--- title: "Photo ID card in British Columbia: how to get one" url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/british-columbia" description: "Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive) in British Columbia: handled by ICBC (BC Identification card). Apply in person at an ICBC driver licensing office." site: "Canada Service Map" author: "Mahmoud Halat" publisher: "Space & Story" lastReviewed: "2026-10-13" licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data." --- # Photo ID card in British Columbia: how to get one British Columbia · Identity and documents Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word. ## Short answer If you do not drive, you can get a BCID card from ICBC. You must be 12 or older. Book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office, bring two pieces of accepted ID and pay the fee. The card is mailed and most cards arrive within 60 days. A free Photo BC Services Card from the same offices is another option. Who handles it: [ICBC (BC Identification card)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/insurance-corporation-of-british-columbia). Handles it in British Columbia. Apply in person at an ICBC driver licensing office. ## Official links - [Apply for a BCID](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 12 October 2026 ## Steps 1. Book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office, bring accepted ID and pay the BCID fee. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 13 October 2026. 2. To renew a BCID, bring two pieces of accepted ID to any driver licensing office. You can renew up to six months before it expires. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Renew-your-licence-or-ID), checked 13 October 2026. ## What you need - Bring two original pieces of ID, one primary and one secondary. Photocopies are only accepted if certified by the issuing government agency. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/visit-dl-office/Accepted-ID), checked 13 October 2026. ## Cost - A Photo BC Services Card, also issued at ICBC driver licensing offices, is free and can be used instead of a BCID. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/bc-services-card/your-card/get-a-card), checked 13 October 2026. ## How long it takes - The card is mailed to you. Most licence and ID cards arrive within 60 days, and you can track yours in My ICBC. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Card-status-tracking), checked 13 October 2026. ## Good to know - The BCID is government photo ID with the same security features as a B.C. driver's licence. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 13 October 2026. ## In every province and territory The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. British Columbia is marked. | Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know | |---|---|---|---| | British Columbia (this page) | ICBC (BC Identification card) | [Apply for a BCID](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at an ICBC driver licensing office. | | [Alberta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/alberta) | Alberta registry agents (Government of Alberta) | [Get an ID card](https://www.alberta.ca/get-id-card), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply or renew in person at any registry agent office. | | [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/saskatchewan) | SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) | [Get a photo ID card](https://sgi.sk.ca/photo-id), checked 12 October 2026 | | | [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/manitoba) | Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) | [Apply for an ID card](https://www.mpi.mb.ca/how-to-apply-for-an-identification-card/), checked 12 October 2026 | | | [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/ontario) | ServiceOntario | [Get an Ontario Photo Card](https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-photo-card), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at ServiceOntario; you cannot hold a driver's licence and a Photo Card at the same time. | | [Quebec](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/quebec) | Not offered in Quebec | None on record | Québec does not issue a non-driver photo identification card. | | [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/new-brunswick) | Service New Brunswick | [Get a photo ID card](https://www.gnb.ca/en/topic/driving-transportation/driving-licensing/photo-id.html), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at a Service New Brunswick centre. | | [Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/nova-scotia) | Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia) | [Photo ID card information](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 12 October 2026 | Apply in person at an Access Nova Scotia RMV office. | | [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/prince-edward-island) | Access PEI (Government of PEI) | None on record | Apply in person for a voluntary ID card at an Access PEI office. | | [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/newfoundland-and-labrador) | Motor Registration Division (Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) | [Get a photo ID card](https://www.gov.nl.ca/motorregistration/new-drivers/photo-identification-card/), checked 12 October 2026 | | | [Yukon](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/yukon) | Motor Vehicles (Government of Yukon) | None on record | The Yukon general identification card is issued through Motor Vehicles offices. | | [Northwest Territories](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/northwest-territories) | Driver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories) | [Get a general ID card](https://www.idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca/Drivers/identification-cards/IDCard), checked 12 October 2026 | | | [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/nunavut) | Motor Vehicles Division (Government of Nunavut) | [General identification card](https://www.gov.nu.ca/en/service-nunavut/general-identification-card), checked 12 October 2026 | | ## Questions people ask ### How old do you have to be to get a BCID in B.C.? You must be 12 or older. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 13 October 2026. ### How long does it take to get a BCID card? Most cards take up to 60 days to arrive by mail. Sign in to My ICBC to see if yours has been mailed. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Card-status-tracking), checked 13 October 2026. ### What ID do I need for a BCID? Two pieces of ID, one primary and one secondary. If your name has changed, also bring proof of the change. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/visit-dl-office/Accepted-ID), checked 13 October 2026. ### Is there a free alternative to the BCID? Yes. The Photo BC Services Card is free and is also issued at ICBC driver licensing offices to people enrolled in MSP. Source: [icbc.com](https://icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Apply-for-a-bcid), checked 13 October 2026. ## Where to go in person - Provincial service centres: [Vancouver, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/vancouver) (1), [Surrey, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/surrey) (1), [Burnaby, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/burnaby) (1), [Kelowna, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kelowna) (1), [Nanaimo, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/nanaimo) (1), [Kamloops, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kamloops) (1), [Chilliwack, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/chilliwack) (1), [Victoria, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/victoria) (1), [Maple Ridge, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/maple-ridge) (1), [Prince George, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/prince-george) (1) ## More - [Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive) in every province and territory](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card) - [Public services in British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/british-columbia) - [Get or renew a passport](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/passport) - [Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/sin) - [Get proof of Canadian citizenship](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/citizenship-certificate) - [Apply for Indian status or a status card](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/status-card) - [Order a birth certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate) - [Order a death certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/death-certificate) ## Cite this page Canada Service Map, "Photo ID card in British Columbia: how to get one", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/british-columbia