Canadian Passport Application
If you’re a Canadian citizen, you may apply for a Canadian passport in order to freely travel to and from Canada without being subject to immigration restrictions.
For more information about applying for a Canadian passport, including support and advice about the process, or any other queries you might have about obtaining passports or travel documents, reach out to one of our immigration experts today on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.
Page Contents
- Overview of Applying for a Canadian Passport
- What Documents Do I Need to Include With My Application?
- What Are the Rules Regarding Guarantors and References?
- I Need My Passport Within 2 Business Days. How Do I Apply?
- I Need My Passport in 3 to 45 Business Days. How Do I Apply?
- I Need My Passport in 46 Business Days or More. How Do I Apply?
- What Are the Fees for a New Passport?
- How Long Does it Take to Receive a New Passport?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Overview of Applying for a Canadian Passport
There are a few different ways of applying for a Canadian passport, depending on how quickly you need your application to be processed.
The process differs according to whether you need your passport:
- Within 2 business days or less
- In 3 to 45 business days
- In 46 days or more
If you don’t need your passport within 45 business days, you can apply at any Service Canada Centre or by mail processing.
If you need your passport within 2 business days or less, or in 3 to 45 business days, you will need to go to a Canadian passport office.
Note that this guide is for adult applicants applying for a Canadian passport within Canada only. There are different steps to follow if you wish to apply for a Canadian passport from the US, or internationally. Also, the process and eligibility are different for passport applications for children below 16 years old.
What Documents Do I Need to Include With My Passport Application?
All Canadian passport applicants must provide the following documents with their application:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship
- This can be a long-form birth certificate or a Canadian citizenship certificate. It must be the original document and not a photocopy.
- A valid Canadian passport or other travel documents (refugee travel document or certificate of identity)
- A document to support your identity
- This document must include your name, date of birth, photo and signature, such as a driver’s licence or health card
- Two identical passport photos
- On the back of one of the photos, the applicant must write:
- Their name
- Their complete address
- The date the photos were taken
- Your guarantor must also sign the back of this photo
- On the back of one of the photos, the applicant must write:
Note that you may need to provide additional documents with your application if you:
- Have changed your name
- Are replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- Want to omit your place of birth on your passport
- Are updating the gender identifier on your passport
All documents you submit with your application must be in either English or French. If not, then you must provide an official, certified translation of the document into either one of these languages.
What Are the Rules Regarding Guarantors and References?
All Canadian passport applicants must use a guarantor and 2 references to certify their application.
A guarantor can be anyone, including a family member or member of your household. However, they must:
- Have known you for at least 2 years
- Be available if they need to be contacted by Canadian authorities
- Be a Canadian citizen 18 or older
- Provide the information needed that’s in their passport
- Have been 16 years of age or older when they applied for their own passport
- Hold a 5-year or 10-year Canadian passport that, on the day you submit your application, is valid or expired for no more than 1 year
Meanwhile, your references cannot be a family member or your guarantor, and they must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have known you for at least 2 years for passport applications
- Agree to you using their name and contact information for your application
I Need My Canada Passport Within 2 Business Days. How Do I Apply?
If you need a new Canadian passport within 2 business days, you must attend a Canadian Passport Office that offers an urgent pick-up service. Note that there are additional fees to pay if you use this service.
You will need to use the passport office’s walk-service instead of booking an appointment.
Before you get to the passport offices, you will need to ensure that you have:
- Filled in the Adult General Passport Application forms (PPTC 153)
- Gathered all of your supporting documents
- Found a guarantor and 2 references
- Proof that you need the passport. Proof can be:
- An airline, bus or train ticket or travel itinerary showing proof of payment
- Proof of illness or death in your family that requires you to travel
- A written statement explaining the reasons why you need the passport
You will then need to go to your local passport office for their walk-in service, submit your application and pay your fees.
After you apply, you will then be able to pick up your new passport on the date indicated on the receipt given to you by the office.
I Need My Canadian Passport in 3 to 45 Business Days. How Do I Apply?
If you need a new Canadian passport within 3 to 45 business days, you must attend a Canadian Passport Office.
You may make an appointment, or use their walk-in service for this. Note that you will only be able to use the walk-in service if there is capacity at the office.
