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How to apply for a child passport from abroad

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Canada
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Outside Canada and the US

A Canadian passport is a travel document that Canadian citizens can apply for.

A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years. It’s valid until it reaches its expiry date, even after the child turns 16.

 You can’t renew a child passport. When the child turns 16, they can apply for a new adult passport.

Until then, you need to apply for a new child passport when it expires.

Who can apply for a child passport

To apply for a child passport, you must be one of the following:

All parents or legal guardians should sign the application form.

  • If you don’t know where the other parents or legal guardians are, contact us.
  • We may contact the other parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

What we mean by “decision-making responsibilities”

The term decision-making responsibility is new. The amended Divorce Act (opens in a new tab) defines decision-making responsibility as the ability to make significant choices about a child’s well-being. For example, decisions about health, education, religion and extra-curricular activities.

These decisions can be made whether or not the child is currently in the care of the parent (for example, when the child is spending time with the other parent).

If you’re worried that someone might apply for a passport for your child without your consent

Find out how to add your child’s name to a special list for their safety.

Forms, instructions and fees

Answer the questions below. We’ll then

  • give you all the forms you need
  • tell you how to submit your application
  • show the costs for different passport services

You need to contact us as soon as possible to report the theft or loss of your previous passport.

Apply for a child passport outside Canada and the United States

If you need a passport urgently, contact the nearest Government of Canada office. Additional fees apply.

1. Complete the application form

  • Fill out the form on your computer to save time.
    • Save the form on your computer and use Adobe Reader 10 or higher.
    • Don’t use your phone or tablet. The form will not work properly.
  • Read the instructions at the end of the form to make sure you’ve completed it properly.
  • Sign each page of the application.
  • Each parent or legal guardian should sign the application. We may contact the other parent or legal guardian.

 Download the child abroad passport application [PPTC 042] (PDF, 1.57 MB)

If your passport is lost or stolen but still valid

Since your passport is still valid, you also need to

If your passport is damaged but still valid

Since your passport is still valid, you also need to add a complete declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document (PDF, 1.33 MB) to your application.

If both parents or legal guardians cannot sign the form, contact us and we’ll tell you what to do.

Get help with the form or alternate formats
If your passport has a valid visa in it

Tell us on your form if you need the visa and want your original passport back. If you don’t, the visa could be damaged when the previous passport is cancelled.

2. Get all the required documents and the child’s passport photo

Include the following documents with your application:

  •  proof of the child’s Canadian citizenship (opens in a new tab)
    • a long form birth certificate from the Canadian province or territory where the child was born or a citizenship certificate
      • If you have a paper citizenship certificate, it must be the original document, not a photocopy.
      • If you have a citizenship e-certificate, you must attach a printed copy
      • The name on the proof of citizenship is what will appear on the passport.
  •  proof of parentage (opens in a new tab) or proof of legal guardianship
    • Proof of parentage is required with every child passport application. New
  •  all documents that relate to custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time or mobility of the child (opens in a new tab), including any divorce judgment or order
  •  any valid Canadian passport or other travel document issued in the child’s name
  •  2 identical passport photos of the child
    • The back of 1 of the photos must have all of the following:
      • The photographer must write the name and complete address of the studio and the date the photo was taken.
        • They can handwrite this or use a stamp.
        • Stick-on labels are not accepted.
      • Your guarantor (opens in a new tab) must also sign the back of this photo.
    • Read the full photo requirements (opens in a new tab) for more information.

Passport photo requirements abroad may be different than in Canada

Your photos must follow Canadian photo requirements. We’ll reject and return your application to you if you don’t submit an acceptable photo.

To avoid any problems, print a copy of the passport photo specifications (PDF, 652.38 KB) and bring it to the photographer.

All your documents must be in either English or French. If a document is in another language, you must provide an official translation(opens in a new tab) .

3. Find a guarantor

You need a guarantor to sign

  • your child’s application and
  • 1 of the 2 passport photos

The guarantor must

  • have known you personally for at least 2 years and
  • know of the child

 Avoid this mistake

Don’t forget to

4. Pay your fees

Your fees depend on what services you’re getting and how you’re applying.

Fees and methods of payment for applications outside Canada and the U.S. (opens in a new tab)

You won’t receive a refund for the service fee if you

  • cancel your application
  • are refused a passport or travel document
  • are issued a passport for a shorter validity period than requested
    • For example, if we issue a passport that’s valid for less than 5 years, despite you applying for a 5- or 10-year passport.
      • This may happen if you’ve lost your passport multiple times.

