Guide: How to Renew Your Canadian Passport

Updated on 2023/04/14

During the current labour disruption, essential government services that continue to be delivered are the result of an agreement between the employer and the union. Most domestic passport services are currently not available. Delays should be expected in the processing of passport applications during the current labour disruption.

Domestic Passport services

During the current labour disruption, Service Canada only processes domestic passport applications for emergency and humanitarian situations. Passport services are available only at specialized passport sites.

Humanitarian/emergency situations are defined as:

• passport clients at risk of financial hardship
• passport clients who rely on travel as a source of employment, and their income security will be jeopardized
• passport clients who must travel for medical reasons, or have had a death or illness in the family
• passport clients whose situation is deemed urgent on compassionate grounds
• Passport applications that do not meet these criteria will not be processed when employees are striking. Delivery times will exceed published service standards.

Passport services for Canadians living outside of Canada

The processing of regular passports to Canadians residing outside of Canada, including in the United States, is deemed an essential service and continues through the current labour disruption, although clients may experience delays.

Visit Find a Service Canada Office for a comprehensive list of Service Canada Centres, passport offices and scheduled outreach sites, including up-to-date hours of operation.

If you already have an adult passport, you may be able to renew it. Renewing a passport is simpler than applying for a new one. This is because you don’t need

• a guarantor
• proof of Canadian citizenship
• supporting identification

If your most recent passport is still valid, it

• must be sent with your application, and
• will be cancelled and cannot be used for travel

Who can renew their passport

Only adult passports can be renewed. If you’re under 16, you need to apply for a new child passport (Please check related webpage).

If you’re 16 or older, find out if you can renew your passport (Please check related webpage).

You can now renew your passport even if it’s expired, damaged, lost or stolen.

You can renew your expired, damaged, lost or stolen passport if

• it was issued within 15 years of the date you apply, and
• you meet all the other requirements

MOST RECENT CANADIAN PASSPORT

Enclose any Canadian passport issued to you in your current name or any other name that is not expired. If you cannot submit the most recent valid passport or if it is damaged or was ever reported lost, stolen or found, you must also complete the form PPTC 203 -Declaration concerning a lost. stolen. inaccessible. damaged or found Canadian travel document.
If the passport’s expiry date is more than twelve (12) months from the date the application is submitted, provide a written explanation as to why you are applying at this time. Should the Passport Program not be satisfied that you have an accceptable reason for applying early, your application for a new passport may be refused.

Get the forms and instructions to apply

Answer the questions below. We’ll then

• give you all the forms you need
• tell you how to submit your application

Where you apply depends on when you need the passport

Standard Application

10 to 20 business days, plus mail time

•  You can go to a
  • Service Canada Centre (20 business days) or
  • passport office (10 business days)
•  By appointment or walk-in
•  You can also apply by mail (20 business days)

Express Application

2 to 9 business days

•  You must provide proof you need the passport
•  Extra fees apply
•  Go to a passport office with express pick-up service
•  By appointment or walk-in

Urgent Application

By the end of the next business day

•  You must provide proof you need the passport
•  Extra fees apply
•  Go to a passport office with urgent pick-up service
•  Walk-in only, no appointments

You must provide proof that you need the passport
Proof you need the passport can be:

• an airline, bus or train ticket
  • if travelling by car, a written statement explaining why you need to travel
• a travel itinerary showing proof of payment
• proof of illness or death in the family requiring you to travel
• a written statement from you or a third party explaining why you need the passport
  • for example, for legal, banking or residency requirements

If we can’t deliver the passport in time to you or your child, we aren’t liable for any losses.
We recommend that you don’t finalize any travel plans until you get your passport.

How to renew a passport in 10 to 20 business days in person

• Complete the form
• Get all the required documents and your passport photos
• Find 2 references
• Submit your application and pay your fees
• Get your passport

1. Complete the form

Download the adult passport renewal application [PPTC 054] (PDF, 1.9 MB)