Albertans are reporting exorbitant wait times at registries across the province as new integrated driver’s licences and identification cards roll out. The cards officially became available July 2. Since then, most urban registries have had steady lines — some even out the businesses’ doors — as residents go in to renew or apply. Many of the problems stem from customers not bringing the required documentation. Albertans are now required to show proof they are legally allowed to be in Canada — using a document like a passport, birth certificate, permanent residency card or citizenship certificate. Photo ID and existing health care cards are also needed at the registry, as the new licenses and IDs include citizenship status and health information. It’s causing some confusion. “(Residents) simply don’t know,” Alberta NDP MLA Court Ellingson said. “So (Albertans) get to the registrar, and they’ve already been waiting for two hours, and then they find out they don’t have the right documentation and have to come back.” Ellingson himself has recently spent some long hours in line at two different registries. “It’s not fun,” he said. Matthew Randolph agrees. He went to the same Calgary registry five times in July trying to update information for his elderly father, who isn’t mobile enough to make it in himself. “My dad immigrated to Canada from the U.S. in 1969, and he had a Canadian citizenship certificate from 1975,” he told CTV News. “But I was told that it’s too old now, so that’s what this is all about.” The Shawnessy resident is now filing a certificate of birth abroad application with Service Canada — a process that could take up to 19 months. In the meantime, he’s worried about his father not having up-to-date identification. “It’s been keeping me up,” Randolph said. “I just thought that if I keep at it, it would work out. And I still hope it will.” “Something needs to be done to make this urgent process more accessible.” Service Alberta responds Service Alberta Minster Dale Nally says some delays were to be expected. “This is a new process, and we’re hearing that it’s taking longer because there are additional steps,” he said Friday. But, the minister says the process has made “short-term pain for long-term gain.” “Because once you have that citizen mark on the front, it’s going to be there forever and it’s going to offer you the convenience in the future when you’re applying for these benefits,” he said. Nally says the province processed 126,000 driver’s licence renewals last month. That’s up from 95,000 in July 2025. “It’s not unreasonable to think that many of those people are doing early renewals because they want the new card,” he told CTV News. “They see the value and the convenience.” Know before you go Albertans headed to renew their identification or licence can review the province’s website to know which documents are required. They’re also reminded to be kind to registry agents, who are learning a new process and often overwhelmed by an influx of new customers. There is a grace period for those who are unable to provide acceptable proof that they’re legally entitled to be in, or remain in, Canada. To request the grace period, they still need to visit a registry agent in person and pay a fee. Nally acknowledged Friday there are some unique situations that may require more time. He emphasized the goal isn’t to punish those who are going through the correct avenues. “Nobody is going to get fined or lose health care,” he told CTV News, before promising to reach out to Randolph and address his issues.
