Alberta will become the first province in Canada to add a Canadian citizenship marker to driver’s licences and identification cards.

The change, announced Monday, will take effect in the fall of 2026 and apply to all new and renewed cards. The government said the move is intended to provide residents with a single, secure document that confirms both identity and citizenship, reducing the need to carry multiple pieces of identification when accessing services.

Premier Danielle Smith said the measure is about making government more efficient for Albertans. “With a single, secure card proving both identity and citizenship, Albertans will face fewer hurdles when applying for government services,” she said. “This will also strengthen the integrity of elections and other systems that rely on proof of citizenship.”

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said the change will also help resolve inconsistencies in provincial records. Alberta Health currently has more than 530,000 more health care numbers registered than the province’s population. He said requiring proof of citizenship or immigration status when renewing a licence will allow the government to track which health cards are still in active use.

Rikki McBride, CEO of the Alberta Association of Registry Agents, said registry offices welcome the change as a step toward modernization.

The province said there will be no additional cost to Albertans beyond the existing fees for obtaining a licence. Non-citizens, such as permanent residents, will continue to qualify for provincial identification, but their cards will not display the citizenship marker.

The change comes alongside other digital and identification initiatives. A provincial digital wallet is already being rolled out, beginning with health cards, and health numbers are expected to be incorporated into driver’s licences in 2026.

The government said adding citizenship information to licences will also bring Alberta in line with practices in more than 60 other countries.