Canada Passport: Everything You Need to Know to Apply

Looking to get your first passport but don’t know where to start? Or maybe your old passport got lost, stolen, or damaged? A valid Canadian passport is a travel document issued by the official Government of Canada. It is one of the most sought-after travel documents due to its global mobility and business opportunities.

Many citizens and foreign nationals are looking forward to obtaining a Canadian passport. The Canada passport ranks 7th among global passports, offering visa-free access to 187 countries. Application forms for passport can be difficult to compile, especially if you’ve never applied for a passport before, but we can help. This guide will show how to get a passport, collect all the forms, photos, and documents, and other factors to consider, like processing times.

Keep reading to learn about:

• The Different Canada Passport Types and Travel Documents
• Canada Passport Visa-Free Countries
• Canada Passport Benefits
• How to get a Canadian passport?
• Document Requirements for Canadian Passport
• Canada Passport Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide
• Canadian Passport Renewal
• Processing Time for a Canadian Passport Application
• Validity Period of Canadian Passports
• How much does a Canadian passport cost?

Canada Passport – Quick Overview

A Canadian passport is a document that verifies the nationality and identity of Canadian citizens. The official Government of Canada issues a valid Canadian passport for international travel.

As of 1 July 2013, every new passport issued is an electronic passport, also known as a Canadian e-Passport. Adults can choose between a five-year or ten-year ePassport, whether they’re applying for the first time or renewing. For children, ePassports are only valid for five years.

ePassports have enhanced security features, like microchips and biometric data. The new passport or travel document includes personal information, such as name, date of birth, passport number, photo identification, etc. Only individuals with Canadian citizenship can get a passport. Permanent residents (PRs) cannot apply for a Canadian passport.

If permanent residents prefer to travel outside Canada, they must get a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) or a valid permanent resident card. Permanent residents rely on the valid passport of their country of citizenship to pass border control.

The strength of the Canadian passport is currently 14th based on the Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions, which takes into account multiple elements, such as the Enhanced Mobility, Investment, and Quality of Life Index.

The Different Canada Passport Types and Travel Documents

Depending on your status and home country, you may need various types of passports and travel documents. Canadian citizens can apply for a Canadian passport, while permanent residents require different travel documents.

These types of passports include:

• Regular passport: This is a standard (blue) passport for Canadian citizens. You need a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada, book vacations, or make business trips.
• Diplomatic passport: This is a high-ranking (red) passport for Government of Canada officials. Diplomats use it for conferences and diplomatic travel.
• Special passport: This is a specific (green) passport for official purposes. It is reserved for citizens hired by the Government of Canada, such as members of parliament or senators.
• Temporary passport: This is a limited-time (white) passport for Canadian citizens who need urgent travel documents. They can use this document to leave or enter Canada while they wait for the standard, diplomatic, or special Canadian passport.

Other types of travel documents

People can obtain various travel documents in Canada. Most circumstances require visitors to provide a valid visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Canada or other types of travel documents.

These travel documents can include:

• Certificate of identity: The Government of Canada can provide a certificate of identity to stateless individuals with permanent residency in Canada who cannot obtain a valid passport from their country of citizenship.
• Refugee travel documents: Convention refugees or those with a protected person status may be eligible for refugee travel documents. The documents allow them to travel in and out of a host country without fear of deportation. They add a layer of safety and security.
• Emergency travel documents: Canadian citizens who appear to be outside the country, for whatever reason, can obtain a temporary passport or an emergency travel document in urgent situations. Both types of documents are issued for urgent traveling purposes and allow them to return to Canada or travel to a Canadian government office in a foreign country, but they cannot be used as a replacement for a valid Canadian passport when it comes to long-term travel.

Note: If you’re flying to Canada from another country, you must show a valid Canadian passport to board the aircraft, even if you have dual citizenship, unless you are a US citizen.

Canada Passport Visa-Free Countries

Canadian passports and other travel documents, such as visas or eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), are essential when crossing international borders. The Canada passport offers visa-free access to 187 countries. These include destinations you can visit without a required visa, with visa-on-arrival, and with eTAs. Citizens need a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to any destination country.

Canadian citizenship provides access to many visa-free countries. Canadian citizens can freely enter the Schengen area, many parts of Asia, and Africa for business and tourism purposes. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) demands that travelers from the US and Canada show a passport or other travel documents that confirms their identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Our article on Canada passport visa-free countries provides a detailed guideline for all the destinations to which to travel.

