Ottawa has expanded its online passport renewal service, making it available to all eligible adult Canadians living in Canada.
The announcement was made Thursday by Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, on behalf of Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
Previously offered on a limited basis, the online renewal system no longer has a cap on the number of users.
Eligible Canadians can now complete their passport renewal entirely online by submitting their application, passport photo and payment digitally, rather than mailing documents or visiting a Service Canada Centre.
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The government said the change is intended to make passport renewals more convenient, particularly for people living in rural or remote communities and those with mobility challenges. In-person and mail-in renewal options will remain available.
The expansion follows several recent changes to Canada's passport program, including the introduction of an online application status tracker, broader access to 10-business-day passport service at select Service Canada Centres, and a processing guarantee that passport applications will be completed within 30 business days or the passport will be issued at no cost.
"Accessible service means giving Canadians options, starting with more ways to renew a passport. We are removing the barriers between Canadians and the services they rely on by modernizing how we deliver them and shaping them around how people live. When Canadians can access services without added stress or lost time, they can focus on what matters, their families, their jobs, and their futures," said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
To use the online renewal service, applicants must upload a digital passport photo taken by a commercial photographer that meets the government's digital photo requirements. The eligibility criteria for online renewal differ slightly from those for passport renewals submitted by mail or in person.
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Online renewals are subject to the same 20-business-day service standard as simplified adult renewal applications submitted by mail or at most Service Canada Centres. Applicants can also track the progress of their application through real-time online status updates.
Travellers who require a passport sooner must continue to apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office offering 10-business-day, express or urgent processing.
Canadians applying for a passport from outside Canada are still required to apply by mail or at a Government of Canada office abroad.
Learn more about who can renew their passport online and how to get started.
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