Frequently asked questions

Passport Canada is defined by the Canadian Passport Order, and is responsible for issuing, revoking, withholding, recovery and useof Canadian Passports. In 1990, Passport Canada became a Special Operating Agency (SOA). More ».

There are approximately 2.5 million passports issued every year.

In Canada, the fee for a child under 3 years of age is $22, for a child 3 to15 years of age, $37 and for a person over 16 years of age is $87.

In Canada, passport application forms may be obtained from any Passport Canada office, post office outlet or you may obtain them on-line. View a full list of where to obtain application forms.

The new application form requires the following information:

• Employment history
• Residential history
• Two references
• Documents to support identity

This information is required if you are:

• Applying for a passport on behalf of a child under the age of 16.
• Applying for a passport in your married name.
• A woman and you married a non-British Subject prior to January 1, 1947.

Yes, at a Canadian government office abroad where they have the facilities to issue Canadian passports. This service is often used in cases of lost or stolen passports.

In Canada, passports are delivered by Canada Post courier service. In the United States, passports are delivered by a private courier service.

If your passport or travel document is lost or stolen, report the particulars to the local police and to the nearest Passport Canada office. If abroad, report it to the police and to the nearest Canadian government office. More ».

You will need a visa to travel to certain countries. Your travel agent or the country's embassy or consulate in Canada can advise you of this requirement. Travel information and reports are also available from Foreign Affairs Canada.

The granting of a visa is the responsibility of the representative of the country you plan to visit. You may wish to check with your travel agent or consult your local telephone directory to obtain the address of the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit.

Persons wishing to visit Canada should contact the Canadian representative in their own country to obtain information on visa and entry requirements to Canada. You may also visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site.

The period of a passport's validity will vary depending on the age of the passport holder:

• Children under three years of age: Maximum of 3 years.
• Children three to fifteen years of age: Maximum of 5 years.
• Adult passport (sixteen years old and over): Maximum of 5 years.

No, you must re-apply by providing a completed application form signed by an eligible guarantor. You must also provide two identical photos and an original document of proof of Canadian citizenship, as you did when you applied for your first passport.

Canadian passports are valid for five years only and a new passport must be obtained upon expiry. This is in accordance with the Canadian Passport Order (SI/81-86) which governs passport issuance.

The requirement to submit your original birth certificate or citizenship certificate with every application for a passport is stipulated in the Canadian Passport Order which governs passport issuance.

We are currently rolling out a new processing system which will allow immediate verification of the previous record. This will enable us to examine and redefine our entitlement requirements and will lead to eliminating the need to present proof of citizenship a second time, and the need to obtain the signature of a guarantor, once the information has been electronically archived. Until this new system is fully functional, with assurances against fraud, current requirements must remain in place.

The new measure was announced on October 24, 2001, by Joseph Facal, Quebec Minister, Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration.

Since Passport Canada only accepts birth certificates that are recognized by provincial and territorial governments, baptismal and birth certificates issued by Quebec religious, municipal and judicial authorities prior to January 1, 1994 are no longer accepted.

No, you must provide the document listed on the application form. A Canadian passport is an official travel document to identify the bearer, not proof of citizenship.

Yes, it is always returned.

Yes, black and white and colour photographs are acceptable.

The intent of the passport guarantor policy is to provide us with the opportunity to have passport information verified by a Canadian readily identifiable in the community, who has known the applicant personally for at least two years. Because of this personal knowledge of the applicant, the guarantor is able to attest to the authenticity of the statements contained in the application, and to certify that the photos are a true likeness of that person.

A Canadian citizen residing in Canada, who has known you for at least two years and who meets our requirements on eligible guarantors. The guarantor must sign one of the two passport photos and the application form. Canadian citizens residing in the United States and overseas should consult the instructions attached to the application form for the list of eligible guarantors outside Canada.

If you have not known an eligible guarantor for at least two years, complete form PPT 132 "Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" available from any Passport Canada office.

Yes, as long as he or she meets the requirements as an eligible guarantor.

