Request for limited-validity travel document in special circumstances under urgent, compelling and compassionate considerations

The Passport Program will consider, in special circumstances, issuing a limited-validity travel document (LVTD) to an individual who is subject to an entitlement investigation or a period of refusal of passport services. A LVTD with geographical limitations may be issued to the applicant provided the Passport Program is satisfied that the reason for the request is urgent, compelling and compassionate.

The applicant must provide verifiable documentation with his or her request.

A LVTD may be issued under urgent, compelling and compassionate reasons if all three of the following criteria are met:

1. Urgent: the situation conveys a sense of urgency and requires immediate action from the applicant;
2. Compelling: the applicant must be the person to resolve the situation;
3. Compassionate: the situation elicits a sympathetic reaction following unusual or distressing circumstances that lead to the LVTD request.

In cases where the applicant’s need to travel directly involves a family member, a family member is defined as being one of the following:

1. applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
2. applicant’s child;
3. child of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
4. applicant’s father or mother;
5. spouse of common law partner of applicant’s father or mother;
6. father or mother of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
7. applicant’s brother or sister;
8. brother or sister of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
9. applicant’s grandfather or grandmother;
10. applicant’s grandchild.

The applicant must confirm his or her relationship with the family member (documentation to support the stated relationship with the family member may be requested).

If the reason for the need to travel directly involves any other person with whom the applicant has a close personal relationship, the applicant must provide documentation that supports his or her claim that the relationship is close enough to be considered.

The Passport Program follows a set of general principles when reviewing and determining an applicant’s entitlement to a LVTD under urgent, compelling and compassionate considerations. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. The circumstances that trigger the request must be beyond the applicant’s control.
2. The applicant must provide all documentation to support his or her request.
3. For the Passport Program to initiate the review of the request, the applicant must confirm, verbally or in writing, that all the documentation in support of the request has been provided.
4. the Passport Program will evaluate the information submitted based on its own merits.
5. The documentation submitted by the applicant may be verified before a decision is rendered by the Passport Program.
6. The applicant may be contacted by the Passport Program during the course of the review if clarification or additional documentation is required.
7. The destination and duration of the stay requested by the applicant must be reasonable and consistent with the initial circumstances that triggered the request. If a LVTD is issued, the duration of validity will be determined by the Passport Program.
8. If the Passport Program determines that the request does not meet the requirements and subsequently refuses to issue a LVTD, the applicant will be informed of the decision in writing with an explanation for the refusal.

   Note: Each request for a LVTD under this process is evaluated separately and on its own merits. Should changes arise in the circumstances surrounding the request after a decision has been rendered that the applicant would like the Passport Program to consider, the applicant may submit a new, duly completed request including all the necessary documentation and fees.

9. If the issuance of a LVTD is authorized, the applicant will be informed of the consequences of any prohibited actions or use of the LVTD and be required to acknowledge and sign an agreement. Prohibited action or use of the LVTD includes, but is not limit to, failure to return the LVTD in accordance with the agreement, abuse or misuse of the LVTD, overstaying the duration of the LVTD, etc.

Required Documentation

An individual who is subject to an entitlement investigation or currently subject to a period of refusal of passport services that wishes to submit a LVTD request under urgent, compelling and compassionate considerations must provide to the Passport Program the following documentation in support of the request:

1. A duly completed travel document application with applicable fees.
2. A detailed written statement, signed and dated, demonstrating the urgency of the situation, the compelling aspect of the situation, and why it should be deemed compassionate. The applicant must demonstrate to the Passport Program that the circumstances that triggered the travel document request are urgent, compelling and compassionate.
3. Documentation to support the circumstance(s) that triggered the LVTD request, e.g. a death certificate, medical letter or other. The documentation must be legible and verifiable including contact information that enables the Passport Program to verify the authenticity of the document and the veracity of the information contained therein.

   Note: The applicant must submit all documentation he or she wishes the Passport Program to consider when reviewing the request. the Passport Program will initiate the review once the applicant confirms that all documentation has been submitted.

4. A signed and dated written statement explaining the relationship if the need to travel involves a family member or any other person with whom the applicant has a close personal relationship. Additional documentation to support the stated relationship may be requested.
5. An itinerary indicating the intended departure and return date, with the expected route.

   Note: Only the itinerary is required for the Passport Program to initiate the review. Paid proof of travel is not required. A ticket should not be purchased until the applicant is informed that the issuance of a LVTD has been authorized.

6. A copy of the paid proof of travel will be required when the LVTD is picked up.

The Passport Program may request additional documentation.

Any document submitted in support of the request written in a language other than English or French must be translated by a certified translator. The applicant must submit all original documents along with the translations.

Failure to submit any of the above may result in the refusal to issue a LVTD.

If the Passport Program has refused the issuance of a passport or travel document, or if a passport or travel document has been revoked because of a court-imposed condition, such as conditions limiting the applicant’s movement, the applicant must contact the court of the competent authority to have such conditions lifted before the Passport Program will consider a new application. The new court document must be presented with the application.