When you enter another country, you often complete a customs and immigration declaration, and your Canadian passport may be checked for clearance. If your passport is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the Government of Canada and apply for a replacement to avoid travel delays. Only individuals with Canadian citizenship are eligible for full passport services.

Countries
Angola	Guatemala	Netherlands
Albania	Guyana	Norway
Andorra	Hong Kong	Panama
United Arab Emirates	Honduras	Peru
Argentina	Croatia	Philippines
Antigua and Barbuda	Haiti	Poland
Austria	Hungary	Portugal
Belgium	Ireland	Paraguay
Bulgaria	Iceland	Palestine, State of
Bahamas	Israel	Qatar
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Italy	Romania
Belarus	Jamaica	Rwanda
Belize	Japan	Senegal
Bolivia, Plurinational State of	Kazakhstan	Singapore
Barbados	Kyrgyzstan	El Salvador
Brunei Darussalam	Kiribati	San Marino
Botswana	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Serbia
Switzerland	KOS (Flag Not Available)	Sao Tome and Principe
Chile	Saint Lucia	Suriname
Colombia	Liechtenstein	Slovakia
Cabo Verde	Lesotho	Slovenia
Costa Rica	Lithuania	Sweden
Cyprus	Luxembourg	Eswatini
Czechia	Latvia	Thailand
Germany	Macao	Tajikistan
Dominica	Morocco	Trinidad and Tobago
Denmark	Monaco	Tunisia
Dominican Republic	Moldova, Republic of	Turkey
Ecuador	Mexico	Taiwan, Province of China
Spain	North Macedonia	Ukraine
Estonia	Malta	Uruguay
Finland	Montenegro	United States
Fiji	Mongolia	Uzbekistan
France	Mozambique	Holy See (Vatican City State)
Micronesia, Federated States of	Mauritius	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
United Kingdom	Malawi	Vanuatu
Georgia	Malaysia	Samoa
Gambia	Namibia	South Africa
Greece	Nicaragua	Zambia
Grenada

Note: Before booking your trip, review the passport and travel information for your destination, including visa rules and entry restrictions.

Canada Passport Benefits

The Canadian passport offers many advantages, such as:

• Visa-fee-travel: The Canada passport ranks 7th among Global passports. It provides visa-free access to 187 countries. Our Canadian passport ranking system shows high mobility, investment, and quality of life index.
• Social benefits: Canadian citizenship has extensive healthcare coverage, welfare programs, child benefits, student aid, pensions, and other types of finances.
• Job prospects: Canadian citizenship provides easier access to government-funded programs. Canadian citizens can quickly obtain a work permit or resident status in many foreign countries, providing them with opportunities to work across international markets.
• Diplomatic ties: Frequent travelers between Canada and the US benefit from having a valid Canadian passport. Canada has a stable political environment and international relations with many foreign countries. The Government of Canada has diplomatic and consular offices in more than 270 destinations.
• Voting rights: Canadian citizens with a valid passport can vote in provincial, federal, and municipal elections.
• Generational benefits: Canadian citizenship can be passed down to your children. You can also use it to sponsor family members who live in a foreign country.
• Dual citizenship Canada: The Government of Canada enables dual citizenship, which means you can keep your Canadian citizenship and that of a foreign country. Not all travel documents permit a dual nationality.

How to get a Canadian passport?

To get a Canadian passport, applicants must have Canadian citizenship. The three main ways to citizenship are Canadian citizenship by birth, descent, and naturalization.

However, business immigration programs, through Canada citizenship by investment, can provide permanent residency (PR) to non-Canadians. A permanent resident card could eventually lead to citizenship. These programs attract foreign entrepreneurs eager to invest in Canada.

To start the process for a valid passport in Canada:

• Find out if you are eligible. You must be a Canadian citizen to apply. Canadian citizenship by descent is available to people born in a foreign country to at least one Canadian parent.
• Collect the forms, photos, and documents. Fill out a new passport application form and provide the necessary paperwork. The documents to include are identification documents, birth certificates, proof of citizenship, and other supporting documents.
• Submit your application. Lodge your application with the local passport office or at a Service Canada Center.
• Pay the passport fee. Pay a fee for the type of passport you apply for.
• Wait for processing. Your application will be processed, and you will receive a notification when the new passport is ready.
• Pick up your passport. You can visit the local passport office to receive the travel document or mail it to your home without scheduling a Canada passport appointment.

Document Requirements for Canadian Passport

When it comes to documents applying in Canada, you need original or photocopies of forms, photos, and documents for passports and other travel documents. If your documents are not in English or French, you will need a certified translation.