The term "signing officer" is not clearly defined from one financial institution to the next. It is therefore very difficult to determine if each signing officer's occupation meets Passport Canada's criteria for becoming a guarantor.

If your passport is issued in your surname at birth, you may have your spousal surname added as an observation. To avail yourself of this service, you need to submit the following:

1. Your passport.
2. A letter requesting the service.
3. The required fee.
4. Your marriage certificate or a supplementary identification issued in your married surname.

If your passport is issued in a previous married name, you should apply for a new passport. For more information, see How to obtain a Canadian passport.

If your passport is issued in your surname at birth, you may have your spouse's surname added as an observation. To avail yourself of this service, you need to submit your passport, a letter requesting the service, the fee and a statement confirming that you are in a conjugal relationship, residing at the same address as your spouse and that you have lived together for over a year. A supplementary identification issued to you in the conjugal relationship surname must be submitted to support the written statement.

Although we are unable to update your passport file, we recommend that you write your new address in the section provided on page 4 of your passport.

As the intent of the passport photo is to identify the person presenting his or her passport to border officials, it is essential that the photo accurately reflect the identity of the bearer. To avoid experiencing difficulties when travelling, we advise applicants whose appearance has changed significantly to obtain a new passport.

Passport Canada has developed a new design for the Canadian passport with enhanced security features making it even more difficult to alter or forge.

The technology used in creating this book is much more advanced than our previous model. The key changes have been made to the personal information page that identifies the bearer. The bearer's photo and signature will now be digitally printed and embedded in the page. Also, a thin security film now displays a complex pattern of images that are revealed as the passport book is tilted.

No. Border control and customs and immigration authorities around the world have been informed by Passport Canada that this new passport design is being phased into service as of May 2002. Passports in circulation are trusted and secure documents and will remain valid until they expire.

Generally, bearers of valid passports cannot apply for a new passport until the remaining validity on their current passport is six months or less.

The newly designed passport is one of many changes that are being implemented to ensure that the Canadian passport remains one of the most advanced and secure travel documents in the world.

If you have not known an eligible guarantor for at least six months, complete form PPT 326 "Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor" available from any Passport Canada office.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recommended a policy requiring every individual who travels by air to have his or her own passport. This policy has been put in place to combat the traffic of millions of children around the world who are often sold into slavery, child prostitution or worse. It increases the protection of children, by ensuring that they have a valid passport with a photo and other identifying information.

Only children 11 years of age or over are required to sign their own passports.

All documents pertaining to the custody of the child are required for examination. However, additional information may be required once the documentation is submitted, if Passport Canada determines that clarification of the situation is necessary.

No, Passport Canada will accept only white, bond quality, non-glossy paper. Coloured and 8.5 inches x 14 inches paper will be refused.

As your application form is scanned and processed electronically through the use of a form template, each entry on the form is viewed, verified, entered and stored through the automated processing system, requiring that information appear exactly in the locations specified by the form template and that the scanned information is clear. Any distortion may mean that your application will be rejected.

M02 is the template version that passport examiners will select when scanning an application form. This is to ensure that the appropriate template will be selected for the application form.

These forms interact best with Internet Explorer or Netscape.

To avoid using outdated versions of the forms, we recommend that you do not save to disk when downloading the form.

The Adobe Web site offers a customer support service. For this service, please visit the following site: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

Passport Canada will accept application forms that are consistent with our policy for clarity and readability. Forms printed on high-quality devices, such as laser, bubble-jet or ink-jet printers, are acceptable provided they meet the conditions outlined above.

If your passport or travel document is lost or stolen, report the particulars to the local police and to the nearest Passport Canada office. If abroad, report it to the police and to the nearest Canadian government office.

You should not begin your travel with a passport that will expire during your trip or shortly after your planned return. Many countries will not permit entry if your passport is not valid for several months beyond your date of arrival. In order to avoid experiencing difficulties while travelling, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before leaving if there is any possibility of expiry while you travel. See How to obtain a Canadian passport for more information.

Biometrics technology is a means of identifying a person or verifying the claimed identity of a person using unique physical or behavioural characteristics. Fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans are some of the biometrics commonly found in biometrics applications.

