Canada To Resume Passport Services

Canadians who need a passport immediately can reapply by mail, effective July 31. If Canadians are traveling in less than 30 days or need their passport urgently, they can now request in-person appointments.

If Canadians don’t have travel plans, the government’s press release recommends waiting before applying for a passport. The government expects a delay in processing times due to the high demand for passports and the security measures implemented to protect staff and Canadians. 

Canada has also extended the streamlined renewal process, which allows people to apply for passport renewals without submitting their citizenship documents and a guarantor declaration. People whose passports expired on or after February 1, 2019, can now use the streamlined process within two years of the expiration date rather than just one.

Service Canada centers currently offer passport services by appointment only. The Government of Canada webpage offers an online tool to help people find the Service Canada office closest to them.

“Customers who need a passport in less than 30 days are encouraged to request an appointment,” former Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussein said in a press release. “The return of in-person public access to Service Canada offices will build on the new services that have been implemented and will continue to provide hands-on support to those who need help accessing our benefits and services.

Canadians who are abroad can contact the nearest Government of Canada office for travel document services. These offices offer varying levels of passport services, depending on their local conditions.

Refugee travel documents and identity certificates continued to be dealt with on an urgent basis.

“The resumption of Canadian passport services by mail and increased in-person appointments for those requiring a passport in less than 30 days is an important first step towards resuming regular passport services in Canada while prioritizing the health and safety of Canadians and our employees, ”Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Immigration Minister, said in the statement. “Travel advisories and restrictions remain in effect around the world, but we recognize that many Canadians need a passport for their essential travel or to plan for the future and we are doing all we can to help them gain access. to these services.

More information on how to apply for a passport is available on the Canadian government webpage.

Reference is taken from CIC News