Types of Canadian passports

Passport Canada issues over 3 million travel documents annually, 98% of which are regular passports. There are six types of passports issued to Canadian citizens and two types of travel documents that are issued only to refugees and stateless persons living in Canada.

Regular passport

Canadians are most familiar with the 24-page passport. This passport is issued to Canadian citizens, and it is used for occasional travel, such as vacations and business trips.

Maximum validity period

The maximum validity period varies with the age of the passport holder as in, but not limited to, the following examples:

• Adults (16 years of age or over): 5 years
• Children (3 to 15 years of age): 5 years
• Children (Under 3 years of age): 3 years

Frequent traveller passport

The 48-page passport is much like the 24-page passport, but has extra pages for frequent travellers, such as business people.

Maximum validity period

The validity period for this passport is the same as for the regular passport.

Diplomatic passport

Passport Canada issues diplomatic passports to top ranking Canadian government officials, diplomats, as well as representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada to international governmental organizations and international conferences of a diplomatic character.

Maximum validity period

The validity period for this passport is determined by the issuing office.

Special passport

Passport Canada issues special passports to persons holding office, such as members of Parliament, Senators, members of provincial cabinets, and to persons employed by the Government of Canada in a non-diplomatic capacity travelling on an official mission or to a post abroad.

Maximum validity period

The validity period for this passport is determined by the issuing office.

Emergency passport

Canadians stranded abroad may be issued emergency passports by Canadian Government offices abroad on behalf of Passport Canada.

Maximum validity period

The validity period for this passport is determined by the issuing office.

Temporary passport

Selected Canadian Government offices abroad may issue temporary passports on behalf of Passport Canada to Canadians with an urgent and proven need for a passport, while they wait to receive a regular passport.

Maximum validity period

The validity period for this passport is determined by the issuing office.

Types of Travel Documents

Travel Document

(United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 and its Protocol of 1967)

Travel documents are issued to persons in Canada with protected-person status, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection.

Endorsements

A Travel Document is endorsed for travel to all countries (except the bearer's country of citizenship).

Maximum validity period

The validity period is determined by the issuing office.

Certificate of Identity

A Certificate of Identity is a travel document issued to persons legally landed in Canada for less than three years who are stateless or who are unable to obtain a national passport for a valid reason.

Endorsements

A Certificate of Identity is valid for travel to the countries specified in the document (except the bearer's country of citizenship).

Maximum validity period

The validity period is determined by the issuing office.