The Ontario Photo Card is a wallet sized card that provides government-issued identification to those Ontarians who do not have a driver’s licence, making it easier for them to do things such as open a bank account and any other activities that require official identification.
Renew your Ontario Photo Card
The fee may vary depending on your Ontario health card renewal date
Valid for 5 years
You must renew your Ontario Photo Card every 5 years
Ontario Photo Cards can be used:
An Ontario Photo Card cannot be used as proof of identification for international travel. Learn more about travelling outside of Canada.
An Ontario Photo Card and a driver’s licence or a photo ID card from Ontario or another province, state or country cannot be held at the same time. If you have a driver’s licence or a photo ID card from Ontario or any other province, state or country, you must turn in your existing licence or ID when applying for an Ontario Photo Card.
Please inform ServiceOntario if you have ever held an Ontario driver’s licence, even if it is suspended or cancelled, when you apply for an Ontario Photo Card. Not doing so may delay getting your Ontario Photo Card.
If you have an Ontario Photo Card and apply for a driver’s licence, you must turn in your Ontario Photo Card as part of the application process and it will be cancelled. If you wish to re-apply for your Ontario driver’s licence, you may be subject to all tests and wait periods.
You can apply for an Ontario Photo Card in person at a ServiceOntario centre if you:
You will need to bring the following to a ServiceOntario centre:
Note: If you have a driver’s licence and want to get an Ontario Photo Card, you must give up your licence. Your driver’s licence will be cancelled when you apply for your Photo Card. If you wish to re-apply for your Ontario driver’s licence, you may be subject to all tests and wait periods.
An Ontario Photo Card is valid for 5 years, after which time it must be renewed.
You can apply for a renewal online if you don’t need a new photo. You are required to get a new photo every 10 years, and if you are due for a new photo, you must apply for a renewal in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
To renew you will need to:
Note: The online renewal service will only accept Visa and Mastercard at this time.
Sign up for renewal reminders
Never forget to renew again!
Sign up to get free reminders by email, text message, or phone call when it's time to renew your Ontario Photo Card.
If you are unable to visit a ServiceOntario centre for a medical reason, accommodations are available. Please call ServiceOntario for more information.
$35 to get or renew your Ontario Photo Card.
The fee may vary depending on your Ontario health card renewal date.
To match your health card expiry date, your Ontario Photo Card renewal period may be less than 5 years or longer than 5 years.
In person: Visa, Mastercard, debit, cash, certified cheque
Online: Visa and Mastercard
4 to 6 weeks by mail
The picture on your Ontario Photo Card must be:
Headwear worn for religious or medical reasons can be worn, but must not cover any part of your face.
You may be asked to remove any head or face wear (for example, eyeglasses) when taking a photo for government-issued identification.
To change your address on your Ontario Photo Card, you can visit a ServiceOntario centre with your Ontario Photo Card or send a written request with your:
Mail your request to:
ServiceOntario
P.O. Box 9200
Kingston, ON
K7L 5K4
You can now add French characters (for example, ç, è, é, ê, ë) to your Ontario Photo Card.
To make any changes to your Ontario Photo Card, including your address and height, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre. You do not need to bring anything other than your card.
To change or correct the date of birth on your Ontario Photo Card, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre and bring one of the following:
If you are a Survivor of a residential school, you, and your family can reclaim your Indigenous name.
To change the sex designation on your Ontario Photo Card from male ( M ) to female ( F ) or female ( F ) to male ( M ), go to a ServiceOntario centre near you and bring an original, valid long or short form birth certificate.
To change the sex designation on your Ontario Photo Card (OPC) to an X (gender neutral), visit a ServiceOntario centre. You do not have to bring any supporting documents.
To replace a lost, stolen or damaged Ontario Photo Card, you must complete the Ontario Photo Card application form available at a ServiceOntario centre and provide proof of:
The cost for this service is $10.
