Establishing your identity

You will be asked to show documents that prove your identity when you apply for a Manitoba driver’s licence or identification card for the first time, or when you move to Manitoba from another jurisdiction.

To quickly determine the documents you need to bring, use our Proving My Identity tool. The tool will show you the documents that you can use to establish your identity.

This requirement under Manitoba law is aligned with North American standards. Verifying your identity helps to protect you, and all Manitobans, from identity theft. It also ensures that Manitoba driver’s licences and ID Cards are issued only to those who are in our country legally, whether as citizens or visitors.

Identity elements

To prove your identity, you will need supporting documents that establish these key elements:

  • Birth date
  • Full legal name*
  • Photograph
  • Manitoba residence and permanent address**
  • Entitlement to be in Canada

* If your surname differs from the surname on your birth certificate, a second document such as a Marriage Certificate or Certificate of Change of Name is required.

** Two supporting documents are required to prove you reside in Manitoba. Rural customers must provide at least one document containing their physical address. If rural customers do not have two supporting documents containing their physical address, the second document can contain their mailing address. Any supporting address document must be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

Acceptable supporting documents

Your documents must be originals – not photocopies. Electronic scans of these documents will be retained on file, in keeping with Canadian standards.

Please note that two supporting documents are required to prove you reside in Manitoba. Rural customers must provide at least one document containing their physical address. If rural customers do not have two supporting documents containing their physical address, the second document can contain their mailing address. Any supporting address document must be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

If you do not have an acceptable document with your photograph or address, MPI may accept a completed Guarantor Declaration instead. Some restrictions apply, so please read the form carefully. A Guarantor Declaration can be used as a second acceptable document for proving Manitoba residency if you only have one document with your address on it.

To view eligible supporting documents that can be used, see the Acceptable Verifiable Resource List or use our Proving My Identity tool.

Translation requirements

Documents in a language other than English or French will require translation.

Accepted translations must:

  • Be an original document.
  • Be on the translator’s or translation company’s letterhead. If the translator does not have letterhead, the translation and copies of translated licence should be stamped or signed by the translator.
  • Show the translator’s company and contact information.
  • Include a copy of the front and back of the translated document.

Accepted translators:

To qualify for clients in Manitoba a translator must meet one of the following requirements:

The following documents are not acceptable translation documents:

Key fields for translation

Submitted translations must include the key information for the specified documents below. Translated dates must be in a standard format (for example, dd/mm/yyyy), or otherwise clearly differentiate between the month, day, and year.

Driver’s licence

  • Driver’s last name
  • Driver’s given name(s)
  • Date of birth
  • Licence issue date
  • Licence expiry date (if displayed on licence)
  • Issuing agency/authority
  • Licence number
  • Category/class of vehicles the driver is authorized to drive
  • Date first licence in each category/class authorized to drive (if displayed on licence)
  • Additional information/licence restrictions (if displayed on licence)

Birth certificate

  • Last name
  • Given name
  • Date of birth

Driver abstracts and claims experience letters

Translated driving history documents must contain the following fields in order to be accepted for Driver Safety Rating credit.

Driver abstract/Driver record

Translated fields from the driver abstract or driver record must contain all of the following information:

  • Driver licence number
  • Date of birth
  • Issued/expiry dates
  • Status of licence
  • Classes and/or stages of licences held
  • License restrictions
  • Date first licensed
  • Convictions, suspensions, or tickets (if any)
  • Name of licensing authority
  • Contact information for the licensing authority
  • Accidents (if any)

Claims experience letter

Translated claims experience letters must contain the following information:

  • Name and address of the policy holder
  • Policy number
  • Effective and expiry date of the policy
  • Names of all drivers listed
  • Insurer name
  • Insurer contact information
  • Claims (if any) made during the term of the policy. Claims information should include: date of loss, type of loss, percentage at-fault, and name of driver involved in the claim(s).

Gender markers

You have four gender marker options on a Manitoba driver’s licence or identification card:

  • Male (M).
  • Female (F).
  • A non-binary gender marker option of X is available for anyone who is not exclusively male or female. This includes intersex, agender, amalgagender, androgynous, bigender, demigender, female-to-male, genderfluid, genderqueer, male-to-female, neutrois, nonbinary, pangender, third sex, transgender, transsexual and Two Spirit individuals. You can self-declare this option and do not require supporting identification.
  • An undisclosed (blank) gender marker option is available for anyone who does not want to disclose their gender. You can self-declare this option and do not require supporting identification.

Note that changes to accommodate individuals with non-binary gender markers or undisclosed gender markers may not yet be adopted in all jurisdictions. If your Manitoba identification card or driver’s licence displays an X gender marker or a blank gender marker, MPI cannot guarantee your identification will be recognized in all jurisdictions or by all third-party organizations.

If you are applying for a driver’s licence or identification card for the first time and would like to self-declare your gender in a private setting, please contact us at 204-985-7000 to schedule an appointment.

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