Although biometrics may conjure up futuristic images as depicted in Hollywood movies, biometry or the application of statistical analysis to biological data is a well-established science. Modern computing has allowed biometrics to be increasingly employed in the form of pilot projects in immigration settings such as airports, land border crossings and other service points. As an emerging technology, biometrics are beginning to be used in a range of public and private sector applications, such as hospitals and banks.

One of the main reasons why biometrics are becoming more popular is the increased need for accurate and efficient verification of identity. Biometrics provide the potential for improved security that is particularly important in the international travel context. It allows for stronger access control and strengthened document integrity. Biometrics are also promising in terms of facilitating travel. For example, biometrically-enhanced procedures may facilitate border crossings for frequent travellers. Registered individuals are able to speed through checkpoints faster while improving the integrity of the identification process. Biometrics may also provide a more convenient option for individuals than entering a PIN code, card, key or token.

Biometrics are used for two distinct purposes:

• To verify that an individual's identity documents are being presented by the legitimate bearer (this is known as "one-to-one match or verification"); or
• To identify or confirm the claimed identity of an individual by searching an existing database of biometric records for a match (this is known as "one-to-many match or identification").

An example of one-to-one match or verification might involve an individual business traveller who has a biometrics-enhanced travel document that contains a digital record of their fingerprint. When passing through an airport checkpoint, they insert a card into the machine and place their finger on a small reader. The biometrics system tries to match their real-time fingerprint against the record on the card. A match means the document presenter is the legitimate owner of the document.

An example of one-to-many match or identification could involve a database of known terrorists. As each person passes through the checkpoint with their biometrics-enhanced document, the biometrics system searches the database for identical records.

Fingerprints are the oldest and most widely recognized biometric. The stability and uniqueness of the fingerprint are well established. The largest application of fingerprint technology is an automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) used by police forces in Canada and in over 30 countries. Fingerprint verifiers are also used in non-criminal environments and in security applications in offices, airports, hospitals and military facilities.

Iris identification technology involves the acquisition, analysis, and comparison of the unique details contained in the intricate patterns of the furrows and ridges of the iris. This non-intrusive technology offers a high reliability rate for one-to-one verification and has been used in a variety of settings. Taking an iris scan of a person is not much different than taking a normal photograph, though the individual must look more closely into the camera, and may be required to remove glasses.

Facial recognition technology utilises distinctive features of the human face, in order to perform a biometrics match. Even though two individuals may look alike, the unique physiological patterns of their facial features will be different. It involves non-intrusive technology, very similar to photography that works best in conditions that capture consistent frontal-face images.

Many options are available for storing or retrieving biometrics information. One option is to store it on a document that has basic information on the surface and additional data imbedded inside a microchip. Another option is to store the information in segregated databases and design the document so that the databases cannot be linked.

An on-line database creates the ability to enrol clients, check for multiple enrolments, and verify claimed identity from all sites that process clients. This option offers the greatest challenge for securing and managing biometrics data in accordance with privacy legislation, for availability and reliability of the database, and for additional resources and infrastructure. An on-line database will best support the use of biometrics for meeting business requirements for higher security, including identification and verification from all points of service, and sharing with partners with compatible technology.

A combination of biometrics stored on a document and in an off-line database provides some clients control over the use of their biometrics data and the ability to detect multiple enrolment and fraud attempts. The implementation and management challenges are complex, but not as great as for an on-line database. This option offers flexibility in terms of using biometrics for facilitation, while providing for security.

Canada's privacy legislation is among the strongest in the world, with legislation in place in both federal and other government jurisdictions. It should be noted that any future use of biometrics technology would have to be compatible with Canada's existing legal and policy frameworks.

While biometrics can improve security, it also has the potential to enhance privacy. One of the greatest threats to individual privacy is to have one's identity documents stolen and used by someone else; biometrics are one way to assist in combating this type of crime. While not a panacea, biometrics are increasingly being considered as one measure to protect personal information, privacy an security.