Before you get to the passport offices, you will need to ensure that you have:
- Filled in the Adult General Passport Application form (PPTC 153)
- Gathered all of your supporting documents
- Found a guarantor and 2 references
- Proof that you need the passport. Proof can be:
- An airline, bus or train ticket or travel itinerary showing proof of payment
- Proof of illness or death in your family that requires you to travel
- A written statement explaining the reasons why you need the passport
You will then need to go to your local passport office, submit your application and pay your fees.
After you apply, your new passport and original documents will then be mailed to you. If you paid an extra fee for a pickup service, you will be able to pick up your passport on the date indicated on the receipt given to you by the office.
I Need My Canada Passport in 46 Business Days or More. How Do I Apply?
If you need a new Canadian passport in 46 business days or more, you can either go to a Service Canada Centre or apply by mail.
If you go to a Service Canada Centre, you can make an appointment or use their walk-in service.
Before you go to the Service Canada Centre or mail your application, you will need to ensure that you have:
- Filled in the Adult General Passport Application form (PPTC 153)
- Gathered all of your supporting documents
- Found a guarantor and 2 references
If you’re applying in person, you will need to go to your local Service Canada Centre, submit your application and pay your fees.
If you’re applying by mail, you will have to check the Canadian government website to see where you need to send your application. Where you send your application will depend on which province you’re located in.
After you apply, your new passport and original documents will then be mailed to you. If you paid an extra fee for a pickup service, you will be able to pick up your passport on the date indicated on your receipt.
What Are the Fees for a New Canada Passport?
Overview of Fees
All applicants must pay a fee to obtain a new passport.
You may also have to pay extra fees if you need urgent or express processing, standard pickup at a passport office, or to replace a lost or stolen passport.
The fees are as follows:
Passport Fees
Passport type | Cost (in CAN$) |
5-year adult passport | 120 |
10-year adult passport | 160 |
Child passport (0 to 15 years of age) | 57 |
Expedited Services Fees
Type of service | Cost (in CAN$) |
Urgent pickup (by the end of the next business day) | 110 |
Express pickup (within 2 to 9 business days) | 50 |
Standard pickup (on or after 10 business days) | 20 |
Service Fees
Type of service | Cost (in CAN$) |
Additional administrative fee for replacing a valid lost or stolen passport | 45 |
Certified true copy of one page of a passport (1 to 3 copies) | 45 |
File transfer (to a different passport office in Canada) | 45 |
How Long Does it Take to Receive a New Canada Passport?
If you’ve applied for urgent processing, you should receive your new passport at the end of the next business day.
If you’ve applied for express processing, you should receive your passport in around 2 to 9 business days.
If you’ve applied for standard processing at a Service Canada Centre, you should receive your passport in around 10 business days, although this may take up to 2 weeks during busy periods.
If you’ve applied for standard processing by mail, you should receive your passport in around 20 business days, although this may take up to 13 weeks during busy periods.
Note that these times do not take mailing time into account. There may also be measures in place to manage wait times at busier passport offices, such as prioritizing those who need a passport quickly.
How Can Total Law Help?
In order to travel in and out of Canada without any restrictions, it’s important that Canadian citizens carry a valid passport with them at all times.
If you’re in the process of applying for a Canadian passport, whether it’s your first one or you’re renewing it or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged one, Total Law can help.
We are expert immigration lawyers specialising in Canadian immigration issues. We can help guide you through the process of applying for a Canadian passport, including if you need one as a matter of urgency. We can advise you on how best to apply for one, where you should go to apply, and the best way to guarantee that your passport arrives when you need it.
For more information about the services we offer and what we can do for you, reach out to us on +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online today.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
To check the status of your application, you need to first wait at least 10 days (5 days if you applied at a passport office).
You should then submit a request using the status request application form on the Government of Canada website.
You will be informed of the status of your application in 3 or more days.
You can only renew your Canadian passport if your last passport:
- Was an adult passport that was issued:
- When you were at least 16 years old and
- Within 15 years of the date you apply for your renewal
- Was valid for 5 or 10 years
- Has the same name, date of birth and place of birth as you want on your new passport
- Has the same gender identifier as you want on your new passport
- This can be printed on your most recent passport or have the observation sticker
You cannot renew your passport if you:
- Currently have a child passport that was issued when you were under 16 years old
- Want to change your name, date of birth, place of birth or gender identifier on the new passport
If any of these apply to you, you must apply for a new adult passport.
You can send someone else to pick up your passport at passport services, but only if they have:
- Valid identification
- Something in writing from you saying they’re allowed to
If your passport is still valid (not expired) and has been lost or stolen, you must contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to notify them before applying for a new passport.