Choose the correct document and application
| Applicant | Application | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian citizen, 16 or older, with a previous adult passport that meets the renewal rules | Adult renewal (online, by mail or in person) | No guarantor, proof of citizenship or supporting identity document needed |
| Canadian citizen, 16 or older, who cannot renew | New adult passport | Proof of citizenship, identity document, photos, a guarantor and 2 references; cannot be done online |
| Canadian citizen, 15 or younger | New child passport each time | Valid up to 5 years and cannot be renewed |
| Convention refugee, protected person, stateless person, or PR in special circumstances | Refugee travel document or certificate of identity | Not a Canadian passport; issued only from within Canada |
New adult passport and renewal
Who can renew
Your previous passport must have been an adult passport issued when you were 16 or older, issued within the last 15 years, valid for 5 or 10 years, and show the same name, date of birth, place of birth and gender identifier. Otherwise you apply as new.
Renewing online
Open to all eligible adults in Canada since July 28, 2026. Your home and mailing address must be in Canada, the passport must expire within 6 months or have expired, and you must not be travelling within 20 business days. You need a digital photo from a commercial photographer taken in the last 6 months. Your current passport is cancelled when you submit.
New application
Original proof of Canadian citizenship (for example a long-form provincial birth certificate or citizenship certificate), a supporting identity document, 2 identical photos, a guarantor and 2 references. First adult passports cannot be submitted online.
Validity and location
Adults can choose a 5-year or 10-year passport. In Canada you apply at a passport office, a Service Canada Centre or by mail; there are separate instructions and forms for the United States and for other countries (for a new adult passport abroad, form PPTC 040).
Child passports
- Who appliesA parent (if the parents are not separated or divorced), the parent with custody or decision-making responsibility (if separated or divorced), or a legal guardian with valid legal documents. All parents or guardians should sign, and IRCC may contact the other parent.
- DocumentsForm PPTC 155 (in Canada), proof of the child's Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage (required every time), and every legal document with custody, decision-making, access or mobility clauses. Documents not in English or French need an official translation.
- Special situationsIf a parent or guardian has died, provide an official death certificate; a funeral home statement is not accepted. If another parent cannot be reached or involving them is unsafe, contact the Passport Program for instructions.
- ValidityA child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years, cannot be renewed, and stays valid after the child turns 16 until it expires. Never sign the passport for the child.
- Travel to the United StatesChildren 15 and under do not need a passport to enter the United States or return to Canada by land or sea; a birth certificate or citizenship certificate can be used. At 16, a passport is required.
Photos, guarantor and references
Photos
Use a commercial photographer and follow the current Canadian passport photo specifications. For paper applications, the photographer's details and (where a guarantor is needed) the guarantor's signature go on the back of one photo.
Guarantor in Canada
Not needed for a renewal. For a new passport, the guarantor must be 18 or older, a Canadian citizen who has known you personally for at least 2 years, and hold a 5- or 10-year Canadian passport that is valid or expired less than 1 year, obtained at 16 or older. A family member or household member may be a guarantor.
No guarantor available
Use a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor, obtained from IRCC or a passport location and sworn before a notary, justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths. You then need different references from those on the application.
References
Two people, each 18 or older, who have known you for at least 2 years. A reference cannot be your guarantor, your spouse or common-law partner, your parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild (or those relatives' spouses and in-laws), or any other relative living at your address. A former spouse or partner can be a reference.
Outside Canada, the guarantor rules are similar, and guarantors from certain occupations (for example a judge, lawyer, doctor or pharmacist currently practising locally) are also accepted.
Fees since March 31, 2026
| Service | In Canada | Outside Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport, 10 years | $163.50 | $266.25 |
| Adult passport, 5 years | $122.50 | $194.25 |
| Child passport (5 years) | $58.50 | $102.50 |
| Urgent pickup (added to the passport fee) | $125.75 | Not applicable |
| Weekend or statutory holiday service (added) | $383.50 | Not applicable |
| Adult refugee travel document | $122.50 | Not applicable |
| Adult certificate of identity | $266.25 | Not applicable |
Express pickup, standard pickup and the extra administrative fee to replace a valid lost or stolen passport are charged in addition; check the current amounts on the official fee page before paying. Fees are indexed each year. Cash and personal cheques are not accepted, and only online renewals can be paid online.
