Getting your first Canadian passport after citizenship: fees, documents, guarantor and processing times

An adult Canadian passport applied for in Canada costs $163.50 for 10 years or $122.50 for 5 years, and a child's passport costs $58.50. These fees have applied since 31 March 2026. A new citizen can't apply for their first passport online, because the online service is for renewals only. You'll submit Form PPTC 153 on paper, in person or by mail, with your citizenship certificate, two photos, a guarantor's signature and details of two references.

Why your first passport is a new application, not a renewal

On 28 July 2026, the federal government opened online renewal to all eligible adults in Canada, but only for renewals. To qualify, you must have a previous Canadian passport that you applied for at age 16 or older, issued within the last 15 years, and expiring within six months or already expired.

Someone who has just become a citizen has no previous Canadian passport, so they automatically fall under the "new adult passport" process. That process requires a guarantor and two references, which renewals don't.

If you hold another citizenship, don't put off applying. IRCC states that dual citizens can't fly to or transit through Canada on a non-Canadian passport, with the exception of Canadian-American dual citizens. There is a "special authorization" for people travelling within the next 10 days, but it's valid for only 4 days from the travel date and requires your other passport to be from a visa-exempt country.

Canadian passport fees in 2026

The government raised most passport fees on 31 March 2026, the first increase since 2013, and says fees will now be adjusted every year under the Service Fees Act. Every application received since 30 April 2026 must include the new fees, or it will be considered incomplete.

The urgent pickup fee is added to the passport fee; it doesn't replace it. There's also an "express pickup" fee for 2 to 9 business days, which appears in the official fee list, so check it before you pay. The service fee isn't refunded if you cancel your application, if it's refused, or if you're issued a passport valid for a shorter period than you asked for.

Should you choose 5 years or 10? The difference is only $41, and a 10-year passport saves you a renewal. If you expect your name or appearance to change a lot, though, the shorter one may suit you better.

Documents you need for your first Canadian passport

• Proof of citizenship: your original Canadian citizenship certificate. If you have an electronic certificate, include a printed copy.
• Identity document: the original or a copy of both sides, such as a provincial driver's licence. If you send a copy, your guarantor must sign and date it.
• Two identical photos that meet the passport specifications (details below).
• Form PPTC 153, completed and signed by your guarantor, with your references' details.
• The fees, paid by an accepted method.

If you apply in person, your citizenship certificate is returned to you right away. If you apply by mail, it's sent back separately and may take up to 6 weeks to arrive. So if you need the certificate for something else soon, apply in person.

The guarantor and two references: the rule that trips up new citizens

Who can be your guarantor?

Your guarantor signs the form, one of the photos and the copies of your identity documents. They must:

• Be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older.
• Have known you personally for at least two years.
• Hold a valid Canadian passport, or one that expired no more than a year ago, which they got when they were 16 or older.
• Be available for passport officials to contact if needed.

Many newcomers don't know a Canadian citizen who meets these conditions and has known them for two years. The official alternative is a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (Form PPTC 132). You get it from IRCC and sign it in front of someone authorized to administer oaths, such as a notary or a commissioner of oaths, at your own expense. That person also signs the copies of your identity documents to confirm they've seen the originals. You'll find notaries and commissioners of oaths in our directory.

The two references

You need two people, each aged 18 or older, who have known you for at least two years and can be contacted to verify your identity. Neither can be your guarantor, your spouse or partner, a relative by blood or marriage, or a relative living at the same address as you. Unlike the guarantor, the official page doesn't require a reference to be a Canadian citizen.

Passport photos: the mistakes that get them rejected

• The photo must be 50 × 70 mm, and the face, from chin to crown, must measure between 31 and 36 mm.
• It must be taken no more than 6 months before you apply, against a white or light-coloured background.
• The photographer writes or stamps their name, address and the date the photo was taken on the back of one of the photos, and the guarantor signs that same photo.
• Non-tinted glasses are accepted if your eyes are visible with no glare.
• Head coverings worn every day for religious reasons, such as a hijab, are accepted as long as your full face is visible with no shadows.
• Editing the photo with software, filters or AI tools isn't allowed.

Where to apply and how long you'll wait

These are published service standards, not promises. The government also offers a guarantee that a complete application will be processed within 30 business days, or the passport is issued free of charge. Up-to-date actual times are published weekly by the official processing times tool ↗.

You can book an appointment online in advance or walk in without one. In Canada, you can pay by credit card or debit, certified cheque or money order; cash and personal cheques aren't accepted. You can't pay the fee for a new passport online.

Children's passports: what's different from adults

A passport for a child under 16 is valid for 5 years at most and can't be renewed: you submit a new application each time, using Form PPTC 155. When the child turns 16, they apply for an adult passport.

• Proof of citizenship: the original birth certificate if the child was born in Canada, or a citizenship certificate if they became a citizen with you.
• Proof of parentage: mandatory with every application since 5 November 2024. Accepted documents include a long-form birth certificate showing the parents' names, or a foreign birth certificate showing them, plus a document linking the surnames if they differ, such as a marriage certificate.
• Custody documents if the parents are separated.
• Signatures: all parents or legal guardians are expected to sign.
• The guarantor: must know both the child and the applicant, and a parent can't act as guarantor for their own child's application.

If a foreign birth certificate is in a language other than English or French, you'll need a certified translation; you'll find certified translators in our directory. If your minor children became citizens with you, see the rules for minors in our guide to Canadian citizenship.

Quebec and the other provinces: the rules are the same

Passports are a federal service, so the fees, forms and guarantor requirements are the same in Quebec, Ontario and every other province. The only difference is the mailing address: applications from Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan go to one regional address, British Columbia and the territories have another, and the Atlantic provinces a third. You'll find the addresses on the official application page.

What this guide doesn't do

This guide isn't legal advice and doesn't guarantee your application will be approved. We can't predict how long your file will take, and we don't intervene with passport offices. If there's something that complicates your file, such as a name change or disputed custody, consult a licensed immigration lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for my passport on the same day I take the citizenship oath?

You need proof of citizenship: your original citizenship certificate, or a printed copy of your electronic certificate. The official pages don't set a waiting period after the oath, so as soon as you have the certificate, you can apply.

What if I don't know a Canadian citizen who has known me for two years to be my guarantor?

Use the Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (PPTC 132) and sign it in front of someone authorized to administer oaths, such as a notary. You still need two references in this case.

Can a reference be a relative or a roommate?

A reference can't be a relative by blood or marriage, a spouse or partner, or a relative who lives with you. A colleague or friend who has known you for two years and is 18 or older can be a reference.

Can I travel on my permanent resident card now that I'm a citizen?

After the oath you're a citizen, and the document that gets you back into Canada by air is a Canadian passport. If you hold a second citizenship, that country's passport won't be enough to fly to Canada unless you get the temporary "special authorization". So don't book travel until your Canadian passport arrives.

How much will passports cost for a family of two adults and two children?

With a 10-year passport for each adult: $163.50 × 2 + $58.50 × 2 = $444 in Canada, with no extra fees for faster service.

When can I renew my passport online?

At your next renewal, if the passport expires within 6 months or has already expired, your address is in Canada, and you won't be travelling within 20 business days. Remember that your current passport is cancelled as soon as you submit an online renewal.

To plan for life after citizenship, see our guide to the PR card and the 730-day rule if a member of your family is still a permanent resident, and our foreign consulates in Canada page if you also want to renew the passport from your country of origin. To book your trip, you'll find travel agencies in our directory.

Sources and next step