How to apply for a child passport from abroad

A Canadian passport is a travel document that Canadian citizens can apply for.

A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years. It’s valid until it reaches its expiry date, even after the child turns 16.

You can’t renew a child passport. When the child turns 16, they can apply for a new adult passport.

Until then, you need to apply for a new child passport when it expires.

Who can apply for a child passport

To apply for a child passport, you must be one of the following:

• one of the child’s parents (if you’re not separated or divorced)
• the parent who has custody of or decision-making responsibilities over the child (if you are separated or divorced)
• the child’s legal guardian
  • Include all legal documents proving your legal guardianship (opens in a new tab) of the child.

  All parents or legal guardians should sign the application form.

  • If you don’t know where the other parents or legal guardians are, contact us.
  • We may contact the other parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

  What we mean by “decision-making responsibilities”

  The term decision-making responsibility is new. The amended Divorce Act (opens in a new tab) defines decision-making responsibility as the ability to make significant choices about a child’s well-being. For example, decisions about health, education, religion and extra-curricular activities.

  These decisions can be made whether or not the child is currently in the care of the parent (for example, when the child is spending time with the other parent).

  If you’re worried that someone might apply for a passport for your child without your consent

  Forms, instructions and fees

  Answer the questions below. We’ll then

  • give you all the forms you need
  • tell you how to submit your application
  • show the costs for different passport services

  You need to contact us as soon as possible to report the theft or loss of your previous passport.

  Apply for a child passport outside Canada and the United States

  If you need a passport urgently, contact the nearest Government of Canada office. Additional fees apply.

  1. Complete the application form

  • Fill out the form on your computer to save time.
    • Save the form on your computer and use Adobe Reader 10 or higher.
    • Don’t use your phone or tablet. The form will not work properly.

    If your passport is lost or stolen but still valid

    Since your passport is still valid, you also need to

    • add a complete declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document (PDF, 1.3 MB) to your application and
    • pay the extra fee for replacing a lost or stolen passport

    If your passport is damaged but still valid

    If both parents or legal guardians cannot sign the form, contact us and we’ll tell you what to do.

    • If you can’t open the form after saving it to your computer and using Adobe Reader
      • in Canada or the US:contact us online or call us
      • outside Canada and the US: contact the closest Canadian government office abroad
      If your passport has a valid visa in it

      Tell us on your form if you need the visa and want your original passport back. If you don’t, the visa could be damaged when the previous passport is cancelled.

      2. Get all the required documents and the child’s passport photo

      Include the following documents with your application:

      • proof of the child’s Canadian citizenship (opens in a new tab)
        • a long form birth certificate from the Canadian province or territory where the child was born or a citizenship certificate
          • If you have a paper citizenship certificate, it must be the original document, not a photocopy.
          • If you have a citizenship e-certificate, you must attach a printed copy
          • The name on the proof of citizenship is what will appear on the passport.
          • The back of 1 of the photos must have all of the following:
            • The photographer must write the name and complete address of the studio and the date the photo was taken.
              • They can handwrite this or use a stamp.
              • Stick-on labels are not accepted.

              Passport photo requirements abroad may be different than in Canada

              Your photos must follow Canadian photo requirements. We’ll reject and return your application to you if you don’t submit an acceptable photo.

              To avoid any problems, print a copy of the passport photo specifications (PDF, 652.38 KB) and bring it to the photographer.

              All your documents must be in either English or French. If a document is in another language, you must provide an official translation (opens in a new tab) .

              3. Find a guarantor

              You need a guarantor to sign

              • your child’s application and
              • 1 of the 2 passport photos

              The guarantor must

              • have known you personally for at least 2 years and
              • know of the child

              Avoid this mistake

              Don’t forget to

              • get the guarantor’s signature on the back of 1 of the 2 photos
              • if applicable, submit all documents that refer to the child’s custody, mobility or access (opens in a new tab)

              4. Pay your fees

              Your fees depend on what services you’re getting and how you’re applying.

