Last Updated Date: September 25, 2026

Urgent and Express Canadian Passport Applications: Complete 2026 Guide

If you need a Canadian passport faster than the regular process allows, the Government of Canada offers two accelerated pick-up services: urgent pick-up (ready by the end of the next business day) and express pick-up (ready in 2 to 9 business days). Both cost extra on top of the standard passport fee, both require you to apply in person at a passport office, and both require proof that you genuinely need the passport quickly.

This guide explains who qualifies, what counts as proof of travel, the current surcharges in Canadian dollars (updated for the March 31, 2026 fee changes), where to apply, and exactly how to request the service — whether you are applying for the first time or already submitted an application and now need it sooner.

What Is Urgent Passport Service in Canada?

Urgent pick-up is the fastest passport service available inside Canada. The Government of Canada’s published service standard for urgent pick-up is delivery by the end of the next business day. It is designed for travellers who are leaving very soon or who face an emergency that requires immediate travel.

Urgent pick-up is not available everywhere. It is offered only at specialized passport offices with urgent pick-up service, and you must request it in person. You cannot get urgent service by mail or online. When you apply, you pay the regular passport fee plus an urgent pick-up surcharge, and a passport officer will tell you the date of your pick-up.

What Is Express Passport Service?

Express pick-up is the middle tier. The service standard is 2 to 9 business days. A few offices take slightly longer to process express applications:

• Kelowna, British Columbia — 4 to 9 business days
• Pointe-Claire, Quebec — 4 to 9 business days
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island — 3 to 9 business days

Express service costs less than urgent service and works well when your trip is more than a week away but sooner than regular processing would allow.

Urgent vs. Express vs. Standard: Comparison Table

All surcharges are added to the regular passport fee. A 10-year adult passport in Canada costs $163.50 plus the surcharge; a 5-year adult passport costs $122.50 plus the surcharge; a child passport costs $58.50 plus the surcharge.

Current Fees and Surcharges (2026)

Passport and travel-document fees were adjusted for inflation effective March 31, 2026, under the Service Fees Act. The new fees apply if the government receives your application on or after that date.

A temporary passport ($125.75) is a separate limited-validity travel document for genuine emergencies, while urgent pick-up gives you a regular passport on an accelerated timeline. If your situation is truly an emergency on a weekend or statutory holiday, the emergency weekend/holiday service exists at a $383.50 surcharge.

Who Can Request Urgent or Express Service?

You can request urgent or express service in two situations:

• When you apply in person — tell the passport officer at the time of application that you need urgent or express service.
• After you apply, but you now need your passport sooner — contact the office that has your application and ask to upgrade to urgent or express service. You will need to provide proof of your need and pay the additional fee.

Eligibility is based on need, not status: you must demonstrate that you need the passport quickly, and pay the additional fee. There is no separate application form for urgent service — you complete the normal adult or child passport application form and request the service level in person.

Proof of Travel: What Counts as Proof?

To receive urgent or express service, you must provide proof that you need the passport. The Government of Canada accepts:

• An airline, bus or train ticket — if travelling by car, a written statement explaining why you need to travel
• A travel itinerary showing proof of payment
• Proof of illness or death in the family requiring you to travel
• A written statement from you or a third party explaining why you need the passport — for example, for legal, banking or residency requirements

Bring originals or printed copies of your proof to your in-person appointment. A vague plan or an unpaid reservation is less convincing than a paid itinerary, so submit the strongest evidence you have.

Where to Apply for Urgent Service

Urgent pick-up is available only at specialized passport offices that offer the service — not at every Service Canada Centre and not through the mail or online. Before you go:

1. Use the Government of Canada’s office finder to locate a passport office near you that offers urgent pick-up service.
2. Go in person with your completed application form, photos, supporting documents, proof of need, and payment.
3. For express service, you may also be able to book an appointment; some offices process express applications faster with one.

If your regular application is already in the system at a different location, ask whether your file can be transferred to the urgent-service office — an additional file-transfer fee may apply, in addition to the urgent or express surcharge.

How to Get an Urgent Passport: Step-by-Step

1. Confirm your travel need and gather proof. Collect your paid tickets, itinerary with proof of payment, or written statement.
2. Complete the standard application form. Fill out and sign the adult general application or child application, following the same instructions as a regular application.
3. Get your passport photos. Photos must meet the government’s specifications; many offices reject non-compliant photos, which costs you time you cannot spare.
4. Go in person to a passport office with urgent pick-up service. Arrive early in the day.
5. Request urgent or express service and present your proof of need to the passport officer.
6. Pay the regular fee plus the surcharge. You can pay by credit card, debit card, certified cheque, or money order.
7. Note your pick-up date. A passport officer will tell you when to return. Bring your receipt and identification when you collect the passport.

Important Things to Know

• No guarantee against losses. If the government cannot deliver the passport in time, it is not liable for any losses. Do not finalize any travel plans until you get your passport.
• Service timelines and refunds. If IRCC misses a promised urgent (end of next business day) or express (2–9 business days) timeline, you may be eligible for a full refund under the Financial Administration Act — see our fees & refunds guide for details.
• Processing times exclude delivery. The timelines above cover processing; they do not include mail time for anything you mail in.
• Express timelines vary by office. Kelowna, Pointe-Claire, and Charlottetown need extra days for express applications, as noted in the table above.
• Fees are based on the date the government receives your application, not the date you mail it. For in-person applications, the fee is based on the day you submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does urgent passport service cost in Canada in 2026?
A: The urgent pick-up surcharge is $125.75 CAD as of March 31, 2026, in addition to the regular passport fee. For a 10-year adult passport applied for in Canada, the total is $163.50 + $125.75 = $289.25.

Q: How fast is express passport service?
A: Express pick-up takes 2 to 9 business days. Some locations need slightly longer: 4 to 9 business days in Kelowna and Pointe-Claire, and 3 to 9 business days in Charlottetown.

Q: Can I get urgent service after I already applied?
A: Yes. If you applied and now need your passport sooner, contact the office holding your application and request an upgrade to urgent or express service. You must provide proof of your need and pay the additional fee.

Q: What proof of travel do I need for urgent service?
A: Acceptable proof includes an airline, bus or train ticket (or a written statement if driving), a travel itinerary showing proof of payment, proof of illness or death in the family, or a written statement from you or a third party (for example, for legal, banking or residency requirements).

Q: Can I apply for urgent service online or by mail?
A: No. Urgent and express services must be requested in person at a passport office that offers them.

Q: What is the difference between urgent pick-up and a temporary passport?
A: Urgent pick-up delivers a regular passport by the end of the next business day (surcharge $125.75). A temporary passport is a separate limited-validity emergency travel document, also $125.75. Weekend or statutory holiday emergency service costs $383.50.

Q: What phone number can I call about my passport application?
A: The Passport Program can be reached at 1-800-567-6868.

Information Sources

• Get urgent, express or emergency weekend passport services — Canada.ca
• Passport and travel document fee changes — Canada.ca
• Check passport service standards — Canada.ca

Disclaimer: ServiceCanadaPassport.ca is an independent information website and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Always confirm fees, timelines, and requirements on official canada.ca pages before you apply.