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Proof of Canadian Citizenship and Identity for Travel

A Canadian passport is the internationally accepted evidence of your Canadian citizenship, as well as providing the best possible photo identification. If you are travelling outside Canada, even to the United States, the Canadian federal government Department of Foreign Affairs recommends that you carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond your expected return date.

Children, including newborns, can no longer be listed on a parent's passport, and must have their own Canadian passport. A separate passport application must be submitted for each child.

Here's how to apply for a Canadian passport.

Canadian Passport Application Forms

You can pick up a Canadian passport application

• at a Canadian post office outlet or Service Canada Centre
• at a Canadian passport office
• online.

Online forms are in PDF and must be printed and completed offline, then submitted in person or by mail with accompanying documents. When using the online forms, be sure to select the correct form and follow the directions for printing and completing the form carefully.

(Outside Canada, at a Canadian consulate office.)

Passport requirements may change, so pick up a new application form when you are making your application. There are different versions of the application form depending on age and where you apply, so be sure to use the correct application form.

What you Need to Complete Your Canadian Passport Application

As well as the completed application form, to apply for a Canadian passport you also must submit passport photos, documents proving your citizenship and identity, and have a guarantor sign your application, a photo and any photocopies. Here are the details.

Passport Photos

Get a passport photo taken, and get two identical copies. Many photo processing stores and most photographers will do passport photos instantly and cheaply. Check the Yellow Pages of your local phone book under Photographers to find a handy location. Passport photos must be taken within 12 months of your application; within one month is the application is for a child. Be sure to follow the specific standards set by the Passport Office for acceptable photos.

The name and address of the photographer and the date the photograph was taken must appear on the back of the passport photograph.

Documents Required for Canadian Passport Applications

The following documents must be submitted with your passport application form, photos and fee. Check ahead of time that you have all the necessary documents, and allow extra time if you need to apply for one of these documents before making your passport application.

• Original Proof of Canadian Citizenship -
  • If born inside Canada - either a birth certificate or Certificate of Canadian Citizenship.
  • If born outside Canada - a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Retention of Canadian Citizenship or a Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad.
• All Canadian travel documents issued to you in the last five years, such as a passport or certificate of identity.
• At least one document to support your identity. Documents to support your identity must be issued by a federal, provincial or municipal government and include your name and signature. A provincial drivers licence is a good example. Original documents will be returned to you. If you submit photocopies, your guarantor must sign and date the photocopies to show that the originals have been seen.

Guarantors for Canadian Passports

All Canadian passport applications must be signed by a guarantor. The guarantor must also sign one of the passport photos, and sign and date any photocopies of supporting documents. A guarantor is someone who has known you personally for at least two years, can verify that your statements are accurate and is a member of one of the professions listed on the Canadian passport application form.

Where to Submit Your Passport Application, Fees and Processing Times

Canadian Passport Application Fees

The processing fees for a Canadian passport vary, depending on the type of passport and where you apply. The application form will specify the processing fee.

There are several ways to pay the fee: in cash, if you are submitting your application form in person; by certified cheque or money order, payable to the Receiver General for Canada; by credit card; or by debit card. Not all options will be available if you are applying outside Canada, so check the application form for payment details.

Submitting your Passport Application

If at all possible, deliver your Canadian passport application in person to a passport office.

To mail a Canadian passport application, the address is:

Passport Canada
Foreign Affairs Canada
Gatineau QC K1A 0G3
Canada

To courier a Canadian passport application, the address is:

Passport Canada
70 Crémazie Street
Gatineau, QC
J8Y 3P2
Canada

Passport applications are not accepted by mail from outside Canada and the United States.

Canadians in Bermuda and St. Pierre and Miquelon may use the courier address listed above. If you are outside Canada and the United States, your application must be submitted in person at either the office where you picked up the application form or the nearest passport-issuing office in the country which you are visiting.

Processing Times for Passport Applications

Standard times for processing passport applications are:

• if you apply in person - 10 business days
• if you apply by mail in Canada - passport mailed within 20 business days of receipt of application
• if you apply by mail from the United States - 20 working days (passport delivered by courier)
• if you apply from outside Canada and the United States - processing times will vary.

Processing passport applications may take longer during peak times, or if there are problems with the application. The Passport Office suggests that you try to apply for your passport during off-peak times, between June and November.

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