              You won’t receive a refund for the service fee if you

              • cancel your application
              • are refused a passport or travel document
              • are issued a passport for a shorter validity period than requested
                • For example, if we issue a passport that’s valid for less than 5 years, despite you applying for a 5- or 10-year passport.
                  • This may happen if you’ve lost your passport multiple times.

                  Only the consular fee, which applies to all adult applications, is refundable if a passport is not issued.

                  5. Submit your application

                  After you pay the fees, submit your application and payment receipt to the nearest Government of Canada office abroad.

                  6. Get your passport

                  The office you applied at will let you know when your passport is ready. They will also tell you when and how you can pick it up.

                  If you applied by mail

                  We’ll return your passport and any original documentation to you. They may arrive in 2 separate packages.

                  Never sign your child’s passport for them

                  • It does not need a signature until they are 16 and older.
                  • A parent’s or legal guardian’s signature makes it invalid.
                    • If you sign your child’s passport, you’ll need to apply for a new one and pay all the fees.

                    If they want, the child may sign the passport themselves. We encourage them to sign it if they’re 11 or older, but they don’t have to.

                    If you’re moving, but haven’t received your passport yet

                    Contact us to update your mailing address if you

                    • haven’t received your passport and
                    • are moving within 30 days of submitting your application

                    You must provide proof that you need the passport

                    Proof you need the passport can be

                    • an airline, bus or train ticket
                      • If travelling by car, a written statement explaining why you need to travel
                      • For example, for legal, banking or residency requirements

                      If we can’t deliver the passport in time to you or your child, we aren’t liable for any losses.

                      We recommend that you don’t finalize any travel plans until you get your passport.

                      How to open our forms

                      • use your computer
                        • The forms may not open on mobile devices (iPads, tablets, mobile phones).
                        • If you don’t have it, download Adobe Reader 10 for free.
                        • Adobe has help for solving common issues with Reader.

                        For more help, see our step-by-step instructions on downloading and opening PDFs. If you still have trouble opening the forms, contact us online or call us at 1-800-567-6868. If you’re outside Canada or the United States, contact the closest Canadian government office abroad.

                        Passport number, date of issue, and date of expiry

                        

                        Check the date of issue. If the date it was issued is within the past 15 years and you meet the other eligibility requirements, you can apply to renew your passport.

                        You need to contact us as soon as possible to report the theft or loss of your previous passport.

                        Apply for a passport for a child being adopted outside Canada

                        If your passport is lost or stolen but still valid

                        Since your passport is still valid, you also need to

                        • add a complete declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document (PDF, 1.3 MB) to your application and
                        • pay the extra fee for replacing a lost or stolen passport

                        If your passport is damaged but still valid

                        Children adopted abroad by Canadian citizens may be granted citizenship if the adoption meets certain criteria. Children adopted abroad who are granted Canadian citizenship can receive passport services. Read more about citizenship and international adoption.

                        Returning to Canada with an adopted child

                        If you are travelling overseas and need to apply for a Canadian passport to return to Canada with your adopted child, a passport application can be submitted at a Canadian government office abroad as soon as the adopted child has been granted Canadian citizenship.

                        Note: You should submit the passport application at the Government of Canada office that processed the grant of citizenship or the Government of Canada office responsible for issuing passports to Canadian residents in the country where the adopted child lives (if different).

                        Adopted children under 16 years of age

                        Because you are outside Canada or the United States, adoptive parents should complete: Child passport application for Canadians applying abroad (PPTC 042) (PDF, 414.93 KB).

                        A limited-validity passport may be issued once all passport application requirements have been met. A temporary passport may be issued if urgent travel is required. An additional processing fee will apply.

                        Adopted children 16 years of age or over

                        For passport applications, children 16 years of age or over are considered adults. Therefore the child (over the age of 16) should complete the form.

                        Once you have submitted the application and we have verified that the requirements have been met, an emergency travel document for immediate return to Canada may be issued.

                        Dual citizenship

                        In the case of countries that do not recognize dual citizenship, we may issue a facilitation visa in the adopted child’s foreign national passport. Should the applicant choose nonetheless to apply for a Canadian passport, he or she will be asked to sign a waiver recognizing the risks of holding two passports.