In May 2003, ICAO adopted a blueprint for the integration of biometrics identification information into passports and other Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs). This blueprint will enable the 188 Member states to implement a global system of identity confirmation that adheres to international standards. The three technologies adopted by ICAO are facial recognition, fingerprint and iris scan. Face image was selected as the globally interoperable biometric for machine-assisted identity confirmation with MRTDs. Member states will have the option of using one or two secondary biometrics to supplement facial recognition.

SPTIG is a consortium of air carriers, airport operators, technology providers, and government control authorities. It was created in 2000 to examine how the transformation to biometrics technology could make life easier for the international traveller. Sponsored by the International Air Transport Association, the group reviews biometrics trials in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Israel and elsewhere. This group discusses both the standards and business issues that need to be addressed, and has begun a series of pilot projects that test various scenarios, and will ultimately establish guidelines for fully interoperable programs around the world.

In 2001, Canada and the U.S. ratified the 30 point Smart Border Action Plan. The first point refers to biometrics and calls for the joint development of common biometrics identifiers for travel documents, such as Canada's Permanent Resident Card and an agreement to adopt interoperable and compatible technology to read these biometrics.

Announced on January 5, 2004, U.S. VISIT makes concrete the need for certain countries to have in place a biometrics program for travel documents in order to continue participation in the Visa Waiver program. This requirement takes effect on October 26, 2004, and will affect 27 countries. Canada is exempt from this new requirement.

No, it does not contain a microchip that allows the storage of personal and biometrics data.

However, an electronic chip will soon become an enhanced security feature of the trusted Canadian passport.

The CANPASS-Air program is a joint initiative of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency that facilitates efficient and secure entry into Canada for pre-approved, low-risk commercial air travellers. CANPASS-Air allows the participants to clear customs and immigration by simply looking into a camera that recognizes the iris of their eyes as proof of identity.

Interoperability is a major issue in the biometrics field. Historically, there has been no interoperability between the Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems manufactured worldwide. This changed in 2000 when the ANSI-NIST standard was adopted worldwide for the exchange of fingerprints, palm prints, photographs, scars mark and tattoos. In Canada this is known as the National Police Services - NIST - Interface Control Document.

Since the events of September 11, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has worked actively on the standards issue, under Special Committee 37 (Biometrics). The RCMP, through National Police Services, is playing an active role in the development of ISO standards to ensure the investment in the ANSI-NIST standard for the exchange of fingerprint images is protected. At least seven other technical standards are also under development now. When these receive international approval, (expected over the next two years), interoperability will be less of a concern, provided countries follow though with implementation of the standards.

In response to biometrics standards development, many countries have been testing biometrics concepts. The following examples illustrate how biometrics technology is being piloted and used in travel documents and in travel facilitation:

The SmartGate system automates the identity verification process for aircrew crossing Australia's border. It simply performs the face to passport check currently undertaken by a Customs officer. The system uses photo-matching technology to compare a live image taken at the SmartGate transaction point against one or more stored images. SmartGate is being introduced by Australian Customs Service in partnership with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and Passports Australia.

In June 2003, Hong Kong began issuing smart ID cards to its citizens. The smart cards carry a fingerprint biometric and are intended to deter illegal immigration. The chip of the smart ID card will be used in multi-applications and will contain personal data, facial portrait and thumbprint of the cardholder.

To manage asylum cases, the government issues a biometric smart card to persons seeking protection in the Netherlands. It is used to manage the identity of individuals in the program and to access services and benefits. The Privium program for frequent flyers uses iris technology to expedite enrolled users through fast-track lanes upon departure and arrival.

The U.K. issues a smart card to persons seeking asylum that stores biometrics information in order to positively identify the cardholder. The card is used to access entitlements and services. In 2002, a six-month "Eye Ticket" trial was conducted at London Heathrow Airport that used iris recognition technology. The trial enabled those who were enrolled and pre-cleared by the U.K. Immigration Service to bypass immigration lines by looking into a reader for two seconds. According to the 2003-2008 Corporate Business Plans of the U.K. Passport Service, a biometric passport will be issued in 2004-2005.