Need to renew your Canadian passport? Find out here about the steps you must take to successfully renew your passport. From sending in your application by mail to finding the proper form to understanding the conditions required to renew your passport, we’ll guide you through this procedure. You’ll also learn when to renew your passport before it expires and whether you can do it online.
A passport is required to travel between countries and is a legally identifying document.
Luckily, passports are relatively easy to obtain as a Canadian citizen, though you should be wary of the expiry date. Once your passport expires or even a few weeks away from being expired, it is considered invalid and cannot be used for travel.
So, you’ll need to renew your passport quickly. You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally. Luckily, the process is straightforward and compiling your application shouldn’t take more than a few days. Here’s all you need to know about renewing your passport in Canada.
In Canada, the question of “when and why” to renew a passport is particularly important. Ideally, a passport should be renewed before it expires to avoid any inconvenience when travelling internationally. Moreover, a full passport or one with incorrect information also requires renewal.
Renewal can be seen as a process of updating in line with the best practices and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It also becomes necessary if the passport has been lost, stolen or damaged. Since March 31, the renewal process has been simplified, allowing Canadians home and abroad to renew an expired passport issued within the last 15 years.
Finally, renewal is also a way to benefit from new passport features, such as a more water-resistant version, offering greater durability.
If you’ve previously held an adult Canadian passport, you’ll most likely be able to apply for renewal.
Firstly, your current passport must either be expired or close to it. Due to the regulations regarding near-expired passports, you can apply to renew your passport up to a year before its official expiration.
However, children must re-apply for a new passport each time it expires. In Canada, only adult passports can be renewed, assuming you meet the requirements.
Even as an adult, you must meet a few requirements to qualify for renewal rather than applying for a new passport again. Firstly, if your passport has fully expired, it must have been issued within the last 15 years. So, even if it’s been years since you left the country or you don’t have plans to leave anytime soon, don’t wait too long to renew your passport so that you can deal with a simple renewal rather than a tedious new passport application.
Naturally, when applying for a renewal, you must also ensure you haven’t changed any essential personal information, such as your place and date of birth (which is rare). However, other information that can change, such as your legal name or gender, would also require a new passport application.
Finally, if you lose or damage your passport, you will likely need to apply for a new one rather than renew one. If either of these things happens to you, you can head to your local post office (or embassy, if it happens while travelling) as soon as possible to sort things out.
Overall, if you’re an adult with a pre-issued passport and meet all the above requirements, you should be eligible for a passport renewal.
Several criteria must be met to renew a Canadian passport. The current passport must have been issued within the last 15 years and be in good condition, i.e. not damaged, lost or stolen. The applicant must be 18 or older and have a family member or relative who has known them for at least two years and can act as a reference or guarantor. This person must agree to include their name and contact details in the application.
Renewal fees range from $120 to $260, depending on whether you are applying from Canada or the U.S. and whether you are applying for a 5- or 10-year passport: when you apply for a Canadian adult passport, you can choose between a 5- or 10-year validity period. Once this period has elapsed or almost elapsed (between six months and one year before expiry), it’s time to renew your passport.
Even if it has yet to expire, you should renew your passport if its pages are full (good travel memories!) or if you need to update/renew your visa or residency information simultaneously.
To prepare your renewal application, you’ll need to :
Here’s the step-by-step guide on renewing your passport in Canada.
Firstly, you’ll need to fill out the application form from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which you can either download or print for free from their website or pick up at any Canada Post location near you.
To obtain this passport renewal application form, you have several options:
Ensure you have the right form for your situation to avoid any delay in processing your application. The form differs depending on whether you are applying for a renewal (form PPTC 054) or your first passport demand (form PPTC 154).
Once you have the form, it’s pretty intuitive. All you have to do is enter all your information as it appears on the form. You can save as you go online so you don’t lose any work, or fill it in by hand if you’ve chosen to print or take a physical copy.
If you fill in the form physically, fill it in carefully, taking care not to cross out any lines or write outside the boxes provided. If you make a mistake, we recommend you start again with a new form to avoid any delay in processing your application.
Don’t forget to sign and date your completed form. Finally, check that you have filled it in correctly before sending it or presenting it in person.
You can use the online search tools available on the Canadian Passport Program website to locate your nearest Service Centre. These tools allow you to enter your postal code, city or full address to find the nearest point of service. You’ll have access to waiting times, too.
Finally, if you need to make an appointment to renew your passport, you can visit the specialized eServiceCanada site to book an appointment online. Passport offices and Service Canada Centres are generally closed on statutory holidays.
