First Canadian Passport After Citizenship: How to Apply in 2026
As of September 14, 2026.
A Canadian passport is a travel document for Canadian citizens. It is not the citizenship certificate. If you just became a citizen, or you hold citizenship by descent and you have never had an adult passport, you apply as a new adult applicant, not as a renewal. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) splits those paths on Apply for a new adult passport in Canada.
TL;DR
New adult applications use form PPTC 153, not the online renewal flow | You need proof of citizenship, identity, 2 photos, a guarantor, and 2 references | Service standard in Canada is 10 business days at a passport office that offers 10-day processing, or 20 business days by mail, regular Service Canada, or online | That clock excludes mailing time | Only online renewals can be paid online right now | The certificate is not a travel document; children 15 and under have a narrow US land/sea exception
What are the documents required for a Canadian passport?
Short answer: For a new adult passport in Canada, IRCC's required documents page says you need all of the following: proof of Canadian citizenship, a document to support your identity, 2 identical passport photos, a guarantor, and 2 references. If you still have a valid Canadian passport or other travel document, you must send it too. Proof of citizenship can be a birth certificate or a citizenship certificate. A paper citizenship certificate must be the original, not a photocopy. An e-certificate needs a printed copy. Identity can be a photocopy or the original; a photocopy must show both sides and be signed and dated by your guarantor or signing official.
How you prove citizenship depends on where you were born. IRCC's proof of citizenship for adult passports page splits it:
| You were born | What IRCC will take |
|---|
| In Canada | Original provincial or territorial birth certificate (long-form or short-form), or a citizenship certificate that meets the date and number rules on that page |
| Outside Canada | Citizenship certificate (original if issued on or before January 31, 2012; copy or original if issued on or after February 1, 2012 or the number starts with -K or -X), or a certificate of naturalization, registration of birth abroad, or retention of Canadian citizenship |
IRCC returns original citizenship proof after it verifies it. If you apply by mail, that document can come back in a separate envelope from the passport, and IRCC says that can take up to 6 weeks after you get the new passport. You do not need to provide proof of citizenship if you are renewing. If you already have an adult passport that qualifies for renewal, use that path instead. Our online renewal guide covers the renewal side.
How long does it take to get a Canadian passport right now?
Short answer: IRCC publishes service standards, not a personal countdown. For regular service in Canada, the passport processing times page (page details 2026-03-30) says 10 business days if you apply in person at a passport office (Service Canada Centre - Passport Services) or a Service Canada Centre that offers 10-day processing, and 20 business days if you apply in person at a regular Service Canada Centre, a scheduled outreach site, by mail, or online. Those clocks start when IRCC has the form, all supporting documents, and payment. They do not include mailing time. IRCC says not to finalize travel plans until you have the passport.
Urgent pick-up is by the end of the next business day. Express pick-up is 2 to 9 business days. Both are in-person at a passport office. A passport officer tells you the pick-up date when you apply. From the US, or from outside Canada and the US, the regular mailed standard is 20 business days plus mailing time, and passports are printed in Canada.
| How you apply (Canada, regular) | Service standard | Mailing time included? |
|---|
| Passport office / 10-day Service Canada Centre, in person | 10 business days | No |
| Regular Service Canada, outreach site, mail, or online | 20 business days | No |
| Urgent pick-up (in person) | End of next business day | Pick-up |
| Express pick-up (in person) | 2 to 9 business days | Pick-up |
How much do Canadian passports cost?
Short answer: IRCC loads live fees on Pay your passport fee in Canada. This article does not freeze a dollar figure because that page is updated independently of the application guides. Open the fee table before you write a cheque. Extra fees can apply to replace a lost or stolen passport, for urgent or express processing (in person at a passport office only), for standard pickup at a passport office, and for other administrative services. IRCC does not accept cash or personal cheques. Certified cheques and money orders must be payable to the Receiver General for Canada, in Canadian funds, for the exact amount.
Payment method depends on how you apply. In person: credit or prepaid Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, debit, certified cheque or money order, or a cheque from a Canadian government department. By mail: the payment section on the form, with the same card and certified-cheque options. Online: IRCC says only online renewals can be paid online right now. You cannot pay online for an application you submit in person or by mail. If you are applying for your first adult passport, budget for in-person or mail payment, not a portal checkout.
Can I walk in to Service Canada for passport renewal?
Short answer: Renewal and a first adult passport are different products. IRCC's new-adult page tells you to check whether you should renew if you already have an adult passport. Walk-in capacity depends on the office. Find locations on Passport and biometrics service locations. IRCC notes that you can submit most passport applications at a Service Canada Centre, but some application types must go to a passport office. Urgent and express fees are only available if you apply in person at a passport office. If this is your first adult passport after a citizenship ceremony, you are on the new-adult path (PPTC 153), not the online renewal path.
A citizenship certificate is not a passport. IRCC's proof of citizenship page says the certificate is not a travel document and that if you are travelling abroad you must have a valid passport or travel document. The one listed exception is children 15 and under entering the United States or returning to Canada by land or sea.
Who can be a guarantor, and who can be a reference?
Short answer: The guarantor signs the application, one photo, and every copy of supporting identity documents. IRCC's required documents page says the guarantor must be 18 or older, have known you for at least 2 years, be a Canadian citizen, and hold a 5-year or 10-year Canadian passport that, on the day you submit, is either valid or expired for no more than 1 year, and was not damaged, lost, stolen, suspended, revoked, or otherwise listed as unusable on that page. They must have been 16 or older when they applied for their own passport. References must be 18 or older, have known you for at least 2 years, and must not be your guarantor, your spouse or common-law partner, or the immediate and extended family members IRCC lists (parents, children, siblings, in-laws, and relatives who live at your address).
On the back of one photo, the photographer must write or stamp the studio name, complete address, and the date the photos were taken. The guarantor also signs one photo. Full photo rules are on passport photos.
How do you apply for a first adult passport?
Short answer: Download PPTC 153 on a computer with Adobe Reader 10 or higher. IRCC says not to fill it on a phone, tablet, or in a browser. Tell IRCC in section 6 whether you want a 5-year or 10-year passport, and include an email so you can check status. Submit in person or by mail with payment. If a previous passport still has a valid visa, tell IRCC on the form that you need that visa back so the old book is not cancelled in a way that destroys the visa.
If you are still waiting on a citizenship certificate, start with proof of citizenship. IRCC will not issue a passport without citizenship proof that matches the new-adult list. If the file is messy (name mismatches, a descent claim, a lost certificate), book a consultation before you mail originals.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. For a citizenship-to-passport file review, book a consultation.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
