How to Apply for a New Canadian Adult Passport (Form PPTC 153): 2026 Fees, Documents, Guarantor, and Processing Times

Last Updated Date: September 25, 2026

If you are a Canadian citizen aged 16 or older and you need your first passport — or you are not eligible for the simplified renewal — you must apply with the Adult General Passport Application, form PPTC 153. This is the full general application: it requires proof of citizenship, supporting identity documents, a guarantor, two references, and two passport photos.

This expert guide explains exactly who must use PPTC 153, the 2026 fee schedule (adjusted for inflation effective March 31, 2026), the complete document checklist, guarantor and reference rules, photo specifications, where to submit your application, standard and expedited processing times, the “30 days or free” processing guarantee, and step-by-step filing instructions.

General Application (PPTC 153) vs. Simplified Renewal (PPTC 054)

Who Must Use Form PPTC 153

You need the Adult General Passport Application if you are a Canadian citizen 16 years of age or older and any of the following apply:

• You have never held a Canadian passport (first-time applicant).
• Your previous passport was issued when you were under 16 years old (a child passport cannot be renewed — you must apply for a new adult passport).
• You want to change your name, date of birth, place of birth, or gender identifier on the new passport.
• Your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged — you cannot renew it; you must apply for a new one (a lost or stolen passport must also be reported with a declaration form, PPTC 203, plus a $45 replacement fee).
• Your last adult passport was issued more than 15 years ago.

If your last passport was issued when you were 16 or older, within the last 15 years, and your personal details have not changed, you can likely use the simpler renewal (PPTC 054) instead — see our simplified renewal guide.

2026 Adult Passport Fees

Passport and travel document fees were adjusted for inflation on March 31, 2026 — the first update since 2013 — and will now adjust annually under the Service Fees Act. The fee you pay is based on the date you submit your application (in person or online) or the date IRCC receives it (by mail — not the date you mailed it).

Expedited pickup fees are charged on top of the passport fee and are available only when you apply in person at a passport office.

Note: the express pickup surcharge was not part of the March 31, 2026 fee adjustment; $50 is the most recently published IRCC amount. Confirm the current fee on Canada.ca before paying.

The Complete Document Checklist

You need all of the following. Your application will be rejected and returned if anything is missing.

Important: All documents submitted in a language other than English or French must be translated by a certified translator. Additional documents or information may be requested in support of your application. Do not finalize your travel plans until you receive your passport — the Passport Program is not responsible for losses related to missed travel.

Passport Photo Requirements

• Photos must be 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 in × 2¾ in); your face must measure 31–36 mm from chin to crown of head.
• Taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio, no more than 6 months before you apply.
• Clear, sharp, in focus; uniform lighting with no shadows, glare, or flash reflections; plain white or light-coloured background; neutral expression with mouth closed and eyes open; colour or black-and-white both accepted.
• Not altered in any way — no editing software, filters, or AI tools. Home-printed or heavyweight-paper photos are rejected.
• On the back of 1 photo, the photographer must write or stamp their studio name, complete address, and the date the photos were taken.
• Your guarantor must sign 1 photo. The guarantor writes “I certify this to be a true likeness of (your name)” on the back of one photo and signs it.

Your Guarantor: Eligibility and Duties

Your guarantor confirms your identity to the Passport Program. They must:

• Be 18 years of age or older and able to communicate in English or French.
• Be a Canadian citizen.
• Hold a 5-year or 10-year Canadian passport that, on the day you submit your application, is valid or expired for no more than 1 year.
• Have been 16 or older when they applied for their own passport.
• Have known you personally for at least 2 years — well enough to confirm the statements on your application are true.
• Provide the information from their passport in the Declaration of Guarantor section of your form.
• Be available if the Passport Program needs to contact them.

A guarantor can be a relative or someone living at your address, as long as all requirements above are met, and does not need to live in the same country as you.

Your guarantor performs three tasks, free of charge:

1. Complete or validate the Declaration of Guarantor (Section 2 of the form), including the four fields only the guarantor may fill in: how long they have known you, their signature, the date, and where signed. Complete and sign all three pages of your application before giving it to your guarantor.
2. Certify one photo — write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (your name)” on the back of one photo and sign it.
3. Sign and date all copies of your supporting identity documents.

Your Two References

You need two references who:

• Are 18 years of age or older.
• Have known you for at least 2 years.
• Agree to you using their name and contact information on your application.

Make sure your references are available if IRCC needs to contact them — for example, not travelling outside the country. IRCC may ask for additional references at any time. Program guidance commonly states that references cannot be family members and that your guarantor cannot also serve as one of your references — confirm the current rules on Canada.ca before choosing your references.

How to Complete Form PPTC 153 — Step by Step

1. Confirm you need the general application, not the simplified renewal (see the comparison table above).
2. Get form PPTC 153 from the Canada.ca “new adult passport” pages or pick it up at a Service Canada Centre.
3. Fill it in on a computer (Adobe Reader 10 or higher — not a phone or browser), print it, and sign and date all three pages. The form must be signed within the last 12 months.
4. Get two identical passport photos from a commercial photographer, with the studio stamp on the back of one.
5. Have your guarantor complete the Declaration of Guarantor, certify one photo, and sign and date all photocopied identity documents.
6. Add your two references and their contact information to the form.
7. Pay the correct 2026 fee — $163.50 for a 10-year passport or $122.50 for a 5-year passport when applying in Canada.
8. Include your email address on the form — it makes checking your application status online easier.

