Can I use a foreign passport to buy cannabis in Canada?

Stores generally accept valid government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, and a passport is widely recognized. Each province sets the accepted documents, and a store can refuse a sale if it cannot confirm your age.

Do cannabis delivery drivers check ID?

Yes. In Ontario and Alberta, the rules require ID to be checked at delivery if the person appears to be under 25, and OCS deliveries require age verification.

What ID do you need to buy cannabis?

Last reviewed October 25, 2026 · Based on official government sources

Legal cannabis retailers in Canada have to keep cannabis away from anyone under the minimum age, and checking identification is one of the main ways they do it. This short guide explains what official sources say about age checks, in stores and at the door.

Bring government-issued photo ID

The safest assumption is that you will need valid, government-issued photo identification that shows your date of birth, such as a driver’s licence, a provincial photo ID card or a passport. Official rules we reviewed refer to “government-issued photograph identification” for age checks. Each province sets which documents it accepts; New Brunswick’s Cannabis Control Act, for example, allows the accepted identification documents to be set by regulation.

If you are a visitor from outside Canada, your passport is the most widely recognized document. A store can refuse a sale if it is not satisfied that you are of legal age.

When you will be asked

At the door. Many provinces do not allow anyone under the legal age to enter a cannabis store. In Alberta, no one under 18 may enter. In Quebec, people under 21 may not be admitted into an SQDC store. Expect staff to check ID before you go in.
At checkout. Staff may check again before completing a sale.
At delivery. In Ontario, the AGCO requires the person receiving a store delivery to show ID if they appear to be under 25. In Alberta, the AGLC requires the delivery person to check government-issued photo ID if the person appears to be under 25. OCS deliveries in Ontario require age verification and are not left at the door.
Online. Legal retail websites must stop minors from opening accounts or viewing promotion; the AGLC, for example, requires reasonable steps to keep minors out, and the AGCO requires store websites and apps to verify age.

The age that applies

You must meet the minimum age of the province or territory you are in: 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec, and 19 everywhere else. See legal age and possession limits.

No ID check is a red flag

Health Canada lists a lack of age verification as a sign of an illegal seller. Legal retailers are required to check, so a store or website that does not ask is unlikely to be licensed. See how to tell a licensed cannabis store.

Buying for someone else

Buying cannabis for someone who is under the legal age is illegal. Quebec’s law, for example, specifically prohibits an adult from buying cannabis for a person under 21. Giving or selling cannabis to a minor can be a criminal offence.

Your privacy

Rules on whether a store may scan or keep a copy of your ID vary and are covered by privacy law. If you have concerns, ask the store what it records and why before you hand over your ID. This site never asks for your ID; our age confirmation is a simple date-of-birth check that is remembered in a cookie on your device, as described in our age policy.

A quick ID checklist

Bring valid, government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth.
Check that it has not expired.
If you are visiting from outside Canada, bring your passport.
Know the legal age where you are: 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec, and 19 everywhere else.
Expect to show ID at the door of the store and, for delivery, when the order arrives.
Remember that a store can refuse a sale if it is not satisfied that you are of legal age.

Buying for someone else

Buying cannabis for someone who is under the legal age is illegal. Quebec, for example, says it is prohibited for an adult to buy cannabis for someone under 21. Federal law also makes it an offence to give or sell cannabis to a young person.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a foreign passport to buy cannabis in Canada?: Stores generally accept valid government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, and a passport is widely recognized. Each province sets the accepted documents, and a store can refuse a sale if it cannot confirm your age.
Do cannabis delivery drivers check ID?: Yes. In Ontario and Alberta, the rules require ID to be checked at delivery if the person appears to be under 25, and OCS deliveries require age verification.

In our directory

All provinces and territories

Sources

Facts in this guide were taken from these official sources, checked October 25, 2026.

Related guides

Cannabis legal age and possession limits by province and territory

The minimum age and public possession limit for non-medical cannabis in every Canadian province and territory, with how equivalents to dried cannabis work.

Legal cannabis delivery and online ordering in Canada

Who is allowed to sell cannabis online and deliver it in each province, what the delivery rules require, and the signs of an illegal delivery service.

Cannabis in Canada: a first-time visitor’s FAQ

Plain answers for visitors and newcomers: legal age by province, how much you can carry, where to buy, where you can use it, driving, and why you cannot take it across the border.

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