Canadian Passport Application After Citizenship: What New Citizens Need
You can submit your Canadian passport application once you receive your citizenship certificate. The passport application is separate from the citizenship process in Canada, and completing the oath does not start it. For a first adult passport in Canada, you submit the form and supporting documents in person or by mail. An ID photocopy without the required signature and date can leave a mailed passport application incomplete. If you have travel planned, compare the available services and allow for delivery before relying on a departure date.
By Narek Mirzoyan, RCIC # R1005184,. Verify this credential on the CICC public register.
Last reviewed by Narek Mirzoyan, RCIC # R1005184, on 2026-09-16.
TL;DR:
Your citizenship certificate is the starting point for a first passport application, not a substitute for a passport. Prepare the form, identity documents, two passport photos, a guarantor and two references. First applications in Canada go in person or by mail; online renewal is a different process. Choose your service around when you need the passport, allowing extra time for delivery. Urgent service is not guaranteed, so avoid finalizing travel until you have your passport.
Table of Contents
When can you apply for a Canadian passport after citizenship?
What do you need for your first passport application?
What photos do you need for a Canadian passport?
Which passport service fits your travel plans?
How much will your first Canadian passport cost?
What could hold up your passport application?
What if you are applying for a child or from outside Canada?
What should you check before travelling?
When help with your citizenship certificate is useful
When can you apply for a Canadian passport after citizenship?
After becoming Canadian through a citizenship ceremony, you need your certificate before submitting the passport application. But you can start preparing the rest of the package before your certificate arrives. Finding the right people and checking your documents beforehand can make the time after certificate delivery more useful.
Waiting for both documents can be stressful when your trip is approaching. Your travel plans depend on two separate steps: certificate delivery, followed by passport processing and delivery. However, an oath invitation or ceremony attendance cannot replace the certificate required in the passport package. For that earlier stage, see citizenship ceremony and certificate delivery, then use the passport instructions below once you have the document.
What you can prepare while waiting for your certificate
Arrange your guarantor and references early, because completing the package depends on their help and availability. Check the passport package requirements with them, rather than asking only whether they will sign. Someone may know you well but lack a qualifying passport, or be unavailable when the Passport Program contacts them. So check early enough to choose someone else or obtain the declaration used when no guarantor qualifies. And you can gather your identification and the information needed for the form while waiting for your certificate.
Arrange the photographs close enough to submission that they will still meet the six-month limit. But photographs taken well before your ceremony may need replacing if certificate delivery or submission is delayed. You can download the form early, then complete and sign it before asking your guarantor to perform their duties. So make the final submission check once your certificate and the rest of the package are together.
Using a paper certificate or an e-certificate
For paper citizenship certificates issued on or after February 1, 2012, PPTC 153 accepts an original or copy. Copies are accepted when the certificate number starts with K or X. Certificates issued before February 1, 2012 must be submitted as originals.
Note: The passport document webpage still says paper certificates must be originals, not photocopies. However, the February 2026 application form expressly accepts copies for certificates issued on or after February 1, 2012 with K/X numbers.
An electronic citizenship certificate follows a different instruction: submit a printed copy. Receiving an e-certificate therefore does not mean you must request a paper certificate before applying for a passport.
Print both e-certificate pages on letter-size paper, 8.5 by 11 inches, in portrait orientation. Colour or black printing is acceptable, provided the details remain clear and nothing is cut off. Follow IRCC's e-certificate printing instructions, and print a fresh copy from the electronic original when needed. Do not laminate the printout or photocopy a previously printed version. Keep the electronic original somewhere you can access again, even after the passport application is finished.
Illustrative document types, not usable certificates. Preserve the approved source-conflict note: PPTC 153 permits copies for certificates issued on or after February 1, 2012 with K/X numbers, while the document webpage says originals. Earlier paper certificates require originals; e-certificates require the instructed printout.
What do you need for your first passport application?
A first adult passport application requires evidence of citizenship and separate documents supporting your identity. The certificate establishes your citizenship, while the identification connects the application to you and the name you want printed. Your guarantor and references support the identity checks through their own distinct roles.