Only the consular fee, which applies to all adult applications, is refundable if a passport is not issued.

5. Submit your application

After you pay the fees, submit your application and payment receipt to the nearest Government of Canada office abroad.

6. Get your passport

The office you applied at will let you know when your passport is ready. They will also tell you when and how you can pick it up.

If you applied by mail

We’ll return your passport and any original documentation to you. They may arrive in 2 separate packages.

Never sign your child’s passport for them

  • It does not need a signature until they are 16 and older.
  • A parent’s or legal guardian’s signature makes it invalid.
    • If you sign your child’s passport, you’ll need to apply for a new one and pay all the fees.
  • Print the signature policy (PDF, 601 KB) and bring it with you when you travel in case someone asks you to sign it.

If they want, the child may sign the passport themselves. We encourage them to sign it if they’re 11 or older, but they don’t have to.

If you’re moving, but haven’t received your passport yet

Contact us to update your mailing address if you

  • haven’t received your passport and
  • are moving within 30 days of submitting your application

You must provide proof that you need the passport

Proof you need the passport can be

  • an airline, bus or train ticket
    • If travelling by car, a written statement explaining why you need to travel
  • a travel itinerary showing proof of payment
  • proof of illness or death in the family requiring you to travel
  • a written statement from you or a third party explaining why you need the passport
    • For example, for legal, banking or residency requirements

If we can’t deliver the passport in time to you or your child, we aren’t liable for any losses.

We recommend that you don’t finalize any travel plans until you get your passport.

How to open our forms

You need to

  • use your computer
    • The forms may not open on mobile devices (iPads, tablets, mobile phones).
  • save the file on your computer in a place you can remember
  • use Adobe Reader 10 or higher to open the file on your computer

For more help, see our step-by-step instructions on downloading and opening PDFs. If you still have trouble opening the forms, contact us online or call us at 1-800-567-6868. If you’re outside Canada or the United States, contact the closest Canadian government office abroad.

Passport number, date of issue, and date of expiry

An example of a passport is shown, with the date of issue, date of expiry, and passport number each highlighted.

Check the date of issue. If the date it was issued is within the past 15 years and you meet the other eligibility requirements, you can apply to renew your passport.

You need to contact us as soon as possible to report the theft or loss of your previous passport.

Apply for a passport for a child being adopted outside Canada

If your passport is lost or stolen but still valid

Since your passport is still valid, you also need to

If your passport is damaged but still valid

Since your passport is still valid, you also need to add a complete declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document (PDF, 1.33 MB) to your application.

Children adopted abroad by Canadian citizens may be granted citizenship if the adoption meets certain criteria. Children adopted abroad who are granted Canadian citizenship can receive passport services. Read more about citizenship and international adoption.

Returning to Canada with an adopted child

If you are travelling overseas and need to apply for a Canadian passport to return to Canada with your adopted child, a passport application can be submitted at a Canadian government office abroad as soon as the adopted child has been granted Canadian citizenship.

Note: You should submit the passport application at the Government of Canada office that processed the grant of citizenship or the Government of Canada office responsible for issuing passports to Canadian residents in the country where the adopted child lives (if different).

Adopted children under 16 years of age

Because you are outside Canada or the United States, adoptive parents should complete: Child passport application for Canadians applying abroad (PPTC 042) (PDF, 414.93 KB).

A limited-validity passport may be issued once all passport application requirements have been met. A temporary passport may be issued if urgent travel is required. An additional processing fee will apply.

Adopted children 16 years of age or over

For passport applications, children 16 years of age or over are considered adults. Therefore the child (over the age of 16) should complete the form.

Because you are outside Canada or the United States: Adult passport application for Canadians applying abroad (PPTC 040) (PDF, 395.45 KB).

Once you have submitted the application and we have verified that the requirements have been met, an emergency travel document for immediate return to Canada may be issued.

Dual citizenship

In the case of countries that do not recognize dual citizenship, we may issue a facilitation visa in the adopted child’s foreign national passport. Should the applicant choose nonetheless to apply for a Canadian passport, he or she will be asked to sign a waiver recognizing the risks of holding two passports.

Read more about travelling as a dual citizen.

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