How to apply for a child passport from abroad
Outside Canada and the USSpecial measures for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Iran
If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident currently in Iran, you can apply for the following documents for free:
- Canadian passport
- Canadian citizenship certificate
- permanent resident travel document
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 the child (if you are separated or divorced) with the correct documentation
- Include all documents (including any divorce judgment) about the child’s custody, mobility or access.
- the child’s legal guardian, with the correct documentation
- Include all legal documents proving your legal guardianship of the child.
All parents or legal guardians should sign the application form.
- If you don’t know where the other parent or legal guardian is, contact us.
- We may contact the other parent or legal guardian.
If you’re worried that someone might apply for a passport for your child without your consent
Find out how to add your child’s name to a special list for their safety.
We’re issuing new passport booklets as of June 18, 2023
Until we finish installing the printers for the new passports in all offices, you may still get the current passport when you apply. By spring 2024, we’ll just be issuing the new passports.
If you have a valid passport already, it’s still secure and reliable. You don’t need to apply for a new one.
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
Each parent or legal guardian should sign the application form. We may contact the other parent or legal guardian.
Include your email address on the form so we can contact you if needed.
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
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, 1.33 MB) to your application.
If both parents or legal guardians cannot sign the form, contact us and we’ll tell you what to do.
Instructions and tips
- To save time, complete the form on your computer.
- If you can’t open the form, follow these instructions.
- To get a Braille instruction booklet or large-print forms, contact us.
- Read the instructions at the end of the form to make sure you complete it properly.
- Sign each page of the application.
- If the term “mother’s surname” doesn’t apply to you
- cross it out on the form and write “parent’s surname at birth”
- fill in the field with the surname (last name) at birth of 1 parent
and - write your initials in the margin
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 your child’s passport photo
Include the following documents with your child’s application form:
- proof of your child’s Canadian citizenship
- This can be a long-form birth certificate or a citizenship certificate.
- It must be the original document, not a photocopy.
- The name on the proof of citizenship is what goes on their passport.
- This can be a long-form birth certificate or a citizenship certificate.
- proof of parentage or proof of legal guardianship (if applicable)
- all documents that refer to the custody of, mobility of, or access to the child
- any valid Canadian passport or other travel document issued in the child’s name
- 2 identical passport photos of the child
- On the back of one of the photos, the photographer must write
- their name
- their complete address and
- the date the photos were taken
- Your guarantor must also sign the back of this photo.
- Read the full photo requirements for more information.
- On the back of one of the photos, the photographer must write
You may need to provide extra documents if you’re updating their gender identifier.
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.
Fees and methods of payment for applications outside Canada and the U.S. (opens in a new tab)
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.
- 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.
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.
- Print the signature policy (PDF, 601 KB) and bring it with you when you travel in case someone asks you to sign it.
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
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
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, 1.33 MB) to your application.
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.
Because you are outside Canada or the United States: Adult passport application for Canadians applying abroad (PPTC 040) (PDF, 395.45 KB).
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.
Read more about travelling as a dual citizen.
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