Last Updated Date: September 25, 2026

Lost, Stolen or Damaged Canadian Passport? Your Complete Replacement Guide (2026)

A lost, stolen or damaged passport is stressful — but Canada’s Passport Program has a clear replacement process. Here’s what to do first, which forms to complete, 2026 fees, and how to avoid delays.

Important: The Passport Program may review or investigate how your passport was lost, stolen or damaged before issuing a replacement, which can cause delays. Once a passport is reported lost or stolen, it is cancelled and can never be used for travel again.

Act Immediately: Report the Loss or Theft

A lost or stolen passport can be misused for identity fraud, so report it right away:

  • In Canada or the United States: Call the Passport Program at 1-800-567-6868 as soon as possible.
  • Abroad: Contact the nearest Government of Canada office (embassy or consulate) immediately.
  • If stolen, also file a police report — a report number helps with identity-theft protection and insurance claims.

Reporting alone does not issue a replacement — apply for your new passport without delay.

Lost vs Stolen vs Damaged: What’s Required

Lost Passport Stolen Passport Damaged Passport
Report first Call 1-800-567-6868 (or nearest Gov. of Canada office abroad) Call 1-800-567-6868 (or nearest Gov. of Canada office abroad); also file a police report No phone report required — but you cannot travel on it
Declaration form PPTC 203 — declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document PPTC 203 (same form) PPTC 203 (same form), since the passport is still valid
Application type Check simplified renewal eligibility first; otherwise the general application (PPTC 153 for adults) Same as lost: check simplified renewal first; otherwise PPTC 153 Renew your passport or apply for a new adult passport (PPTC 153)
Regular passport fee Yes — $163.50 (10-year) or $122.50 (5-year) in Canada Yes — same as lost Yes — same fees
Extra $45 replacement fee Yes, if the passport is still valid Yes, if the passport is still valid No — damaged passports pay regular fees only
Old document Not available Not available Submit the damaged passport with your application

Two key points: The extra $45 replacement fee applies to each lost or stolen passport that is still valid, in addition to the regular fee. And a lost, stolen or damaged declaration does not automatically disqualify you from the simplified renewal process — check eligibility first.

Step-by-Step: Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

  1. Report it immediately — call 1-800-567-6868 (Canada/US) or contact the nearest Government of Canada office abroad. File a police report if it was stolen.
  2. Check simplified renewal eligibility on Canada.ca — renewing is faster and simpler.
  3. Complete the declaration form (PPTC 203) — the “Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document” — and include it with your application.
  4. Complete your application. Use simplified renewal if eligible; otherwise complete the adult general application (PPTC 153) with photos and proof of citizenship.
  5. Pay both fees — the regular passport fee ($163.50 for a 10-year or $122.50 for a 5-year adult passport in Canada) plus the extra $45 for each valid lost or stolen passport.
  6. Submit your application in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office, by mail, or abroad through a Government of Canada office. Keep copies of everything.

Step-by-Step: Replacing a Damaged Passport

A passport counts as damaged when torn, water-damaged, missing pages, altered, bearing unauthorized markings, or with an impaired or illegible photo or identity details. Airlines and border officers can refuse it — replace it before you travel.

  1. Don’t try to repair it — attempts to fix a passport can make things worse.
  2. Renew or apply new — check simplified renewal eligibility, or complete the adult general application (PPTC 153).
  3. Include the PPTC 203 declaration, since the passport is still valid.
  4. Submit the damaged passport — you pay the regular fee only, with no $45 surcharge.
  5. Check before travel — if you’re unsure your passport is too damaged, ask a passport office or your airline first.

2026 Fees: What a Replacement Costs

Passport and travel document fees were adjusted for inflation for the first time since 2013, effective March 31, 2026. Applications received on or after that date pay the new amounts.

Passport / Service Fee in Canada (CAD) Fee outside Canada (CAD)
10-year adult passport (16+) $163.50 $266.25
5-year adult passport (16+) $122.50 $194.25
Child passport (under 16, 5-year) $58.50 $102.50
Extra fee per lost/stolen passport $45.00 $45.00

Your actual replacement cost (in Canada):

  • Lost/stolen, still valid — 10-year adult: $163.50 + $45 = $208.50
  • Lost/stolen, still valid — 5-year adult: $122.50 + $45 = $167.50
  • Damaged — 10-year adult: $163.50 (no extra fee)
  • Damaged — 5-year adult: $122.50 (no extra fee)

Note: the “30 business days or it’s free” processing guarantee (started April 1, 2026) covers the passport fee — confirm how the $45 administrative charge is treated on canada.ca before relying on it.