Where and How to Submit Your Application

Processing Times and the “30 Days or Free” Guarantee

Standard service targets are 10 business days (in person at a passport office or 10-day processing location) or 20 business days (regular Service Canada Centres, outreach sites, and mail-in applications) — plus mailing time in all cases. Mailed passports usually take about 5 business days to arrive, but delivery can vary across the country.

Since April 1, 2026, a new guarantee applies: if a complete application takes longer than 30 business days to process, you receive a full refund of the passport fee — automatically, with no action required on your part.

• The clock starts when IRCC receives your complete application (form, photos, documents, fees) and ends when the passport is printed and verified.
• Mailing time is not included. Holds on incomplete applications and additional review time for complex applications are also excluded.

Need It Faster? Urgent and Express Pickup

If you need your passport quickly, apply in person at a passport office and request expedited service. You must provide proof that you genuinely need the passport quickly (for example, proof of travel), and extra fees apply on top of the passport fee.

A few offices take slightly longer for express applications: 4 to 9 business days in Kelowna and Pointe-Claire, and 3 to 9 business days in Charlottetown. A passport officer will tell you your pickup date when you apply.

Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected or Delayed

• The form was signed more than 12 months ago, not signed on all three pages, or page 1 was not certified by the guarantor.
• Photos that don’t meet specifications (wrong size, older than 6 months, altered, home-printed, or missing the photographer’s stamp or guarantor’s signature).
• Photocopies of identity documents that the guarantor did not sign and date.
• Missing the original proof of citizenship (birth certificate or paper citizenship certificate).
• Wrong fee amount — for mailed applications, the fee is based on the date IRCC receives your application, not the date you mailed it.
• A guarantor or references who can’t be reached when the Passport Program calls.
• Finalizing travel plans before receiving the passport — if your plans are urgent, apply in person for urgent or express service instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need form PPTC 153 or PPTC 054?
A: Use PPTC 153 (general application) if this is your first passport, your last passport was issued before you turned 16, you are changing your name, date of birth, place of birth, or gender identifier, or your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. Use PPTC 054 (simplified renewal) only if your last passport was issued when you were 16 or older, within the last 15 years, with no personal-detail changes.

Q: How much does a new adult Canadian passport cost in 2026?
A: For applications made in Canada: $163.50 for a 10-year passport and $122.50 for a 5-year passport. These fees took effect March 31, 2026, and will be adjusted annually for inflation. Canadians applying from abroad pay $266.25 (10-year) or $194.25 (5-year).

Q: Who can be my guarantor?
A: A Canadian citizen 18 or older who has known you personally for at least 2 years, holds a valid 5- or 10-year Canadian passport (or one expired for no more than 1 year), was 16 or older when they applied for their own passport, and is available to be contacted. A relative or someone living at your address can be your guarantor.

Q: Do I have to send my original birth certificate or citizenship certificate?
A: Yes. Original proof of citizenship is required with a general application (paper citizenship certificates must be the original; for e-certificates, attach a printed copy). Your document is returned to you.

Q: How long does a new adult passport take?
A: Standard service targets are 10 business days in person at a passport office (or 10-day processing location) and 20 business days at regular Service Canada Centres or by mail — plus mailing time in all cases. Since April 1, 2026, if processing exceeds 30 business days, the fee is refunded automatically.

Q: Can I apply for a new adult passport by mail?
A: Yes. Mail your completed form PPTC 153, photos, documents, and payment by trackable mail to: Passport Program, Gatineau QC K1A 0G3, Canada (for couriers: Passport Program, 22 de Varennes Street, Gatineau QC J8T 8R1, Canada). Allow 20 business days of processing plus mailing time.

Q: What if I need my passport urgently?
A: Apply in person at a passport office and request urgent pickup (ready by the end of the next business day, $125.75 extra) or express pickup (2 to 9 business days, extra fee). You must provide proof that you genuinely need the passport quickly.

Q: How do I check the status of my application?
A: Include your email address on the form — it makes online status checks easier. You can check your status at Canada.ca/Passport-Status, or call the Passport Program at 1-800-567-6868 (toll-free; TTY 1-866-255-7655), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm local time.

Information Sources

• What you need to apply for a new adult passport in Canada — documents, photos, guarantor, references (Government of Canada)
• Get the form for a new adult passport in Canada (Government of Canada)
• Apply for a new adult passport in Canada — submit your application (Government of Canada)
• Passport photo requirements (Government of Canada)
• Passport and travel document fee changes, effective March 31, 2026 (Government of Canada)
• Passport processing times (Government of Canada)
• Urgent and express passport services (Government of Canada)
• “30 days or free” processing guarantee announcement (Government of Canada)
• Adult General Passport Application form PPTC 153 (PDF)
• Contact the Passport Program (Government of Canada)

Disclaimer: ServiceCanadaPassport.ca is an independent information website and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Service Canada, or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Passport rules, fees, and processing times can change. Always confirm current requirements on the official Canada.ca passport pages before applying.