Now that you’re officially a Canadian citizen, you’re probably counting the days until you can enjoy one of the best benefits of citizenship—the Canadian passport. Honestly, it’s a big deal. With it, you can travel to over 180 countries without a visa. So, if you love to travel and have an adventurous spirit, now is your time.
But the big question is, when can you pack your bags and start exploring the world? What is the waiting time for a Canadian passport?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Canadian passport process time.
What is the Canadian passport process time and what affects it?
The processing time depends mainly on three factors: where and how you apply, and how much you’re willing to pay for the service.
According to official Service Canada information, the standard wait time for a Canadian passport is up to 20 business days, or about 4 weeks. This is the processing time when applying for a passport from within Canada using the standard service.
However, not all applications are processed at the same speed. Some offices offer faster options. Let me explain.
If you apply in person at a passport office or specific Service Canada centers offering fast service, the processing time drops to 10 business days. On the other hand, if you apply at a regular Service Canada center, at a scheduled outreach site, by mail, or online, the processing time usually increases to 20 business days.
Here’s an important detail: The process time for Canadian passport does not include mailing time. Your passport is printed in Canada and mailed to the address you provide. Therefore, even if the government processes your passport on time, you should still expect a few extra days for delivery.
If you’re outside of Canada, for example, in the United States or another country, the processing time is usually longer than 20 business days.
But what if you have an emergency and can’t wait ten days?
How fast can a Canadian get a passport?
If you need your passport sooner than the standard processing time allows, Canada offers two special services: urgent and express.
The urgent service is for real emergencies. According to the Government of Canada, with this option, your passport can be ready by the end of the next business day. In practice, that means about 24 hours. However, this service is only available if you apply in person and prove the urgency. You must provide clear evidence of the emergency. This is not a “just in case” option.
The express service, on the other hand, is a good choice if you need your passport quickly but not as fast as the urgent service. With this option, processing a Canadian passport usually takes between 2 and 9 business days. In some cities, it can be as fast as 3 or 4 days, depending on the office.
Keep in mind that both services cost extra. First, you pay the regular passport fee, then an additional fee for the urgent or express service. As you might expect, the urgent service is the most expensive since everything happens so quickly.
If you want to see the updated fees, I recommend reading our article on “Canadian Passport Cost: Fees and Payment Options“. Everything is clearly broken down there.
Checking Canadian passport status: How to track your application
The good news is that you won’t be left in the dark while waiting for your passport. The Government of Canada lets you check the status of your application and track its progress.
You can use the Passport Application Status Checker to do this. It’s an official online tool that is very easy to use. With it, you can see the stage of your Canadian passport and whether it is processing as expected.
To check your status, you need to enter four basic details:
- Your reference number
- First name(s)
- Last name
- And your date of birth.
All the information must match exactly what you put on your application. One wrong letter, an extra number, or an incorrect date, and the system won’t show anything. So take an extra minute and double-check everything.
The detail that causes the most confusion is the reference number. If you applied in person, there’s no issue. This number appears on the receipt you received on the day of your appointment. It’s the same receipt that shows the date and amount you paid. The reference number is usually at the top, right before the barcode.
If you applied by mail, things work a bit differently. In that case, you need to request your reference number. Once you do, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send it to you by email. Please keep it safe because you’ll need it for any future follow-up.
Yes, it happens. If you lose the email or throw away the receipt, you’ll need to request the reference number again.
What if the Canadian passport process time exceeds the limit?
What happens if the processing time has passed and your passport still hasn’t arrived?
In that case, don’t stay quiet. If the government does not meet the service standard for which you paid, you can contact them and request a partial refund of the fee. Yes, you read that right. There is official compensation when processing times are not met.
The refund amount depends on how late the application is compared to the promised timeline.
- If the delay is between 1 and 10 business days beyond the service standard, you may receive a 25% refund of the service fee.
- If the delay exceeds 10 business days, the refund increases to 50% of the service fee.
This policy applies to several documents, including:
- Adult 5-year passport in Canada
- Adult 10-year passport in Canada
- Child’s regular passport in Canada
- Adult 5-year passport from abroad
- Adult 10-year passport from abroad
- Child’s regular passport from abroad
- Temporary passport
- Adult refugee travel document
- Adult certificate of identity
Therefore, if time passes and your passport still hasn’t arrived, don’t hesitate to contact the Government of Canada to inquire about a fee refund.
Just keep one thing in mind: Mailing time is not included in the processing time for a Canadian passport. Before filing a claim, ensure the delay is due to processing, not postal delivery.
Summing up…
Several factors affect the waiting time for a Canadian passport: where you apply, whether you apply in person or by mail, and the service you choose (standard, express, or urgent).
Therefore, don’t book travel plans until you know your passport is ready. Wait until you have it in your hands before buying tickets. If something goes wrong and the process takes longer than expected, the government may refund part of the passport fee, but airline tickets are another story.
We hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions about the passport application process, please leave a comment below. We’re here to help!