As of Tuesday, eligible Alberts will be able to renew their driver’s licenses and ID cards online using the province’s electronic services platform.
To qualify for an online renewal, holders of a driving license and identification cards must be between the ages of 18 and 75, live in the countryside, have an uninterrupted driving license and hold an identity document validity has not expired for more than six months.
Applicants for a license will be required to apply to the Registry for the first time. In addition, if any changes need to be made to the ID card, such as a new address, height or gender, the renewal will have to be done in person at the registry.
Drivers who require a medical examination will not be allowed to renew their license in this way.
Alberta’s Minister of Services Nate Glubish announced the new online option for renewing IDs on Monday, saying it helps cut red tape and make the process more efficient.
“This is a service that affects almost every Alberta,” said Glubish. “Now residents of Albert will have another choice with more convenience to renew their licenses on their phone or computer, no matter where they are, and their new card will arrive only days later.”
To renew online, Albertans will need to register for a free MyAlberta eServices account. Once they enter the online portal, Albertans will choose which registry agent they want to be a partner who will “fulfill” their online renewal request.
“I think Albert residents are very used to going into their online bank accounts,” Glubish said. “It will be very similar to this and will be designed with the highest levels of security standards of the Alberta government and online protocols to protect the privacy of Alberta residents.
Glubish also said the province would now allow Albert residents to keep their old ID card with an expired photo to be used with a temporary driver’s license.
“Albertans will now remain in possession of a photo ID through the renewal process,” the minister said. “We know that one of the biggest inconveniences of renewing a license is the need to hand over old cards to a registry agent during the renewal and rely on a temporary paper license.
“I am happy to say that we are getting rid of this inconvenience for those who have an existing card that they are simply renewing,” he added. “Instead, Alberts will now be asked to destroy their old ID cards with a photo as soon as their new one arrives in the mail.”
The holder’s photo, signature and demographics, including organ donor status, will automatically be re-attached to the new online renewal license. Photos and signatures will need to be updated in person at the registry office every nine years.
According to Glubish, law enforcement was consulted before the change and police services are “comfortable” with the new approach, which is in line with other provinces.
“It will be a violation to have more than one driver’s license or ID card at a time,” Glubish said.
“You can keep the old ID to have a photo ID, but this ID itself will not be valid because it has expired,” he added. “You will still need the temporary identification number to demonstrate that you will have a valid identity document.”
A temporary driver’s license or ID renewal receipt can be downloaded and saved to a mobile device or printed upon online renewal.
Alberts will still have the opportunity to renew their personal documents in person at each registry office, if they prefer, Glubish added.
Asked whether changes to ID renewals could lead to job losses for registry agents, Glubis said the online service “cooperates” with registries and is not offered in “competition” with them.
Add Comment