Canadian passport processing resumes its service standards of the pre-pandemic phase. This is the latest report by Service Canada. The ESDC recently revealed in its latest update that no passport application backlogs exist now. This is primarily due to Service Canada’s attempts to deliver the passports at an expedited processing time for most applications.
Canadian passport processing resumes its service standards
The speed exceeds the usual standard processing times even after a short interruption by the recent strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada Strike. This strike remained in effect from April 19 to May 1 (a period of 12 days).
People are receiving their Canadian passports within a timeline of ten to twenty days. However, this largely relies on the submission of passport applications. ESDC claims that nearly 98 percent of these passports are sent within the standard service processing time. This is irrespective of the intake method.
This news is out after one year of a troublesome period when the country faced an unexpected demand for fresh and renewed passports. This was because of the sudden removal of travel restrictions after the recovery of the pandemic phase.
The passport offices witnessed long queues, with several people choosing overnight camps to submit their applications physically and on time.
The department claims that in preparation for a surge in renewals anticipated this summer, passport staff has been working on service enhancements. In July 2013, Canada began issuing passports with a 10-year lifespan; these passports will soon expire.
This summer, new Canadian citizens shouldn’t have any trouble making plans to visit their families back home due to service improvements.
Canadian passport services – what about the other improvements?
Between April 2022 and March 2023, Passport Canada issued 3,346223 passports, issuing 852,589 so far in 2023. In the fiscal year 2023–2024, it anticipates releasing 4.3–4.9 million passports. Only citizens of Canada are eligible to obtain passports.
Service Canada looks forward to offering people online renewal to match the pre-pandemic standard services. Onwards May 2023, those with expired passports within the last fifteen years or those with stolen or damaged passports can submit the essential documents online. This implies that they will not have to stand in long lines to put their documents in the mail at the office.
However, this will not apply to individuals applying for their first Canadian passport.
Additionally, Service Canada launched 7 new 10-day passport offices in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia during the spring. Their location is:
- British Columbia – Prince George
- Quebec – Lac-Mégantic
- Ontario – Timmins
- Quebec – Gaspé
- Saint-Georges – Quebec
- Dryden, Ontario
- Quebec – Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Canadians can check the status of their applications online after they’ve been filed. ESDC claims the online status checker website has seen over 702,000 views since the service’s debut on March 21, 2023.