Use the new adult passport guide, rather than a renewal checklist that omits requirements for a first application. The main package includes:
The completed and signed adult general application form.
Your citizenship certificate in the appropriate format.
Accepted identification, with the required certification if you submit copies.
Two identical passport photos, including the required certification on one photo.
A qualifying guarantor, or the prescribed declaration if no guarantor qualifies.
Two eligible references and their current contact details.
Payment for the passport and any requested additional service.
And if you hold another valid Canadian travel document, check the guide's instructions for including it. Before submission, compare names and other personal details across the form, certificate and identification. But matching the checklist is not enough when the names differ without supporting documents.
Completing the form and preparing your identity documents
For an adult applying in Canada, download the current Adult General Passport Application, PPTC 153. But completing its PDF on your computer does not submit the application online. Read the instructions, choose the five-year or ten-year validity period, and complete the required signatures before involving your guarantor. And include an email address you monitor for Passport Program messages and application-status checks. The form also asks about your addresses and occupation during the previous two years, so gather those details before filling it out.
You need at least one valid identity document, not automatically two pieces of ID. A driver's licence or another accepted government-issued document may supply your name, date of birth, photo and signature. But one document may lack a required detail; accepted documents can be combined when shared information connects them. And IRCC allows an exception when that type of identification does not normally carry a signature. So copy both sides and obtain the required guarantor or signing-official signature and date before sending identification copies. These copying rules concern supporting identification; they do not replace the separate instructions for your citizenship certificate.
Choosing a guarantor and two references
Your guarantor must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older who has known you personally for at least two years. They also need a qualifying five-year or ten-year Canadian passport. And a qualifying family member can be your guarantor; you do not have to hire a professional.
Check the full guarantor conditions, including the requirement that they were at least 16 when applying for their own passport. But that passport must meet the listed conditions, including expiry no more than one year before you submit. They must be available for verification and able to communicate in English or French, as the form explains. So you can count time you knew each other before becoming Canadian toward that two-year requirement.
Your two references must also be at least 18 and have known you for two years. But neither can be your guarantor. Spouses, parents, siblings and other listed family members cannot act as references. And some extended-family exclusions depend on sharing your address, so check the official list before choosing a relative. Ask both references for permission and confirm their contact details before entering them on the form.
Role diagram for a first adult passport. The guarantor and two references have distinct duties and eligibility rules. A qualifying family member may be a guarantor, while listed relatives are excluded as references. Check the official conditions.
If you cannot find a guarantor
Not having an eligible guarantor does not end your passport application. The Passport Program provides a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor. This is a formal declaration used in place of the usual guarantor process, with separate completion requirements. So request it from the program or a passport service location; the form is not available online. Read those instructions before arranging an appointment with someone who can administer the declaration.
In Canada, an authorized notary public, justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths can perform that role. But that official does not need to have known you personally; they must complete the required verification and signing. And the declaration requires references different from those on your passport application. Allow time to organize those people and documents; paying for express service later will not supply anything missing from the package.
What photos do you need for a Canadian passport?
For your first passport application, you need two printed passport photos taken by a commercial photographer. But the government's digital-photo instructions apply to online renewal, not a first passport application. Tell the studio you need photos for a first Canadian passport so it supplies the correct printed photographs.
The passport package also needs information and certification on the back of one photo. However, leftover citizenship photos are not automatically ready for a passport application, even where some measurements match. So check their age, appearance and passport-specific requirements before deciding whether to use them. Use the passport checklist for this application; keep the grant-photo instructions with your earlier citizenship records.
Photo size, recency and printed copies
The printed photos must be 50 mm wide and 70 mm high, with a chin-to-crown measurement between 31 and 36 mm. Both copies must be identical, unaltered and professionally printed on photographic paper. The photo instructions accompanying the adult form distinguish the outside dimensions from the size of your face. But correct outer dimensions do not guarantee that your head appears at the required size. Ask the studio to measure both the print and your head before you leave.
