Alberta to accept recently expired passports for licence renewals amid summer surge
Posted September 8, 2026 4:16 pm.
Alberta’s government says it’s making it easier for Albertans to renew their driver’s licences after the province saw a summer surge when its controversial new cards became available.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says registries will now accept passports that have been expired for less than one year as a valid proof of citizenship.
The change comes after Alberta began in July issuing driver’s licences and identification cards that also feature a citizenship marker and an individual’s health care number.
The move has drawn plenty of criticism, including from the Opposition NDP and the provincial privacy watchdog, but Nally says Albertans have been eager to adopt the new cards.
He says Alberta saw a 33 per cent increase in July of people renewing their licences compared to the same month last year followed by a 23 per cent increase for August.
Nally says population growth could explain some of the demand, but he thinks the increase is also because Albertans wanted to get the new card and ditch their paper health cards.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2026.
