Is your Canadian passport expiring soon? If you need to renew your passport and don't know where to start, we've got you covered.
There are several ways to renew your passport in Canada, and we're making things easy by laying out exactly what you'll need, the best way to renew your passport and when to do so before your next trip.
If your passport is expiring soon, don't put off getting a new one any longer -- here's what you need to know about renewing it in 2024.
Can I renew my Canadian passport?
You can renew your passport if your last passport was an adult passport that was issued when you were at least 16 years old and within 15 years of the date you that apply for your renewal.
If you're under 16 or your last passport was a child passport, you'll need to apply for a new Canadian passport.
Your old passport must also have been valid for 5 or 10 years and have the same name, date of birth and place of birth that you want on your new passport. To renew, it must also have the same gender identifier as you want on your new passport -- if you want to change any of these details, you'll have to apply for a new one.
You can also renew your passport if it was lost, damaged or stolen, as long as it was issued within 15 years of the date you apply, and you meet all the other eligibility requirements.
When to renew your Canadian passport
You don't have to wait for your passport to expire to renew it. If it's getting a bit long in the tooth, you can renew it before it expires to save yourself the hassle of possibly having to rush to get it renewed before travelling.
Some countries also require that your passport be valid for a certain amount of time after you leave the destination, not just for how long your stay is.
For example, Vietnam requires that your passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave the country. So if your passport is set to expire three weeks after your trip to Vietnam, you wouldn't meet the country's entry requirements.
You'll also want to leave room for processing time for your passport renewal, especially if you're using your passport for the purposes of identification.
However, you also don't want to renew it too soon, if you don't need to -- according to the Government of Canada, if you apply to renew your passport more than a year before it expires, you'll be asked for the reason for your early renewal and will have to include a written explanation if submitting your application by mail.
How do I renew my Canadian passport?
There are multiple ways you can renew your passport, depending on how quickly you need it. To find out the best way for you, you can fill out the questions online from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The easiest way is to mail in your passport renewal, which has a processing time of 20 business days. You can apply by mail or walk in with this method.
Be warned, however, that even in 2024, passport offices are still experiencing lengthy wait times. As of January 19, 2024, walk-in wait times for several offices in the Greater Toronto Area were upwards of 2 hours. You can check wait times at your local office online.
Depending on how soon you need the passport, you can also book an appointment at an office to make sure you get service that day.
To start, complete the simplified adult passport renewal application, which can be filled out online. You'll need to have the date your passport was issued, the date it expired or expires, the passport number, your most recent passport, if it’s still valid, and two identical passport photos with the photographer's name, address, and the date the photos were taken written on the back.
While you don't need a guarantor to renew a passport, you will need two references as part of your application. A reference must have known you for at least two years and cannot be a family member.
Once your application has been mailed and your passport is processed (allow 20 business days for this) it will be mailed to you. Mail time is usually five business days (on top of processing time) but it can vary across the country.
If you need your passport sooner, you can use the Express Pick Up option, which has a processing time of two to nine business days. However, you can only apply for the express pick-up renewal by going to a passport office that offers the service. You may also need to provide proof you need the passport sooner.
IRCC also offers an Urgent passport renewal service, which allows you to get your passport by the end of the next business day. To use this service, however, you'll have to go to a passport office with urgent pickup and must provide proof that you need the passport.
How much does it cost to renew a Canadian passport?
If you want to get a 5-year adult passport, you'll have to pay a fee of $120. A 10-year adult passport is a bit more at $160.
However, additional fees may apply if you need to replace a lost or stolen passport, need urgent and express processing, require standard pickup at a passport office, or need other administrative services.
If your passport is lost or stolen, you'll have to pay an additional fee of $45. If you require urgent pickup, you'll have to pay $110. Express pickup (2-9 business days) costs $50 on top of your passport fees, and standard pickup (on or after 10 business days) costs an additional $20.
Can I renew my Canadian passport online?
In May 2023, the Government of Canada announced that residents would soon be able to apply to renew their passports online, eliminating the need to head to their local passport office.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said at the time that Canadians would be able to renew their passports through an online application, which would include payment processing and uploading their passport photo, coming in the fall of 2023.
However, this method has not yet been introduced.
"The release of the online application was postponed as system assessments showed vulnerabilities," Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Narcity in an email.
"We are making improvements to safeguard essential services for Canadians and mitigate potential risks. We remain committed to creating a reliable and secure online passport-renewal system."
The IRCC says that Canadians can continue to renew their passport by mail or in person until online renewals become available.
How do I get the new Canadian passport?
In May, officials unveiled a new look for the Canadian passport that features several new design elements and security features, including a brand-new cover.
The new document features laser engraving of personal information, tactile elements and watercolouring, as well as a new cover design that features a large outline of a maple leaf alongside a blown-up image of Canada's coat of arms.
The government said it began issuing the new passports as of June 18, 2023. However, officials also said that until they finish installing the printers for the new passports in all offices, you may still get the current Canadian passport when you apply or renew yours.
The government says it will be only issuing the new passports as of the spring of 2024.
