What you need to renew your passport
You need all of the following:
You need everything listed above to renew your passport. You need to apply for a new passport if you don’t.
If it’s still valid, you also need to send us your most recent passport.
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
You do not need a guarantor’s signature on the photo. Passport renewals don’t need a guarantor.
Read the full photo requirements(opens in a new tab) for more information.
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
- 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.
Passport number, date of issue, and date of expiry
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.
Page details
- Date modified: