No, the CRA IVS is only used as a means to verify your identity with ISED. The service uses your previously verified identity information with the CRA and shares it with ISED with your consent.
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 Sign-In Partners.
What information does your personal banking institution share with ISED?
Through the identity verification process, we will collect, use and share the following personal information with your consent:
- given name
- family name
- date of birth
- postal code
Will I be charged fees if I use this method?
No, we will not charge you any fees. We will only verify your identity through your banking credentials. ISED and Corporations Canada will not have access to your banking information.
Will Interac save my banking information?
Interac verification service has no access to your banking information or the credentials you use to log into your personal banking institution.
If you are having technical issues when verifying your identity with Interac, call Interac® Helpdesk at 1-844-778-5409 or report a problem using their online form.
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.
If you are having technical issues when verifying your identity with Interac, call Interac® Helpdesk at 1-855-955-1956 or report a problem using their online form.
In-person visit to a Canada Post office near you
To verify your identity with Canada Post, you have to start the process while signed into your My ISED Account by providing basic information. Then, you will be instructed to complete the process in person at a Canada Post office. Canada Post will then confirm that you have completed the process by updating your My ISED Account. Once this is done, we will consider your identity verified.
What information will Canada Post save?
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?
To complete your identity verification, you will need to bring:
- a government-issued photo identification that must include your given name, family name and date of birth
- a proof of address information (required by Canada Post).
Canada Post will require another document with your address if your government-issued photo identification does not include the following:
- Address number
- Address number suffix (for ex., A)
- Street name
- Unit (for ex., 1202)
- Other address attributes (for ex., 7th floor)
- City
- Province
- Country
- Postal code
Which government-issued photo identification documents are accepted to prove your identity at a Canada Post office?
- Canadian passport
- Canadian permanent resident card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Provincial driver's licence
- Provincial services card
- Provincial or territorial identification card
What information is shared between Canada Post and ISED?
Data ISED shares with Canada Post before the identity verification process
- Given name
- Family name
- Date of birth
- Address number
- Address number suffix (A)
- Street name
- Unit
- Other address attributes
- City
- Province
- Country
- Postal code
- Barcode (unique identifier) issued to the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) applicant to present at the Canada Post office to start the in-person identity verification process
- List of participating Canada Post offices nearest to the applicant
Data Canada Post shares with ISED after the identity verification process
- The date the identity 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 we have verified your identity, we will automatically update your My ISED Account.
The next time you log into your account, you will see a checkmark next to your name and on the Profile box icon.