What you need to apply for a passport
You need all of the following:
- proof of Canadian citizenship(opens in a new tab)
- This can be a birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
- If you have a paper certificate, it must be the original document, not a photocopy.
- If you have a citizenship e-certificate, you must attach a printed copy(opens in a new tab) .
- This can be a birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
- a document to support your identity(opens in a new tab)
- This can be a photocopy or the original.
- If you want to use a photocopy of your ID, make sure you show both sides and have it signed and dated by your guarantor or signing official.
- This can be a photocopy or the original.
- 2 identical passport photos
- a guarantor
- 2 references
If you have a Canadian passport or other travel document and it’s still valid, you also need to send us it.
Passport photo requirements
On the back of 1 of your photos, the photographer must write or stamp
- their studio or company name
- their complete address and
- the date the photos were taken
Your guarantor also needs to sign 1 of your photos.
Read the full photo requirements(opens in a new tab) for more information.
What your guarantor needs to do and who can be one
You need a guarantor to sign:
- your application form
- 1 of your passport photos and
- all copies of your supporting identity documents (ID)
They must:
- be 18 or older
- have known you for at least 2 years
- be a Canadian citizen
- have a 5-year or 10-year Canadian passport that, on the day you submit your application, is
- expired for no more than 1 year, or
- valid, meaning it isn’t or wasn’t
- expired
- damaged
- inaccessible
- suspended or revoked
- reported lost or stolen
- found and returned
- destroyed by us
- requested to be returned
- have been 16 or older when they applied for their passport
- include the necessary information from their passport on your application form
- be available if we need to contact them
Who can be a reference for you
Your references must
- be 18 or older
- have known you for at least 2 years
- agree to you using their name and contact information for your application
To avoid delays, make sure your references are available if or when we need to contact them.
- For example, they’re not travelling outside the country.
- If they’re in a different time zone, it may take longer to contact them, which could delay your application.
We may ask for additional references at any time.
Who can’t be a reference for you
Your references cannot be
- your guarantor
- a member of your immediate family
- your spouse or common-law partner
- your child or grandchild
- other members of your extended family
Read a full list of people who can’t be a reference
These people can’t be a reference on your renewal application:
- spouse or common-law partner
- Whether you’re the opposite or same sex, you’re considered common-law partners if you’ve lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 1 year, but you aren’t legally married.
- A boyfriend, girlfriend or romantic partner can be a reference if you’re not in a common-law relationship.
- If your marriage or common-law relationship has ended, your former spouse or partner can serve as a reference.
- Whether you’re the opposite or same sex, you’re considered common-law partners if you’ve lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 1 year, but you aren’t legally married.
- parent, step-parent, foster parent, or a parent’s spouse or common-law partner
- mother-in-law or father-in-law
- child (biological, adopted, foster or stepchild) or your child’s spouse or common-law partner
- son-in-law or daughter-in-law
- sibling (brother, half-brother or stepbrother, or sister, half-sister or stepsister) or your sibling’s spouse or common-law partner
- brother-in-law or sister-in-law
- grandparent (biological, adopted, step or foster grandparent) or your grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner
- grandmother-in-law or grandfather-in-law
- grandchild (biological, adopted, step or foster grandchild) or your grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner
- grandson-in-law or granddaughter-in-law
- anyone else who’s related to you or your spouse or common-law partner by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, adoption or guardianship and lives at the same address as you
- For example, if your aunt, uncle or cousin lives with you, they cannot be a reference.
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