The photos must reflect your current appearance and have been taken within six months before submission. Home printing, filters and digital editing are not accepted alternatives to compliant photographs. So request a new photograph if the background or lighting needs correction, rather than accepting an edited version. Check the date again if you postpone submitting the application after the photos are taken.
Measurement schematic, not a passport photograph and not actual print size on screen. The outside print is 50 by 70 mm; chin-to-crown height is a separate 31–36 mm requirement. Follow the full photographer and guarantor instructions for a first passport.
Expression, posture and medical needs
Your passport photo must show a neutral expression, with your eyes open, mouth closed and gaze directed at the camera. Keep your face and shoulders centred and straight, without turning or tilting your head. The background must be plain white or light-coloured, with even lighting and no shadows.
Glasses are permitted if your eyes remain visible without lens glare. But tinted lenses are not accepted. Daily religious or medical head coverings may remain if your full face is visible and free of shadows. If medical reasons prevent you from meeting the requirements, include a written explanation with the application. And medical headwear or a nasal cannula requires a signed explanation, and IRCC may request a doctor's letter. Wheelchair users should have a plain white covering behind the head, including over a headrest. So discuss these needs with the photographer while arranging the appointment, including any supporting explanation.
Photographer details and your guarantor's signature
The photographer records when and where the photograph was taken; the guarantor confirms that the image is you. On the back of one photograph, the studio must write or stamp its name, complete address and the date. Your guarantor must add the certification statement and sign that same photograph. The required statement is: "I certify this to be a true likeness of (the applicant's name)". The guarantor replaces the bracketed wording with your name and signs below it.
But a studio stamp cannot replace your guarantor's certification, and a guarantor signature does not supply the studio details. Check the back of the photograph alongside the application form before packing both photos. And if you use the declaration instead of a guarantor, follow its instructions for the signing official. Do not complete another person's certification yourself to save a second meeting.
Which passport service fits your travel plans?
Choose your passport service by when you need the document in hand and what the specific location offers. Standard processing generally takes 10 or 20 business days, depending on how and where you apply. But mailing adds time beyond processing, so use the date you need the passport in hand.
Use the official submission selector before choosing an office or mailing your package. A nearby Service Canada Centre may accept an application without offering urgent pickup. So if departure is close, check which office offers the required service before choosing the nearest counter. Confirm the service and collection arrangement before relying on the comparison below.
| Application option | Processing target | Delivery or pickup | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| By mail | 20 business days | Allow mailing time in both directions | Correct address and a complete package |
| Standard, in person | 10 or 20 business days, depending on the location | Mail delivery; paid pickup where offered | The office's actual processing and pickup services |
| Express, in person | Normally 2–9 business days; some locations start at 3 or 4 | Pickup at an office offering express service | Evidence of need and local availability |
| Urgent, in person | By the end of the next business day | Pickup at an office offering urgent service | Proof of need; issuance on time is not guaranteed |
Applying in person or by mail
You can submit a first application at a participating location or send it by mail from Canada. And you can attend without an appointment or book a visit where appointments are offered. But an appointment only reserves your visit; it does not guarantee faster passport processing.
Check the passport service location finder for the service you need before making the trip. Bring a complete package and be prepared for waiting time, particularly at a busy office. If applying by mail, use the submission guide's address for your province or territory and chosen delivery method. However, courier and regular postal addresses are not interchangeable. A traceable delivery service shows where your package is. But proof of delivery does not show whether your passport package meets every requirement.
Is an issued citizenship certificate the obstacle?
Mirzoyan Immigration Services can assess a lost, damaged or incorrect certificate through citizenship-certificate replacement assistance.
Passport submission and urgent service remain with the Passport Program.
Requesting express or urgent service
Express service usually takes two to nine business days, while urgent pickup targets the end of the next business day. These services require an office that offers them and evidence explaining your need. But requesting faster processing does not guarantee issuance within your deadline.
