2. Gather all necessary documents and get 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 citizenship certificate.
    • It must be the original document, not a photocopy.
• 2 identical passport photos of your 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.
• any valid Canadian passport or travel document issued in the child’s name
  • This is so we can cancel it. You can’t travel with a cancelled passport or travel document.
• 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

You may need to provide extra documents if you’re updating their gender identifier.

3. Find a guarantor

For new passport application you will need to find a guarantor to sign your child’s application and one of the passport photos. The guarantor must have known you (the parent or legal guardian who is applying on behalf of the child) personally for at least two (2) years and must have knowledge of the child.

4. Submit your application and pay your fees

You must send the child’s application by mail unless you happen to be in Canada.

If you are applying by mail:

Use a certified courier or traceable mail service to reduce the delivery time of your application and help protect your documents.

Pay your fees by mail

When sending the application by mail, you can pay by:

• Visa, MasterCard, American Express credit card (prepaid cards are accepted), or
• Certified cheque or money order (postal or bank) in Canadian funds, made payable to the “Receiver General for Canada”. The exact fee must be specified.

Debit cards are not accepted for applications submitted by mail or by a third party.

Find out what the fees are for your child’s passport application.

You will not receive a refund for the service fee if you:

• cancel your application;
• are refused a passport or travel document; or,
• are issued a passport for a shorter validity period than requested (for example, in cases where an individual has had multiple losses).

If you are applying in person in Canada:

If you happen to be in Canada, you can apply in person at a passport office or Service Canada receiving agent service location.

When you apply in person, you can choose if you want the passport delivered or you can pick it up for an additional service fee.

Pay your fees in person (in Canada)

When applying in person, you can pay by:

• Credit card or prepaid card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
• Debit MasterCard^® or Visa^® Debit card
• Certified cheque or money order (postal or bank) in Canadian funds, made payable to the “Receiver General for Canada”. The exact fee must be specified.

We do not accept cash or personal cheques.

You will not receive a refund for the service fee if you:

• cancel the application;
• are refused a passport or travel document; or,
• are issued a passport for a shorter validity period than requested (for example, in cases where an individual has had multiple losses).

Find out what the fees are for your child’s passport application.

5. Receiving your child’s passport

If you applied by mail or in person in Canada, the passport (and any original documentation you submitted) will be returned to you (if you applied in person) or to your address in the United States or in Canada by courier service; and may be in two separate packages.

If you applied in person and paid for a pick-up service, the pickup date will be indicated on your receipt.

A child’s passport may be picked up by a third party if they provide written consent from the applicant and valid identification. The child must be present when the passport is picked up in Canada.

A child’s passport or other travel document does not need a signature. A child may sign the passport or travel document and children over the age of 11 are encouraged to sign. If a child does not sign, the signature block on page 3 must be left blank.