Travel/Passports/General
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Travel - Passports - General
Can I get a Canadian passport if I am not a Canadian citizen?
No. Canadian passports can only be issued to Canadian citizens. However, if you are a permanent resident and cannot get a passport from your country of origin, you might be able to obtain other travel documents from Canada. If you have protected person status as a refugee or person in need of protection, you may apply for a Travel Document. If you are a person legally landed in Canada for less than three years who is stateless or unable to obtain a national passport for a valid reason, you may apply for a Certificate of Identity. These documents do not constitute proof of your nationality, but will help you when traveling outside of Canada by proving your identity.
For more information about travel documents, you can call Passport Canada at 1-800-567-6868. You can also access information on the Passport Canada website.
I will be traveling to several countries outside of Canada, including the U.S. Do all countries require a passport for entry?
Most countries, but not all, require a passport for entry. It is the most reliable and generally accepted form of identification to prove your Canadian citizenship and your right to return to Canada. Even if a country does not require a passport for entry, it is always wise to travel with one because it can be replaced if it is lost or stolen, unlike a birth certificate or driver's licence.
Canadians entering or flying through the United States by air require a passport. This has been the case since January 23, 2007.
Until May 31, 2009, Canadians entering the United States by land (such as a motor vehicle) or by sea did not require a passport. Effective June 1, 2009, however, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires that people entering the United States from Canada by land (such as a motor vehicle) or sea to carry one of the following.
- Passport.
- NEXUS card.
- Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card.
- Enhanced driver's licence (EDL) or an enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province where a U.S.-approved EDL/EIC program has been implemented.
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status (when this certificate is available and approved by the United States).
Entry requirements for various countries including more about the United States, can be found on the Foreign Affairs and International Travel website.
How do I get a passport?
Passports are issued by Passport Canada, which is part of the federal government. You must apply through the Passport Canada office in Gatineau, Quebec or at a local office or receiving agent nearer to your home. For detailed information, please see Passport Canada.
Where can I get an application for a passport?
Applications are available online, from any regional passport office, at any Canada Post outlet or Service Canada Centre, or from any Canadian mission outside Canada. For more information about the passport office nearest you, you can call toll free 1-800-567-6868.
You can also look in the Government of Canada listings in your telephone book under "Passports" or on the Passport Canadawebsite.
Can I apply for a passport at a Canadian diplomatic or consular mission abroad?
Yes. Canadian diplomatic offices abroad (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) can issue passports.
What is a "diplomatic or consular mission"?
These offices can be seen as a sort of insurance policy that will provide you with protection and assistance in case of distress resulting from
- an accident,
- illness,
- theft,
- arrest or detention,
- natural disasters, or
- civil unrest that might occur while you are traveling outside Canada.
For more information, see the Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Canadian Offices Abroad website.
How do I submit my application form?
You can submit your passport application in person, by mail, or by courier. It is recommended that your documents be sent by courier to ensure their safety.
If you are a Canadian residing outside Canada and the United States, your application form can be submitted to the same office from which you obtained the application form or to the nearest passport-issuing office.
How much does it cost to get a passport?
Currently, it costs $87 to get a passport. For children, the fees are $22 (under three years of age) or $37 (for ages 3 to 15). GST is not charged on passports. You should always check the current fee rate before applying for your passport.
You may pay the fee with cash, debit card (Interac), credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), money order (postal or bank), or certified cheque. The cheque should be made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. The Passport Office stresses that you should not mail cash.
If you are a Canadian citizen residing outside of Canada and the USA, please refer to Passport Canada for more information.
How will I receive my passport and how long will it take?
Your passport will be delivered by courier or you may pick it up in person.
If you are picking up your passport from a local office, it may be ready for pickup within 10 working days of receipt of a correctly completed application form. If you mail in your application to the Passport Office in Gatineau, Quebec, it may be ready within 20 working days of receipt of the correctly completed form. For more information, see Passport Canada.
Note: You should apply well in advance of your date of travel in case there are any delays in getting the application completed.
How long is a passport valid?
- For adults (age 16 and over), a passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years.
- For children under the age of 3, a passport is valid for a maximum of 3 years.
- For children ages 3 to 15, a passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years.
What should I do if my passport or travel document is lost or stolen?
You are required to report that it was lost or stolen to the local police, and the nearest Passport Office or Canadian diplomatic or consular mission, see: Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Canadian Offices Abroad.
What should I do if my passport expires while I am outside Canada?
You should contact the nearest Canadian diplomatic or consular mission to apply for a new passport. See: Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Canadian Offices Abroad
However, you should never begin traveling with a passport that will expire during your trip. You may not be allowed to enter some countries if you passport is not valid for several months into the future. You should always obtain a new passport well before your current one expires.
Do I need a visa as well as a passport?
Some countries will not allow entry to visitors unless they have a visa issued by that country. Ask your travel agent or the country's embassy or consulate in Canada about visa requirements. Information is also available from Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Visas.
Are all Canadian citizens automatically entitled to a passport?
No, they are not. There are several reasons why the Passport Office might refuse to issue you a passport. Some of these reasons include the following:
- You failed to provide all the required information or documentation.
- You are charged in Canada or abroad with committing an offence.
- You have been convicted of giving false information to obtain a passport.
- You have been convicted of possessing a forged passport.
- You owe the Canadian government money for assisting you in the past when you were in trouble when you traveled abroad.
- You permitted another person to use your passport.
- You used your passport to assist you in committing an offence in Canada or abroad, such as using it to bring in goods or immigrants illegally into Canada.
I am a Canadian citizen that has just been released from prison and do not have a valid passport – when and how can I get one?
Just like every other Canadian citizen, you can apply for a passport. You do not need a pardon.
However, Passport Canada may refuse to grant you a passport. Some common reasons that passports are refused are listed in the previous answer. Some additional reasons for refusal that may apply in your situation are:
- if you are currently charged in Canada with the commission of an indictable offence;
- if you are currently charged outside Canada with an offence that would, if committed in Canada, be considered an indictable offence;
- if you are forbidden to leave Canada, or a part of Canada, by conditions imposed with respect to:
- any temporary absence, work release, parole, statutory release or other absence / release from a prison or place of confinement;
- any alternative measures, judicial interim release, release from custody, conditional sentence order or probation order; or
- any absence without escort from a prison granted under any Canadian law.
- if you are subject to a term of imprisonment outside Canada or are forbidden to leave a foreign state or the jurisdiction of a foreign court by release conditions similar to those listed above;
- if you have been convicted of passport forgery either in Canada or outside Canada.
In addition, Passport Canada may refuse to grant a passport if they believe it is necessary for the national security of Canada or another country.
However, even you are granted a passport, having a passport does not necessarily mean you will be able to travel to the United States or other countries. Each country has its own rules about who is allowed to enter that country.
I am a young adult and up until now I have been included on my mother's passport. Can I use hers since my name is on it already?
No. You must apply for your own passport. Even children must now have their own passports. A person's name can only appear on one valid Canadian passport at a time. This means that your mother must submit her passport, at the same time as your application, to have your name taken off her passport. She will not be charged for this service. Be sure to take her passport with you when you go to make your application.
This page was last updated in November, 2007.
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