The urgent-service guide accepts several types of evidence, including travel tickets, paid itineraries and explanations of legal or banking needs. Urgent service is therefore not limited to a death or medical emergency, although separate weekend and holiday services are for emergencies. And express minimums differ: Kelowna and Pointe-Claire list four to nine business days, while Charlottetown lists three to nine. If you have already applied and need the passport within nine business days, contact the Passport Program about the existing application. So ask about your existing application before submitting another package or assuming an extra payment will secure your departure.
Planning diagram separating certificate delivery, passport processing and mailing or pickup. Urgent service does not supply missing documents or guarantee issuance in time. Check the actual location and current service instructions.
How much will your first Canadian passport cost?
For an adult applying in Canada, the current basic fee is $122.50 for five years or $163.50 for ten years. These fees are separate from your citizenship payment. And pickup or faster service can add charges, while the photographer sets the price of your photos.
The amounts above were checked against IRCC's fee-change notice on September 6, 2026. They apply to applications received on or after March 31, 2026, with the old-fee transition now ended. Check again before submitting, particularly if you saved a form or checklist months earlier. But for mailed applications, the Passport Program's receipt date determines the fee, not the date you send it.
Choosing a five-year or ten-year passport
Adults aged 16 and older can request a five-year or ten-year passport, and the form asks you to select one. At the current domestic rates, the ten-year option costs $41 more. That extra $41 may be worthwhile if you expect to use the passport over the longer period. The five-year option reduces the amount you pay now, but gives you a shorter validity period. Select the validity period on the form, then match your payment to that choice.
However, choosing ten years does not make the first application faster. It also does not remove the need to check a destination's passport-validity requirements before travelling. Some countries require validity extending beyond your planned departure from that country, as the government's travel-preparation guidance explains. So check the expiry date against your destination's requirements before each trip, even with a ten-year passport.
Paying for pickup or faster service
Confirm whether you are paying for collection, faster processing, or both before selecting an additional passport service. The current urgent-pickup charge is $125.75 on top of the passport fee. Check the current fee and payment instructions for the applicable pickup or express amount before paying. But pickup only removes mailing after processing; it does not turn standard service into urgent processing. And keep the receipt for your payment record and, where applicable, the collection date.
In person, accepted options include credit cards and debit cards; mail applications have their own payment instructions. Certified cheques and money orders must meet the stated currency, amount and payee requirements. However, cash and personal cheques are not accepted. Online payment currently belongs to online renewals. So use the payment method specified for your first application's in-person or mailed submission.
Illustrative payment groups without hard-coded fees or a fictional receipt. Separate the passport fee from applicable optional services and from photographs. Confirm payment method, service availability and current amounts before submitting.
What could hold up your passport application?
A passport application can be delayed when the documents do not establish the requested identity or the package needs further information. A missing signature, unsuitable photograph or unexplained name difference needs attention before the application can move forward. But paying for faster service does not resolve a missing signature, unsuitable photo or unexplained name difference.
Review the package as one application, including the form, certificate, identification and photographs. The adult application instructions identify the signatures and details needed at submission. And your citizenship approval does not remove the passport requirements, even if you previously supplied similar information to IRCC. If the Passport Program requests something further, respond through its stated channel and follow the deadline in that request.
Missing documents, name differences or photo problems
Check both sides of every identification copy and the required signature and date before sealing a mailed package. For photos, look at the image and the reverse: acceptable measurements do not compensate for missing studio details or certification. If your name differs across documents, identify why it differs and follow the passport name-change instructions. A marriage-related surname change, for example, can require a relationship document and identification in the requested name. But a name difference does not automatically mean you must replace your citizenship certificate.
A surname change and an error on the citizenship certificate need different supporting documents. If your certificate contains an error or you lack an acceptable original or copy, a separate certificate application may be needed. Mirzoyan Immigration Services offers help replacing a Canadian citizenship certificate for that distinct problem. Use Passport Program guidance for the passport application itself, including document requests and urgent service.
Longer processing and the refund policy
Eligible passport applications taking more than 30 business days to process may qualify for a full application-fee and consular-fee refund. The current policy applies where processing was completed on or after April 1, 2026. The relevant clock begins only when the program has the completed application, photos, supporting documents and fees.
