How to Apply for a Canadian Passport (First-Time) 2026

Most new citizens apply for their first Canadian passport within weeks of the oath ceremony. The first-time application is more involved than the simplified renewal you will do five or ten years from now, but it is also a one-time setup — once your first passport is in hand, future renewals use the streamlined PPTC 054 process.

Six things:

1. Original proof of Canadian citizenship (your citizenship certificate from the ceremony).
2. Government-issued photo ID (driver's license, provincial ID card).
3. Two passport photos (50 × 70 mm, taken in the last 6 months by a commercial photographer).
4. A guarantor — a Canadian passport holder who has known you 2+ years.
5. Two references — non-related individuals who have known you 2+ years.
6. The fee — $120 for 5-year, $160 for 10-year.

For first-time adult applicants, acceptable proofs are:

• Canadian citizenship certificate (post-1947) — this is the document you received at your ceremony.
• Canadian birth certificate issued by a province or territory — applies to citizens by birth in Canada.
• Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad (issued 1947–2007).
• Certificate of Retention of Canadian Citizenship (pre-1977).
• Certificate of Naturalization (pre-1947).

Photocopies are not accepted. You must submit an original document. If you have lost your original certificate, request a replacement using form CIT 0001 (Application for a Citizenship Certificate) before applying for the passport. This adds 4–6 months to the timeline.

Download PPTC 153 (Adult General Passport Application) from canada.ca. The form is 4 pages with sections for:

• Personal information (name, date and place of birth, current address)
• Travel history (purpose, destinations)
• Previous Canadian passport details (leave blank if first-time)
• Emergency contact
• Guarantor declaration (signed by your guarantor)
• References section (two names with addresses and phone numbers)
• Applicant declaration signed in front of the photo

Sign the form in blue or black pen. Do not sign in the photo box itself — there is a separate signature box.

Two identical photos, 50 × 70 mm, taken in the last 6 months. Full specs in [Canadian Passport Photo Requirements 2026](/blog/canadian-passport-photo-requirements-2026). Cost is typically $15–$25 at a drug store photo counter, Walmart, Costco, or independent studio.

When you pick up the photos, ensure the photographer has written on the back of one photo (in pen):

• Studio name
• Address
• Date the photo was taken

This is the Photographer Note — required. Without it, the photos will be rejected.

A guarantor must:

• Currently hold a valid Canadian passport (any series).
• Have known you personally for at least 2 years.
• Not be your spouse, common-law partner, parent, sibling, child, or housemate.
• Be available to be contacted by the Passport Office if there is a question (provide their current phone number on the form).

If you cannot find someone meeting these criteria, use form PPTC 132 (Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor), sworn before a notary public or commissioner of oaths. Most provinces have public notary services for $25–$75. This works for new immigrants who do not yet have established Canadian contacts.

Two references, each:

• Not the same person as your guarantor.
• Not your spouse, partner, or close family.
• Has known you for at least 2 years.
• Is reachable by phone (the Passport Office may verify by calling).

References do not need to be Canadian citizens or passport holders. Provide their full name, address, and phone number.

Your final package:

• [ ] Signed PPTC 153 (with guarantor signature and references filled in)
• [ ] Original citizenship certificate (returned same day if in person)
• [ ] Government-issued photo ID (driver's license shown at counter)
• [ ] Two passport photos (one with Photographer Note on back)
• [ ] Fee ($120 or $160 — by debit/credit in person, certified cheque/money order by mail)

Option A — In person (recommended for first-time applicants):

Find your nearest Service Canada Passport Office at canada.ca. Most offices accept walk-ins; some require appointments — check the local office's page. Bring everything in one folder. The agent will:

1. Verify your ID and citizenship certificate.
2. Review the photos and reject any defects on the spot.
3. Confirm the guarantor signature is valid.
4. Take payment.
5. Return your original citizenship certificate.
6. Give you a receipt with a tracking number.

Processing: 10 business days for routine. Express (extra $45) is 2–9 business days. Urgent same-day pickup is +$110.

Option B — By mail:

Mail the full package to:

```

Passport Program

Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0G3

Canada

```

Use trackable mail (Canada Post Xpresspost, FedEx, etc.) — never regular mail. Include payment by certified cheque or money order payable to Receiver General for Canada.

Processing: 20 business days from receipt at Gatineau. Your citizenship certificate is returned with your new passport.

Option C — At a Canadian mission abroad:

If you became a Canadian citizen and are now living outside Canada (perhaps you returned to your country of origin), the nearest Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission processes first-time applications. Processing: 4–6 weeks. Find your mission at [travel.gc.ca](https://travel.gc.ca).

• Photocopy of citizenship certificate — original is required, no exceptions.
• Photos undersized — face must be 31–36 mm chin to crown.
• Guarantor passport expired — must be currently valid.
• References are family members — they cannot be related to you.
• Signature in the photo box — sign in the separate signature box, not on the photo.
• Form filled in pencil — only pen (blue or black) is accepted.

Your first Canadian passport will be the 2023 redesigned passport: polycarbonate data page, laser-engraved photo, UV artwork on every page. See [The New Canadian Passport 2026](/blog/new-canadian-passport-2026) for the full design breakdown.

Once you have it:

• Sign the passport on the signature line of the data page (some new passports come pre-printed with your signature engraved; if not, sign yourself in black pen).
• Register abroad if you travel for extended periods — Registration of Canadians Abroad ([travel.gc.ca/registration](https://travel.gc.ca/registration)).
• Check visa requirements for your first destination at [travel.gc.ca](https://travel.gc.ca).
• Notify your bank if you plan to travel — they may flag international transactions otherwise.

When this first passport expires, you will qualify for the simplified renewal with PPTC 054: no guarantor, no references, no proof of citizenship. The Passport Office uses your previous passport as the proof. See [Canadian Passport Renewal 2026](/blog/canadian-passport-renewal-2026) when the time comes.

For more context on what your Canadian passport unlocks abroad, see [Canadian Citizenship Rules Abroad (2026)](/blog/canadian-citizenship-rules-abroad).