ID You Need to Open a Bank Account in Canada (Checklist)

Key takeaways

Federal minimum: two documents (name and address, name and date of birth), or one document plus a reference
Bring originals, not photocopies
Banks also ask newcomers for a status document: PR card, COPR, work permit or study permit
A SIN is not ID and is not needed for a basic account
If a bank refuses, it must tell you in writing

What is the legal minimum?

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) explains the rule set in the Bank Act. You can prove who you are in one of two ways:

Two documents from a reliable source. One shows your name and address. The other shows your name and date of birth.
One document plus a reference. One document shows your name and date of birth. Then someone confirms who you are: a customer in good standing with the bank, or a person of good standing in your community.

Accepted types include government ID from Canada or a province, recent tax assessments, recent benefit statements, recent Canadian utility bills, recent bank or credit card statements, and foreign passports. You must bring originals. The bank can check a document with the source that issued it.

What do banks ask newcomers for?

In practice, banks ask newcomers for a passport plus a document that shows their status in Canada. Here is what four banks list, checked October 10, 2026.

Bank	Status document	Personal ID	Extra
TD	PR card; IMM 1000; COPR (IMM 5292/5688); work permit (IMM 1442/1102); or study permit (IMM 1208)	Passport, Canadian driver’s licence or Canadian government ID card	Students: proof of enrolment
Scotiabank	PR card or COPR; or work permit	Foreign passport or Canadian government photo ID	Foreign workers: employer letter with annual income for a credit card
BMO	COPR (IMM 5292/5688) or work permit (IMM 1442)	One government photo ID, such as a passport	Online opening if you have a SIN and Canadian address
RBC (pre-arrival)	COPR, PR card, IMM 1000, IRCC letters, work or study permit	Passport valid for more than 6 months	Students: acceptance or enrolment letter

Other documents may be accepted. Ask the bank before your visit.

Printable checklist

Everyone

Passport (original, valid)
Your Canadian address, even a temporary one
A phone number and email address
Your SIN, if you already have one (not required for a basic account)

Permanent residents

PR card, or COPR if your card has not arrived

Workers

Work permit
Employer letter with your salary, if you want a credit card

Students

Study permit
Letter of acceptance or proof of enrolment

Helpful extras

A Canadian driver’s licence or provincial ID card, once you have one
A recent statement from your home bank
Your UCI number from IRCC (CIBC asks for it before arrival)

Then follow the account opening checklist for what to do after.

Why many newcomers must visit a branch

Banks must also follow anti-money-laundering rules from FINTRAC. These rules allow a few ways to check identity. Two matter for newcomers:

Photo ID. Government photo ID must be authentic, valid and current. Foreign ID counts only if it is equivalent to a Canadian document. A foreign passport is the usual example. If you are not in the branch, the bank must use technology to check the document and match your face.
Credit file. A bank can verify you with a Canadian credit file, but the file must be at least 3 years old.

New arrivals have no Canadian credit file. So online opening can fail, and the bank may ask you to come in. Book an appointment to save time.

What if you are missing a document?

No Canadian address yet: ask the bank if it accepts a temporary address, such as a hotel or a friend’s home. Update it later.
Only one document: use the reference route. A customer in good standing with the bank can confirm who you are.
PR card not arrived: your COPR works at most banks.
Permit expiring soon: ask the bank whether any account or card terms depend on your permit dates, and what to bring when you renew.

The law lists the reasons a bank can use to refuse an account, such as suspected fraud or if you do not let it verify your ID. It must give you a written statement and its complaints process. If you are refused, try another bank and see the banking guide for your rights.

Is a SIN card ID?

No. Service Canada says your SIN letter is not an identity document. Do not use it as ID. You do not need a SIN to open a basic chequing account, but a bank needs it for accounts that earn interest. Read do you need a SIN to open a bank account.

How we handle offers. Offers on this page come from each bank’s own website and were last checked on October 10, 2026. Banks change offers often, so confirm the details on the bank’s site before you apply. No bank pays to be included or ranked here. If a link on this page ever earns us a commission, we will label it next to the link.

Common questions

Can I open a bank account in Canada with only my passport?

Sometimes. Federal rules allow one document plus a reference from a customer in good standing. Most banks also ask newcomers for a status document such as a COPR or permit.

Can I use photocopies?

No. FCAC says you must bring original ID, not photocopies.

Is my COPR enough if I do not have my PR card yet?

TD, BMO, Scotiabank and RBC all list the COPR as an accepted status document. You also need personal ID, such as your passport.

Do I need proof of address?

You need to give an address. Under the federal two-document rule, one document shows your name and address. For newcomers, banks list a passport and a status document. If you only have a temporary address, ask the bank what it accepts.

What can I do if the bank refuses?

It must tell you in writing and give you its complaints process and contact details for the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments and FCAC.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

What ID do you need to open a bank account in Canada?