The documents to include are:

• Application form: General application forms for passports collect detailed personal information from all applicants. They ensure that the information you fill in matches your other documents.
• Documents to verify your identity: This can be an original or photocopy of your identification documents (ID), driver’s license, military ID, Certificate of Indian Status, employee identification card, health card, etc.
• Proof of citizenship: This can be a Canadian citizenship certificate or a birth certificate.
• Take a passport photo: You will need to present photo identification when submitting your paperwork in person. You must take a passport photo facing forward with a plain expression. The forms, photos, and documents provide a secure mechanism for official identification.

Canadian passport photo requirements

You must apply with the correct forms and photos that meet official requirements to get a passport. Passport photos have strict Canadian passport photo requirements. You must have a natural expression, face the camera, and use a simple, plain (or light-colored) background. Photos that appear to be outside may not meet the official requirements and can delay processing.

The photo must be:

• Taken in the last six months.
• Taken by a commercial photographer.
• Done in a way that depicts your facial features without any alterations.
• Sharp, clear, and in focus.
• In a full-frontal view of the head without coverings, tinted eyewear, or glare on glasses. Head covering is acceptable for medical and religious reasons.
• Measuring 2 inches wide X 23/4 inches (or 50 mm X 70 mm) in size.

The Government of Canada offers detailed passport and travel information to ensure applicants are well-prepared when submitting their forms, photos, and documents. Canadian passports include advanced security features to protect against fraud. If you need quicker processing times, you can request that your travel documents get urgent processing, provided that you submitted the correct paperwork and application forms with photos.

Canada Passport Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide

The steps below can walk you through the Canada passport application process.

• Step 1: Fill out the application forms for passport. Use the official Canada application form, type in your details, and print it.
• Step 2: Select a guarantor. This person can verify your identity and sign the application form.
• Step 3: Provide two references. Passports and other travel documents require references. It could be a romantic partner, family member, former spouse, or anyone related to you or your common-law partner.
• Step 4: Collect the following documents and send them to Passport Canada. The documents to include are proof of citizenship (e.g., Canadian citizenship certificate or birth certificate), identification documents, and two identical photos.
• Step 5: Submit your application to Passport Canada. You can submit the forms, photos, and documents in person or by mail. Use a trackable mail service like the Canada Post Xpresspost or a courier like FedEx and Purolator.
• Step 6: Pay the fees. When you submit the application for passports and other travel documents, you must pay a fee. The fees will vary depending on the service and types of passports you need.
• Step 7: Submit the receipt. Take the receipt with your documents and submit them at your local Embassy or Canadian consulate.
• Step 8: Wait for processing time. Depending on the service you selected, you usually wait 10 to 20 business days to get a passport.
• Step 9: Receive your valid passport. You can obtain your new passport in person or mail it to your home.

Canadian Passport Renewal

If your passport is expired or soon-to-expire, you need a new one. To renew your passport, fill out the Canadian renewal application form and provide proper identification, like your old passport, new photo, birth certificate, or Canadian citizenship.

You can renew your passport in person or by mail, and send it to Service Canada for applicants inside the country or to a Canadian embassy or consulate for applicants outside the country. Your application will be processed on behalf of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Canada passport renewal is a simpler process than getting a passport for the first time, especially if your old passport is still valid or recently expired. Make sure to provide the correct passport and travel information on your application form.

Processing Time for a Canadian Passport Application

The processing time varies based on the passport services and travel documents you select. You can access various passport services at embassies, including renewals and emergency replacements. You must also take into account whether you submit the documents in person or by mail.

With Standard pickup, the passport is ready after 20 business days. Express pickup provides a faster service, usually between 2 to 9 business days. Urgent pickup offers the fastest turnaround, and the new passport is ready by the end of the next business day.

If you lose your passport while traveling, embassies and consulates abroad can help issue an emergency replacement. Valid passports and other travel documents are critical documents to renew. Make sure to provide the necessary identification documents to re-enter Canada.

Validity Period of Canadian Passports

The Government of Canada issues passports that are valid for five to ten years, based on the age of the applicant. Adults get new passports that last from five to ten years, while children get valid passports for up to five years.

Your passport’s validity is marked by the expiry date listed on the main page. When you travel, make sure your passport is valid for at least three to six months after the date on which you plan to leave a foreign country.

How much does a Canadian passport cost?

The fees for a Canadian passport vary based on the passport type and passport services, such as $160 for a 10-year adult passport or $120 for a 5-year passport. You can pay online for certain passport applications, and you can expect to pay additional fees if your passport is lost, stolen, or if you get urgent or express service.

