Last May, the Government of Canada announced that it had been working to offer more online service options for Canadians, particularly when it comes to passport services.
The government said that starting in fall 2023, eligible Canadian passport holders would be able to renew their passport "securely and conveniently" online, eliminating the need to head to their local passport office.
However, the feds have since missed their own deadline to fulfill this promise. In 2024, online passport renewals are still not available to Canadians.
The initial announcement about introducing online passport renewals came as the government unveiled a new look for the Canadian passport featuring new design and security elements, including laser engraving of personal information, tactile elements and watercolouring, as well as a new cover design with a large outline of a maple leaf behind a blown-up image of Canada's coat of arms.
"Starting this fall, Canadians will be able to renew their passports through an online application, which will include payment processing and uploading their passport photo as well," Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said at the May 10 announcement.
However, this method has not yet been introduced.
In a statement emailed to Narcity, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said that the release of the online renewal service was postponed as "system assessments showed vulnerabilities."
"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," an IRCC spokesperson said.
According to IRCC, once introduced, the service will provide eligible Canadians an option to renew their passport, pay their fees and upload their passport photo online.
"This tool will also help us to better manage fluctuating application volumes and help ease the pressure on front-line staff, thereby improving client access to passport services," they said.
The spokesperson could not share any details of when the online service is expected to come into effect, but said that "any new developments would be communicated publicly."
The department also couldn't share any further details of who exactly will be eligible to use the online renewal service once it is in effect. However, in May, officials said that the system would only be for renewing a passport — so if you need to apply for a brand-new passport, you'll still have to do it the old-fashioned way.
"And it's important to remember that for children under the age of 18, even if you've had a previous passport, it's not considered a renewal. It's considered to be a new application for security and protection reasons," Karina Gould, the minister responsible for passports, also said at the time.
How to renew a Canadian passport in 2024
While renewing your passport online is currently not an option, there are still ways you can make the renewal process a bit easier.
Canadians can submit their application at any of the over 300 Service Canada Centres and scheduled outreach sites located across the country, which have a processing time of 20 business days or less.
They can also apply by mail, eliminating the need to visit an office in person.
Certain Service Canada Centres and passport offices also offer express service. A full list of locations and the processing times they offer can be found on the Government of Canada website.
