If you don’t have a Canadian passport or driver’s licence, you might think it’s impossible to open a bank account without photo ID. But banks have long lists of different types of acceptable IDs, so you can still prove who you are even without standard ID. Keep reading to learn more.
The short answer is no. Banks need to verify your identity before you can open an account. That’s anti-fraud policy 101, and it protects you. You wouldn’t want a random person to be able to open a bank account in your name.
This also applies to digital banks. Even if you try to open an account online or through an app, you’ll usually be asked to submit a copy of your ID or a video of yourself.
But if you don’t have a valid Canadian passport or driver’s licence, banks might accept other forms of ID.
EQ Bank states that foreign passports will be accepted in some cases as a verification method for customers. You must still be a Canadian resident and have a Canadian address, however. You can sign up for EQ Bank’s accounts, including the EQ Bank Personal Account and the EQ Bank Notice Savings Account, using this as a verification method.
EQ Bank Personal Account
Banks will look for ID that has an identification number and shows your name, signature and picture. Canadian passports and driver’s licences issued in a Canadian province or territory are always acceptable (unless expired).
If you don’t have these, here’s a list of alternative IDs that banks might accept. If you don’t have photo ID, you may need to provide multiple alternatives types of ID.
There are a number of scenarios in which someone might be struggling to provide ID, and there are different options they can take.
If you’ve recently arrived in Canada, you might not yet have a residence, making it tough to provide proof of residency. In this case, many banks accept foreign-issued passports as well as your Canadian-issued visa or other immigration documents.
If you’re planning to study in Canada, you might want to open a Canadian bank account for everyday spending and money transfers. Luckily, most major banks have accounts designed for students and newcomers to Canada with provisions for those who can’t provide the usual Canadian ID.
With more and more people working remotely, travelling the world while working has become much easier. If you’re living the nomadic life, you may want to get a Canadian mailing address from an online address service provider. Note that there is a cost for this service, which varies depending on the provider you choose and whether you pay for add-ons like mail/package forwarding.
Should you find yourself without a home, there are ways to get an address without buying or renting property. Similar to digital nomads, you can get a virtual address or proxy address where your mail can be sent.
SIN card and:
Can apply in person at a branch with 2 pieces of ID that show your name, address and date of birth. If you can’t provide a SIN number, documentation must be certified as true by TD Waterhouse or TD Canada Trust Branch personnel.
2 pieces of identification from the following:
One piece of government-issued photo identification from this list:
The eligible piece of identification must contain a photo and be issued by a government agency, including a federal government, (e.g. Canada, US or other foreign government), or by a provincial/territorial/state level
government.
Valid government ID issued in Canada including:
When applying online, you will submit a copy of your ID and a selfie for comparison. You can also verify your identity by signing into online banking at another financial institution where you have a chequing or savings account.
Proof of ID:
Proof of residence:
Proof of ID:
Alternatively, you can use one of these other forms of ID along with a piece of proof of address from the list below:
Note that the photo IDs must have a signature and the same address as what you submit to Simplii Financial elsewhere.
Proof of address:
If you can’t provide photo ID, you can often provide a combination of other types of ID to open an account in Canada. Typically, at least one has to be government-issued ID.
For example, you could provide your SIN card and birth certificate to the bank when opening an account.
Alternatively, you could maybe use a Citizenship and Immigration Canada form (IMM 1000, IMM 1442 or IMM 5292) along with a valid foreign passport.
You may also need to provide proof of address, which is a document showing both your name and home address, like a recent Canadian public utility bill or a notice of tax assessment from the CRA.
There are several possible combinations of ID you can use to open a Canadian bank account. Check the lists above for detailed breakdowns of acceptable ID from top banks.
For more detailed information, check out our full guide to requirements for opening a bank account in Canada here.
Yes, it is possible to open a bank account in Canada as a minor without standard ID (like a drivers licenece or passport), and even without parental involvement. You can read our full guide to opening a youth bank account in Canada to learn more.
For example, you can open the Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account for free if you’re at least 16 years old as long as you are a Canadian resident and can provide proof of residence (e.g. a school transcript or phone bill with your name and address on it) and proof of your personal identity (e.g. a provincial photo ID card).
You can also open a RBC Advantage Banking for Students account without parental involvement and with several types of non-standard ID if you’re at least 14 years old.
You may be able to open a bank account without providing multiple types of ID if your bank allows digital identity verification by conducting a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit score. However, some banks require hard credit checks if you open an account online, which will affect your credit score.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Welcome offers, account fees and features across 60+ chequing accounts and 25+ lenders are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account - simple.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, account fees and features across 50+ savings accounts and 25+ lenders are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account - simple.
Just under half of Canadians are planning to open a bank account in 2026, according to the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey March 2026. Of those who plan to open an account, almost 18% are interested in savings accounts, while just over 16% are interested in chequing accounts. The next most popular options are TFSAs (over 14%) and GICs (nearly 10%).
While Canada’s major financial players continue to hold the greatest share of public trust, alternative institutions appear to have gained substantial market footing. When we asked Canadians which types of financial providers they would consider when opening an account, Big Banks were the clear winners (68.06%), followed by digital banks or fintechs (40.91%) and credit unions (18.38%).To prevent fraud, you can’t open a bank account in Canada without ID. Although passports and driver’s licences are the most commonly used forms of ID, banks typically accept a much wider range of documents to verify your identity. You may also be able to verify your ID by consenting to a credit check.
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