Moreover, depending on their busy schedules, some centers may prioritize people who need their passports within 48 hours. It’s a good idea to check waiting times before you go. Here are some examples of where you can go to renew your passport:
Alongside the form, you’ll need to submit an updated passport photo. You have to submit two copies of the photo, which must meet the following specifications:
It’s best to head down to your local drugstore (such as London Drugs) or work with a professional photographer and tell them you need a passport photo. They’ll know exactly what to do. Photos taken at home may not meet the specific requirements adequately.
One of the two copies must be stamped and dated on the back by the photographer, and the stamp should include the studio’s name and address. You do not need to sign the photos yourself.
Guarantors are only required for new passport applications, so you can skip this step for a regular passport renewal.
Unfortunately, applying for a passport renewal in Canada is not free. You will have to pay a small fee to officially submit your application. To determine how much you’ll need to pay, here’s a quick guide to the basic costs:
However, if there’s an emergency or you are on a super tight schedule, you can also pay extra to expedite your passport renewal, according to these prices:
If you need an extra-fast pickup, submit your application in person at a passport office. Finally, bring some extra cash just in case you need any of the following items, as well:
The embassy may request a true certified copy, so be prepared just in case. File transfer charges are required when you want to transfer your documents to any different passport office than the one you’ve worked with previously.
You’ll need to submit your application and pay for your Canadian passport in person or by regular mail – unfortunately, you won’t be able to do this online. Once you’ve completed the renewal form correctly and gathered all the necessary documents, here’s how to proceed.
There are several places you can go. Service Canada Centres can be found nationwide, such as in Montreal (200 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, suite 103), or in Quebec City. You can visit a passport office with an express pick-up service, which can give priority to people who need a passport within 48 hours.
You can also pay the fee at any Canada Post or Passport Program office. You can pay with a debit card, credit card, prepaid card, money order, and certified cheque. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted if you pay by card.
Here are the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee: ideal if you travel abroad! If you have to choose one, apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite* Card (you’ll enjoy six annual complimentary visits to VIP Airport lounges).
You can also pay for your passport application by post. We recommend sending your application by registered mail to ensure its security. Make sure you send your application to the correct address.
You can select and complete the payment option on your application form and enclose your payment details for a credit card or include exact payment of the applicable fee by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Postal delivery times may vary, so please allow sufficient time for your application to arrive and be processed.
Select and complete the payment option on your application form, and include your payment details for a credit card or exact payment of applicable fees by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Postal delivery times may vary, so please allow sufficient time for your application to arrive and be processed.
Remember to include photocopies of both sides of your identification, signed by your guarantor or signing officer.
Check that you’ve completed and paid everything correctly, submit your application in person or by mail, and voila! You’re ready to go. Now, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your renewed passport.
Currently, the deadline to receive your passport is:
Add to that a few extra days for postage. The passport is usually sent by Xpresspost.
Once submitted, the passport application can be tracked on the Government of Canada website.
The Government of Canada announced a series of measures to improve the image of the passport and the renewal process during the summer of 2023:
For a new passport, the traditional procedure will remain in place.
The new and the old version will be available, depending on the date of your request. Regardless of the version, both of these documents are safe and reliable.
It is therefore not necessary to renew your passport in advance for it to be valid.
The new page with personal information will be made of polycarbonate. This will last longer and be less susceptible to water damage.
Once your passport is ready, you can choose to pick it up from your local passport office or directly to your address by mail. Once you receive it, make sure you sign it and write your address on pages 3 and 4, respectively. You’ll need it fully signed for international travel and don’t want to be stopped at the airport.
However, a parent doesn’t need to sign the passport of his or her child.
Once you completed this task, congratulations! Your passport is 100% renewed and ready. Now, all you have to do is store it in a safe place until your next trip.
The government website provides Canadians with a help center, so don’t hesitate to consult it. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
We recommend that you renew your Canadian passport six months before it expires. This gives you a margin of safety for unforeseen travel and avoids admission problems to certain countries that require a minimum passport validity.
To renew a Canadian passport, fill out the application form available online or at post offices, provide passport-size photos that meet the required standards, and pay the renewal fee. Then submit your application in person or by mail.
The Canadian passport renewal form can be downloaded from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website or picked up at Canada Post and some Service Canada offices.
Canada planed to introduce online passport renewal as of fall 2023, but the process is not yet available. Currently, applications must be submitted physically via passport offices or by mail.
Yes, you can renew your Canadian passport without an appointment. However, waiting times may be longer, especially during peak periods. We recommend you make an appointment if you need your passport within one to two months.
You can contact an agent Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Newfoundland), except statutory holidays, at toll-free 1-800-567-6868 or direct 1-819-997-8338.
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