IRCC's refund policy excludes mailing time, additional review for complex applications and holds while further information is collected. And other exceptions apply, so count processing days under the policy rather than days since posting your envelope. Eligible refunds are issued automatically, but receiving them can take additional time. Urgent and express services have separate shorter standards and refund provisions; ordinary administrative fees do not all qualify. But the refund policy does not promise reimbursement for missed flights or other travel losses.
Document-check schematic without fabricated official records. Review identity, name evidence and photo certification together. Retain the specified placement after the complete processing/refund explanation; no refund entitlement or processing result is depicted.
What if you are applying for a child or from outside Canada?
A child's application and an application made abroad require instructions beyond the adult package described above. The child's age affects the form and documents, while your location affects submission and payment arrangements. So check each family member's application separately, even when you plan to submit the packages together.
Start with the child passport guide if the person receiving the passport is under 16. If you are outside Canada, select the United States or other overseas instructions before preparing the package. Do not use a domestic urgent-service estimate to plan a foreign-office application. Preparing the packages together does not make the adult form suitable for a child under 16.
Applying for a child's first passport
A child under 16 needs their own passport application, even if a parent is applying at the same time. The child route asks for citizenship evidence and proof of parentage or legal guardianship. Applicable documents about custody, decision-making, parenting time and mobility may also be required. Those records establish who can apply and what restrictions must be considered; a parent's certificate alone does not answer those questions. Use the child-specific application instructions to check the required signatures before asking a guarantor to complete the package.
The current domestic child passport fee is $58.50, and the passport has five-year validity. But anyone aged 16 or older uses the adult application, even when the family prepares everything together. And photo instructions include limited flexibility for newborn expressions. Follow those instructions directly rather than assuming every adult-photo instruction applies identically to a baby.
Applying from the United States or another country
If you live in the United States, begin with the Canadian passport application instructions for the US. Regular applications are generally mailed for processing in Canada, and the outside-Canada fees apply. However, Canadian offices in the US do not offer the same regular counter service as passport offices in Canada. For urgent circumstances, contact the appropriate Canadian office about the options available to you. If you intend to submit during a visit to Canada, check the special delivery and pickup conditions before travelling.
Elsewhere, use the new passport guide for applications abroad and the relevant Canadian office's instructions. And the form, guarantor options and payment arrangements can differ from the domestic route. Check that office's submission method and service information instead of sending documents to a Canadian postal address by default. If you will travel between countries while the application is pending, ask the receiving office about collection before submitting.
Routing aid, not four mutually exclusive legal categories. First determine age, then application location. A child abroad needs both child-specific and location-specific instructions; overseas submission, payment and guarantor arrangements can differ.
What should you check before travelling?
Check the name and other personal details as soon as your first Canadian passport arrives. You should also check the destination's entry requirements for a Canadian passport holder. But your Canadian passport may carry different visa or entry requirements from your previous nationality's passport.
Check the official travel advice for your destination, including transit requirements where relevant. Make travel bookings in the name printed in the passport you will use. If you hold another nationality, consider that country's entry rules as well as the documents needed to return to Canada. Leave enough time to address a passport error or obtain a required visa before departure.
Receiving your passport and original documents
Your passport and original supporting documents may arrive in separate packages, so one delivery does not necessarily complete the return. Follow the after-application instructions for your selected delivery or pickup service. If you paid for pickup, use the collection date shown on your receipt. If you move while the application is pending, contact the program about the mailing address. You can use the application-status guidance to identify when and how to check your particular submission.
Once the passport arrives, check the name and other personal details and report an error immediately. Sign your own passport on the signature line using a black or blue ballpoint pen, and add emergency contact details in pencil. Keep the returned citizenship certificate somewhere safe, separate from everyday travel documents. Do not sign a child's passport on their behalf; the government warns that doing so makes it invalid.
Returning to Canada as a dual citizen
For most dual citizens, a Canada-bound flight requires a valid Canadian passport. A foreign passport and a citizenship certificate are not a general substitute for that boarding requirement. This can matter on your first trip after citizenship, particularly if you previously travelled using a foreign passport and PR card.
