Passport renewal for Canadians will now become possible online.
The Canadian government has announced that after autumn begins, Canadians eligible for streamlined passport renewals will be able to complete this process online. On May 10, the government unveiled a new design for its passports.
Minister Sean Fraser announced that eligible Canadians would be able to electronically submit the required paperwork and images to a secure government website as part of this new procedure in a statement released by IRCC. It was the same day when they unveiled the redesigned passports.
Passport renewal for Canadians will now be possible online
The following categories will be entitled to use Canada’s forthcoming online passport renewal system as of May 2023:
- Those with passports over the previous 15 years have expired.
- Whose passports were damaged, stolen, or lost?
- To be clear, the required paperwork differs between a conventional passport renewal process and a simplified renewal process.
Standard passport renewals call for the submission of original documents (such as identification with a photo or proof of citizenship). However, simplified renewals need the following four things:
- Two images,
- Two sources
- Completed documents
- Relevant fees
The IRCC anticipates that the online procedures it will roll out later this year will speed up and simplify the processing of passports. However, new passport applicants must continue to use Service Canada’s customary application procedure.
Advantages of having a Canadian passport
The primary purpose of passports is as a travel document. These identification credentials are more than anything you provide at the airport when departing for a trip and returning from one.
1. Visa-free entry into 185 countries
Holders of Canadian passports don’t need a visa to access 185 countries, according to Henley & Partners’ research from 2022. According to the most current Global Passport Rankings, Canada is ranked eighth, giving its citizens some of the finest levels of access to other nations worldwide without having to apply for any form of visa.
2. Possession of both a Canadian passport and a foreign passport (as a Canadian citizen)
Dual nationals have the authority to hold both the passport they received from their home country and their Canadian passport. Canadian dual citizens may own as many passports as they are qualified for, assuming their home country permits this.
3. Advantages of being a Canadian citizen
The acquisition of a passport in Canada does not confer citizenship. If you do, it will only be due to your Canadian citizenship status. Having a Canadian passport gives you access to all of the same freedoms and privileges as someone born here, among other things.
For instance, the freedom to vote in elections is one of the essential liberties that this nation’s citizens possess.
Additionally, Canadians will be able to access more work opportunities, including some that aren’t open to those with other Canadian statuses (permanent resident, temporary resident, etc.).
