Passports

The passport is an official document issued by the Government of Canada to Canadian citizens for travel to a foreign country. The first Canadian passports were issued in 1862; consult the Passport Office Web page History of passports [www.ppt.gc.ca/passport_office/history_e.asp] to learn more.

The Passport Office [www.ppt.gc.ca/menu_e.asp] is responsible for issuing passports in Canada. It does not retain expired passports or passport applications.

Immigrants to Canada keep passports issued to them in their home countries; they are not required to surrender them to the Government of Canada.

Research at Library and Archives Canada

The Government of Canada did not keep copies of passport applications or passports issued to individuals. Only a few samples, retained for historical purposes, are held at Library and Archives Canada. These 169 files relate to passports issued between 1891 and 1920 and can be found in the Consular Division series of the Department of External Affairs fonds (RG 25 A5).

Passports held at Library and Archives Canada

A few private fonds contain Canadian and foreign passports issued to particular individuals. Use the General Inventory and Government of Canada Files databases to find references to these fonds.

Keyword: "passport" and surname

Research in Other Institutions

American Passports

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in the United States holds American passport applications from October 1795 to March 1925. Most records have been microfilmed.

Passport Applications [www.archives.gov/genealogy/passport/]

British Passports

The National Archives in England holds some registers and records of British passports.

Passport Records [www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=109]

Related Topics

LI-RA-MA Collection (Imperial Russian Consular records)
Citizenship
Immigration