How to Apply for a Canadian Passport
Apply online (renewals), by mail, or in person at a passport office or Service CanadaService Canada — The government service counter network for SIN applications, passports, EI, and other federal programs.Click for official info ↗ point. Adults pay $130 (5-year) or $160 (10-year) plus fees in 2025. First-time applicants and new citizens need a guarantor and proof of citizenship; renewals are simpler.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Choose your application type
Renewals (adult passport issued within 15 years, or expired less than a year) use the simplified renewal form: no citizenship documents, no guarantor references, just photos, old passport, and the form. First passports and adult applications after a long lapse use the general form with full documents. Most adult renewals can now be done online at canada.ca/passport-online.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 30 min
Get compliant photos
Photos must be 50 mm × 70 mm, taken within the last 12 months, with a plain white or light background, neutral face, and head between 31–36 mm from chin to crown. The photographer stamps the back of one photo with their name, address, and the date. Most pharmacies and photo studios do passport photos for around $15.
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- Fill / Prepare 45 min
Complete the form and references
The general application requires two references who have known you at least 2 years (anyone except your guarantor), your personal history, and your guarantor's signature on the back of one photo and the declaration. Renewals skip most of this. Do not sign the form before a passport agent can witness it if applying in person.
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- Submit & Pay 1–2 hours
Submit online, by mail, or in person
Online renewals upload digital photos and payment. Paper applications go to a passport office (10-day service), a Service CanadaService Canada — The government service counter network for SIN applications, passports, EI, and other federal programs.Click for official info ↗ receiving agent (20 business days), or by mail (20 business days plus transit). Urgent pickup (next business day) is available at passport offices for emergencies with proof of travel.
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- Wait 2–8 weeks
Track processing
Standard service fluctuates with demand — check the current times on the IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ processing page before booking travel. You can check your status online with your file number after about 10 business days. Peak season (spring to summer) adds weeks.
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- Receive —
Receive and sign your passport
Passports arrive by courier (signature required) or mail. Sign in ink and check the details immediately — errors go back for correction free within 6 months. Your citizenship certificate or birth certificate is returned separately from the passport.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a passport urgently?
Passport offices offer urgent (next business day) and express (2–9 business days) services for pick-up, but you must show proof of travel within the window and pay extra fees. Book the appointment and bring everything — incomplete files are refused.
I just became a citizen. When can I apply?
As soon as you have your citizenship certificate you can apply for a first passport. Note your PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ becomes invalid the day you take the oath, so apply promptly if you need to travel — many new citizens apply same-week with urgent service.
Can my guarantor be a relative?
Yes — since the rules were relaxed, a guarantor can be a family member or anyone living at your address, as long as they are a Canadian citizen 18+, have known you 2+ years, and hold a valid adult passport. Professionals (like doctors) are no longer required.
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