Service options by when you need the passport
| Option (in Canada) | Service standard | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Passport office, or a Service Canada Centre offering 10-day processing | 10 business days plus mailing | Apply in person |
| Regular Service Canada Centre, outreach site, mail or online renewal | 20 business days plus mailing | Complete application |
| Express pickup | 2 to 9 business days (longer at some offices) | In person, proof of need, extra fee |
| Urgent pickup | By the end of the next business day | In person at a passport office, proof of need, extra fee |
| Weekend or statutory holiday | Emergencies only | Ask when you apply in person, or afterwards; proof of need; extra fee |
Proof of need can be a ticket, an itinerary with proof of payment, proof of illness or death in the family, or a written statement (for example for legal, banking or residency matters). Applications mailed from the United States or abroad have a 20-business-day standard. Delivery is never guaranteed; do not finalize travel until you have the passport. If you have already applied and now need the passport within 9 business days or less, call the Passport Program. Outside Canada, the nearest Government of Canada office decides whether you qualify for urgent service.
Lost, stolen or damaged passports
- Report it immediatelyContact the Passport Program in Canada, or the nearest Government of Canada office abroad. A passport reported lost or stolen is cancelled and cannot be used even if found.
- ReplacementApply for a new passport and complete the declaration about the lost, stolen or damaged document. Replacing a passport that was still valid adds an administrative fee to the normal passport fee.
- Give a full explanationDescribe exactly what happened. The Passport Program may ask for more information before issuing a new passport.
- AbroadReport a theft to local police and follow the Canadian office's instructions; do not assume a replacement or emergency document will be issued the same day.
Citizenship proof, passports and dual citizens
Dual Canadian citizens
You need a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada by air, even if you hold another passport, unless you qualify for a special authorization.
Citizenship certificate
Proves citizenship but is not a travel document.
PR card
Not issued to Canadian citizens, and cannot be used in place of a Canadian passport. It is collected when you become a citizen.
Destination rules
Check the destination country's entry and passport-validity rules before booking. Some countries do not recognize dual citizenship.
Refugee travel documents and certificates of identity
- Who can applyA refugee travel document is issued to protected persons in Canada, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection. A certificate of identity is issued to permanent residents who are stateless, or who cannot get a passport from their country or a travel document from any other source. IRCC decides which document you receive and how long it is valid. You must be in Canada to apply: travel document services are not available outside Canada, and applications are made by mail.
- Forms, guarantor and referencesAdults (16 or older) use form PPTC 190 and children under 16 use form PPTC 192; the same form covers both documents. Send a photocopy of your proof of immigration status in Canada, a supporting identity document, any valid passport or travel document in your name (IRCC keeps it), and 2 identical photos. The guarantor must live in Canada, be a Canadian citizen or PR, have known you for at least 6 months, and come from the approved list of occupations. Adults need 2 references who have known them for at least 6 months.
- Not valid for your country of citizenshipThese documents cannot be used to travel to your country of citizenship. Check with the destination country's embassy whether the document is accepted and whether a visa is needed.
- Home-country passport riskFor a protected person, voluntarily obtaining or using a passport from the country you fled can be treated as re-availing yourself of that country's protection, which can lead to loss of refugee protection and, in some cases, PR status. Get advice before applying for or using a home-country passport.
The standard processing time for refugee travel documents and certificates of identity is 20 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for my first adult passport online?
No. Only renewals can be done online. A first adult passport is filed in person or by mail.
Do I need a guarantor to renew?
No. A guarantor is needed only for a first passport or when you cannot use the renewal process.
Can my guarantor be my sister?
In Canada, yes: a family member or household member can be your guarantor if they meet the other rules. Your references, however, cannot be most family members.
Can I renew my child's passport?
No. Child passports cannot be renewed; apply for a new one each time.
Official sources
- IRCC: Canadian passports
- IRCC: New adult passport
- IRCC: Who can renew an adult passport
- IRCC: Renew an adult passport online
- IRCC news: Online passport renewal expanded (July 28, 2026)
- IRCC: Child passport
- IRCC: References and guarantors
- IRCC: Passport fee changes (March 31, 2026)
- IRCC: Passport fees in Canada
- IRCC news: "30 days or free" passport guarantee
- IRCC: Passport service standards
- IRCC: Urgent, express and emergency passport service
- IRCC: Travel documents for non-Canadians
- Government of Canada: Dual citizenship and travel
- Justice Laws: IRPA section 108 (cessation of refugee protection)
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.