Key Forms You Need

  • PPTC 203 — “Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document.” Required whenever your previous passport was lost, stolen, damaged (still valid) or found. Always download the current version from Canada.ca.
  • PPTC 153 — Adult general passport application, needed when you are not eligible for simplified renewal.
  • Child passports — For a lost or stolen child passport, follow the child passport steps, include the PPTC 203 and pay the extra $45 fee. Report the loss to 1-800-567-6868 first.

Complete forms on a computer using Adobe Reader 10 or higher — the PDF forms may not work properly on a phone, tablet or in a web browser.

Found Your Passport Later? You Must Return It

If you find your passport after reporting it lost or stolen, you cannot use it — it has been cancelled. Return it with a letter describing how, when and where you found it, plus a completed PPTC 203 declaration:

  • In Canada: In person at a passport office, Service Canada Centre, local police or RCMP station — or by registered mail/courier to HIOB – Passport Protection, 6th floor, Gatineau, QC K1A 1L1, Canada.
  • Outside Canada: To the nearest Government of Canada office.

The same applies if you find someone else’s passport: return it to the Government of Canada with a note explaining where and when you found it.

Travelling Urgently? Emergency Options

If your passport is lost, stolen or damaged abroad and you need to travel before a full replacement is ready, Canadian missions can help:

  • Emergency travel document: For urgent travel — confirm the current fee on canada.ca.
  • Temporary passport: Issued with a passport request — confirm the current fee on canada.ca.
  • Urgent pickup in Canada: $125.75 (2026 rate) — request it when you apply.

Since April 1, 2026, complete in-Canada applications are processed within 30 business days or the base fee is refunded automatically. Stranded abroad? Contact the nearest Government of Canada office immediately.

Protect Your Next Passport: Prevention Tips

A replacement takes time and money; prevention is free:

  • Store it securely in a locked, fire-resistant spot — not in a car, handbag or unlocked drawer.
  • Carry it only when needed; on trips, use a hotel safe or a secure inner pocket.
  • Keep copies of the photo page (and visa pages) — paper and encrypted digital — stored separately from the original.
  • Use a protective sleeve; keep it away from water, heat and pets.
  • Never surrender it casually to hotels or rental shops as a “deposit” — only to border officials, airlines and verified authorities.

FAQ: Lost, Stolen or Damaged Canadian Passport

Q: I lost my Canadian passport. What do I do first?
A: Report it immediately — call 1-800-567-6868 (Canada/US) or contact the nearest Government of Canada office abroad. Then submit the PPTC 203 declaration with your replacement application.

Q: How much does a replacement cost in 2026?
A: In Canada: $208.50 for a 10-year adult replacement ($163.50 + $45), or $167.50 for a 5-year ($122.50 + $45). A damaged passport costs the regular fee only — $163.50 or $122.50.

Q: Which form do I need for a lost passport?
A: The PPTC 203 — “Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document.” If you’re not eligible for simplified renewal, also complete the adult general application (PPTC 153).

Q: Can I use simplified renewal if my passport was lost or stolen?
A: Possibly — a lost, stolen or damaged declaration does not automatically disqualify you. Check the eligibility criteria on Canada.ca first; renewing is simpler than a new application.

Q: Do I pay the $45 fee for a damaged passport?
A: No. The extra $45 fee applies only to lost or stolen passports that are still valid. Damaged passports pay the regular fee only.

Q: My passport was stolen abroad. What should I do?
A: Contact the nearest Government of Canada office (embassy or consulate) immediately, and file a report with local police. The mission can issue an emergency travel document or a replacement passport.

Q: I found my passport after reporting it lost. Can I use it again?
A: No — it has been cancelled. Return it to a passport office, police service, RCMP station, or mail it by registered mail to HIOB – Passport Protection, 6th floor, Gatineau, QC K1A 1L1, with a letter explaining how you found it and a completed PPTC 203.

Q: What counts as a damaged passport?
A: Torn or water-damaged pages, removed pages, altered details, unauthorized markings, or an impaired/illegible photo or identity details. Airlines and border officers can refuse damaged passports — replace yours before travelling.

Q: Will the government investigate my claim?
A: It may. The Passport Program can review or investigate how your passport was lost, stolen or damaged before issuing a replacement, which can delay processing. Repeated claims can lead to restrictions.

Q: How long does a replacement take?
A: Complete in-Canada applications are processed within 30 business days or the base fee is refunded automatically (since April 1, 2026). For urgent travel, request urgent pickup ($125.75) or, if abroad, an emergency travel document.

Information Sources

ServiceCanadaPassport.ca is an independent information website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Government of Canada, Service Canada, or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Always confirm current fees, forms and requirements on official Canada.ca pages before applying.