Standard pickup is the cheapest option at $20, but it takes the longest time. Expedited passport services, like urgent pickup at $110, can speed up the process but cost more. You can choose an express service or find a local office that processes passports faster.

Travel documents get urgent processing for different reasons, such as medical emergencies, last-minute business trips, and lost, stolen, or damaged passports. Find a service location

Below are the costs for passport services in Canadian dollars.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Passports

What is the current wait time for a passport in Canada?

As of 2025, standard service for Canadian passports takes about 20 business days. Urgent pick-up offers the shortest wait time, with your new passport ready by the end of the next business day. For a faster option that is still more affordable than urgent service, express pick-up will have your valid passport ready in two to nine business days. But it does come with an additional fee compared to standard processing.

How do I apply for a Canadian passport?

To apply for a passport in Canada, you will need the PPTC 153 application form for new applicants or the PPTC 054 for renewals. Make sure to provide proof of Canadian citizenship and passport photos. You can apply at the nearest Service Canada passport office or by mail to a Passport Program processing center, and they will offer passport services on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

What documents are needed to get a Canadian passport?

To complete a Canadian passport application, the Government of Canada requires you to submit documents that ensure you are a legal citizen, such as proof of Canadian citizenship, a provincial ID card, passport photos, and other supporting documents. You then fill out the application forms, such as PPTC 153 (Adult passport application) or PPTC 054 (Adult renewal passport application).

How long does it take to get a Canadian passport?

Standard processing for a passport in Canada takes 20 business days. But you can apply for urgent or express passport service for any last-minute business trips, emergencies, or other reasons you may have to travel outside Canada. Express and urgent services come at a higher cost.

What is the process to renew a Canadian passport?

To renew your old Canadian passport, you can submit the PPTC 054, which is a renewal passport application form for adults. If you are not eligible for a simplified renewal (for example, your passport was lost, stolen, damaged, or expired more than 15 years ago), you can file the PPTC 153, a general application form.

How do I replace a lost or stolen Canadian passport?

If your valid Canadian passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must report the loss or theft and apply for a replacement passport or travel documents. When a valid passport is lost, stolen, found, seized, the Government of Canada follows specific procedures to ensure its security.

How do I track the status of my Canadian passport application?

Canadians living in Canada or outside the country can track their passport application via the official status tracker published by the Government of Canada. Travel documents like this one use an online tracking service to let people know when they can collect their valid passports.

Can permanent residents of Canada get a Canadian passport?

No. Canadian passports are issued to Canadian citizens. If a permanent resident (PR) wants to travel outside Canada, they need a valid passport or travel documents from their country of citizenship, a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), or a PR card.

Is a Canadian passport proof of citizenship?

Yes, you can use your Canadian passport as proof of citizenship. Many countries see it as an acceptable document approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You can use it as a certificate of identity that proves your nationality.

How do I apply for a Canadian passport for a child?

To apply for a Canadian passport, parents must file the PPTC 042 (child application form). They also should include additional documents, such as proof of Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage, proof of custody, or adoption status. You must submit a new application every time you apply or reapply due to adoption.

Do I need a visa if I have a Canadian passport?

No. A valid Canadian Passport is provided to a Canadian citizen, which means you are free to enter or leave the country whenever you want. A Canadian visa and eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) are issued to a foreigner, non-resident of Canada. They are temporary documents for short-term stays.

How fast is urgent or express service for Canadian passport?

Urgent or express service provide the fastest processing times. A valid passport through urgent service is ready the following business day, while via express service it can take anywhere from two to nine business days.

Do entrepreneurs on a Startup Visa get a Canadian passport?

No. The Start-up visa doesn’t automatically grant you Canadian citizenship. You must first become a permanent resident through the Start-up Visa program for entrepreneurs. The Startup Visa lawyers and immigration consultants at Global Citizen Solutions can streamline the process for you and boost your chances of getting a PR status and eventually applying for Canadian citizenship.

What is a Nexus card, and how can it help me travel?

The NEXUS program is one of the trusted travel programs run by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

A Nexus card can sometimes be used instead of a valid passport when traveling between Canada and the US by land or sea. Canadian citizens need a valid passport or proof of citizenship to get a Nexus card. Nexus memberships are available to pre-approved, low-risk foreign nationals.

What is the Passport Program?

The Passport Program is a key component of the Government of Canada and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) for Canadian travelers or immigrants. It’s there to issue, recover, renew, withhold, or revoke any passport. This program can also provide information on how to use your valid passport, which has excellent security features.