--- title: "Photo ID card in Nova Scotia: how to get one" url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/nova-scotia" description: "Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive) in Nova Scotia: handled by Registry of Motor Vehicles. Apply in person at an Access Nova Scotia RMV 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 Nova Scotia: how to get one Nova Scotia · 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 Anyone in Nova Scotia, including children, can get a Nova Scotia Photo Identification Card as proof of age and identity. Apply in person at a Registry of Motor Vehicles office or Access Nova Scotia location with original ID documents, and have your photo taken. The card costs $17.70, arrives by mail within 14 calendar days, and is valid for 5 years. Who handles it: [Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/the-government-of-nova-scotia). Handles it in Nova Scotia. Apply in person at an Access Nova Scotia RMV office. ## Official links - [Photo ID card information](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 12 October 2026 ## Who can apply - Anyone in Nova Scotia, children included, can get the card as proof of age or as photo ID. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## What you need - Show original documents proving your age and name. You need one primary document and two secondary documents, and some documents, like a valid Canadian passport, count for all three. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/rmv/other/id_req.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## Cost - The card costs $17.70, with no tax. A replacement card or a name change also costs $17.70. Changing your address on file is free. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## How long it takes - If your application is approved, the card is mailed to you within 14 calendar days of your office visit. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. - The card is valid for 5 years. You can reapply at any time, and you may not need ID again if your identity can be confirmed from the photo on record. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## Where to go - You must apply in person at a Registry of Motor Vehicles office or an Access Nova Scotia location, where your photo is taken. Forms are available at any Registry customer service centre. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## In every province and territory The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. Nova Scotia is marked. | Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know | |---|---|---|---| | [British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/british-columbia) | 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 (this page) | 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 much is a photo ID card in Nova Scotia? A Nova Scotia Photo Identification Card costs $17.70, and no tax is charged. A replacement card costs the same. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ### How long does it take to get a Nova Scotia photo ID card? If everything is approved, the card arrives by mail within 14 calendar days of your visit to an Access Nova Scotia or Registry of Motor Vehicles office. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ### How long is a Nova Scotia photo ID card valid? It is valid for 5 years, after which it expires. You can reapply at any time. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ### Can I apply for a Nova Scotia photo ID card online? No. The application must be made in person so your photo can be taken, along with your identification documents. Source: [novascotia.ca](https://novascotia.ca/sns/paal/RMV/paal275.asp), checked 13 October 2026. ## 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 Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nova-scotia) - [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 Nova Scotia: how to get one", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/nova-scotia