Activate your enhanced driver's licence

You must activate your enhanced driver's licence (EDL) before you use it to enter the U.S.

• Activate your EDL at least 72 hours before you use it to cross the border. (This allows enough time for ICBC to notify border officials.)
• Activate your EDL as soon as you receive it in the mail. A card activation date is printed on the letter you receive with your card. You have 30 calendar days from the printed date to activate your card.

What you'll need

When you activate your EDL, you'll need two numbers:

• the card activation number you received at the end of your application appointment, and
• the serial number from the back of your EDL, underneath the bar code.

How to activate your card

The easiest way to activate your card is to use the online Enhanced Card Activation System:

Hours: Available 4 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

You can also call the EDL Customer Line at 1-866-972-6888 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you don't activate your EDL within 30 days

You may be denied access into the U.S if your EDL isn't activated within 30 days—unless you have other acceptable ID with you.

If your EDL isn't activated within 30 days:

• it's still a valid driver's licence, but
• you will be required to book a new appointment and go through the application process again to use your EDL for cross-border travel. Normal replacement fees apply.

If you misplace your card activation number

Call the EDL Customer Line at 1-866-972-6888.