Canadian-American dual citizens have an explicit exception: they can travel with a valid US passport and identification showing Canadian citizenship. The government recommends carrying both valid passports where available. Do not extend this exception to other nationalities, or assume a limited special authorization will be available for your trip. For broader passport-use questions, see travelling as a dual Canadian citizen before choosing which documents to carry.
Illustrative travel checklist. Check destination, transit and Canadian return requirements. The Canadian-American exception and any limited authorization conditions remain in the article and official guidance.
When help with your citizenship certificate is useful
If your citizenship certificate is usable and its details are correct, the official passport instructions may be all you need.
A separate certificate review can help when an issued certificate is lost, damaged or contains an error.
Mirzoyan Immigration Services can assess that document problem and the evidence needed for replacement or correction.
Identifying the actual defect helps avoid treating every difference between documents as a reason to replace a certificate.
Through One on One Advisory, you speak directly with the licensed consultant reviewing the certificate problem.
That is Narek Mirzoyan, RCIC # R1005184, or Vahe Mirzoyan, RCIC # R514223.
Learn about help replacing a Canadian citizenship certificate if that is the obstacle you need to resolve.
This service concerns an already-issued certificate, not preparation of your passport application.
It cannot guarantee faster certificate processing, passport issuance or travel by a particular date.
Key Takeaways
Prepare early, but wait for your citizenship certificate before submitting the post-ceremony passport application.
Use the first-application package, including separate identity evidence, a guarantor or prescribed declaration, and two references.
Check the printed passport photos, studio details and certification together; an acceptable image alone is not the complete requirement.
Choose a location and service that fit your timing, allowing for delivery and the possibility of further review.
Mirzoyan Immigration Services can help with replacement of an issued citizenship certificate; passport submission and urgent service follow Passport Program instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a first Canadian passport?
A standard first passport application in Canada generally takes 10 or 20 business days, depending on the submission method and location. Mailing adds time. Express service normally takes two to nine business days, and urgent pickup targets the next business day. Some express locations have longer minimums. Check available services and do not count certificate waiting time as passport processing.
What documents do I need to apply for a Canadian passport?
For a first adult passport in Canada, prepare the application form, citizenship evidence, supporting identification and two passport photos. You also need a guarantor or the prescribed declaration, two references and payment. An e-certificate must be printed. Identification copies need the required signatures and dates. Follow the first-application checklist, because renewal instructions leave out items that first applicants need.
What are the requirements for a guarantor on a Canadian passport photo?
For a first adult application in Canada, the guarantor must meet the citizenship, age, passport and two-year acquaintance requirements. They certify and sign the back of one photograph. The studio must also supply its name, address and the photo date. A qualifying family member can act as guarantor. Check the full guarantor conditions before asking someone to sign.
Can I walk in to apply for a Canadian passport?
Yes, you can use walk-in service at participating Service Canada Centres and passport offices for a first application. Services and waiting times differ by location. Urgent or express requests need an office offering that service. An ordinary walk-in counter does not automatically provide faster processing. Use the official location finder before going, and bring the required documents and payment.
How much does it cost to get your first passport in Canada?
An adult's first passport in Canada costs $122.50 for five years or $163.50 for ten years. A child's five-year passport costs $58.50. These are the basic fees under the current fee schedule, checked September 6, 2026. Photos and optional pickup or faster service add costs. Your earlier citizenship payment does not cover the passport application.
Your next step before booking travel
Before submitting, compare your completed form with the certificate, identification and photographs you plan to provide. Confirm your guarantor and references are available, then use the official passport application guide to choose how to submit. If you already have a travel date, ask about the appropriate service before relying on it. If an issued citizenship certificate needs replacement or correction, Mirzoyan Immigration Services can assess that separate document problem. Bring the issued certificate or available records to discuss citizenship-certificate replacement advice.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information, not advice about your individual circumstances. Passport instructions, fees and service availability can change. Follow the current Passport Program requirements, and seek advice about any separate citizenship-document issue. No processing estimate or service request guarantees passport issuance by a particular travel date.
