BC Services Card
Provincial Identity Information Management (IDIM)
The BC Services Card Identity and Authentication Service is managed by the Provincial Identity Information Management (IDIM) Program in Service BC. The service provides cardholders the ability to prove their identity to access government services in-person and online using a physical or digital BC Services Card.
The Service also provides trustworthy identity information about a cardholder to clients who onboard to use the Service. It is a single, secure, government ID and credential issued by the Province to British Columbians for identification and access to services. The Service manages personal identity information about cardholders and the electronic credentials that are issued to those cardholders.
The Service supports client transactions that require a high level of identity assurance (level 3). It is recommended that the BC Services Card Authentication Service be the first choice for clients with BCeID as an alternate option for those who require an out-of-province solution or information about the organization an individual is representing.
Cardholders can use their mobile BC Services Card on their mobile device to access services online with confidence that the Service meets the highest privacy standards in the Province. No unnecessary data is shared or stored.
Use the B.C. Services Card Authentication Service to:
- Verify the identity of an individual
- Provide identity information attributes about an individual, as appropriate
- Enable individual access to services online using a mobile BC Services Card
Why should I use this
Significant access to the public
Over 4.8 million British Columbians have a BC Services Card which means that most people can get access to a growing list of available services in-person and online from both public and private sector organizations that have onboarded with the Service.
Cardholder convenience
The physical BC Services Card is a government-issued ID available to residents of British Columbia. It can be combined with a driver’s licence and used in-person to verify an individual’s identity. The mobile BC Services Card is a digital ID and allows people to carry their BC Services Card credential on their mobile device, enabling them to conveniently access available online services. It provides cardholders access to services without having to visit a government office in-person. With many clients using the Service today, mobile cardholders can conveniently access a wide rage of services using one secure card.
Higher assurance standards than BCeID
BCeID is another centrally managed identity solution that offers good authentication. The BC Services Card Authentication Service is recommended for online services that require higher identity assurance or where you want to examine a physical or digital ID credential.
About this component
Price
Paid
The BC Services Card Identity and Authentication Service is a critical piece of BC Government’s identity management infrastructure and is highly available.Service level support
The BC Services Card provides higher assurance standards than BCeID. BCeID offers good authentication if you need low to medium confidence (Level 1 or Level 2). When you need high confidence (Level 3), such as when you are discussing a client’s health or financial records, the BC Services Card Identity and Authentication Service provides the assurance you need.Additional technical information
The BC Services Card is currently available to residents as a form of identification that can be combined with a driver’s licence. The BC Services Card identity and authentication service supports transactions that require a high level of identity assurance.Requirements and restrictions
Getting started
Contact the Provincial Identity Information Management Program’s consulting team for information or to request an information session. The team has expertise in managing identity information, credentials and online access and can help clients use the Service. A series of information sessions and joint presentations with the IDIM consulting team will help:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/information-management-technology/identity-and-authentication-services/bc-services-card-authentication-service/onboarding-process-overview
Support
The BC Services Card Help Desk is open Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays) from 7:30 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, or 8:30 am to 6 pm Mountain Time. 1-888-356-2741 (Canada and USA toll free)
604-660-2355 (Within Lower Mainland or outside Canada and USA)