Canada expands major modern change for passport renewals
Canadians preparing to renew their passport received some good news from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that aims to make the process “simpler and more convenient.”
Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced on Tuesday, July 28, that online passport renewal is now available to every eligible adult Canadian in Canada.
“Canadians expect passport services that work for their lives,” said Diab in a release. “Expanding online renewal gives eligible Canadians a simpler, more convenient way to renew their passports, without unnecessary barriers or delays.
“This is part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing work to modernize passport services and deliver public services that are responsive to the needs of Canadians today.”
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The IRCC first launched the online passport renewal pilot program in Canada on Dec. 15, 2024, but it was only available to a limited group of eligible Canadians. The initial rollout only accepted a small number of applications each day, with the immigration department slowly expanding access over time.
In a previous email to Daily Hive, a representative stated that the gradual rollout gives the immigration department a chance to test and adjust the system “as needed.”
“This allows us to closely monitor performance and quickly address any issues,” he stated. “As testing continues and capacity increases, more daily applications will be added.”
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Adult Canadians can complete their passport renewal application online by digitally submitting their application, photo file, and payment.
The Government of Canada also added that in-person and mail-in services will continue to be available for those who need or choose them.
IRCC also advised that online renewals utilize a 20-business-day service standard.
Those who require a passport with a faster turnaround time must apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or a passport office offering 10-business-day, express or urgent service options.
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Canadians can renew their passports online if they meet the following criteria in addition to all of the regular eligibility criteria:
- You’re applying to renew your own passport
- Your home and mailing address are in Canada, and you are able to receive your passport there
- You applied for your current passport when you were 16 or older
- Your current passport is a regular blue passport, which was valid for five or 10 years, shows your place of birth, and was issued in the last 15 years
- Your passport has expired or will expire in the next six months
- You don’t need a passport in the next 20 business days, in addition to mailing time (once you apply for a renewal, your current passport will be cancelled)
- You’ll use the same name, date of birth, place of birth and gender identifier on your new passport
- Your current passport is not damaged, seized or surrendered
- You have a digital passport photo
- You don’t have observations or notes on your passport, like a name that’s too long to be printed in full or if you have a diplomatic passport
- Your current passport hasn’t been seized or surrendered
- You’re not reporting a lost or stolen passport as found if it hasn’t already been returned to IRCC
Canada remains among the top 10 countries with the most powerful passport, according to the latest global ranking.
The 20th anniversary edition of the Henley Passport Index reveals that travellers from Canada can rest assured that their passport remains a valuable document. Henley & Partners is a U.K.-based investment immigration consultancy company that has been ranking passports since 2006. And a lot has changed since.
Now, the average passport can access 108 global destinations — up from just 58 countries twenty years ago — proving “how dramatically global mobility has expanded.”
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre