Applying for a Canadian Passport from the USA: A Comprehensive Guide
Applying for your Canadian passport from the USA
|
Documents needed for a Canadian Passport from the USA |
|
|
Renewal |
First tme |
| Your most recent passport | Proof of Canadian Citizenship – This can be a birth certificate or a citizenship certificate |
| 2 x identical photos -https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html | At least 1 valid document to support your identity
|
| 2 x References who have know you for at least 2 years – https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-references-guarantors.html | 2 x identical photos -https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html |
| 1 x guarantor and 2 references | |
| Who can renew a passport
You can only renew your Canadian passport if your last passport
|
|
Where to send your Canadian Passport application from the USA
|
Mailing Address (non-courier) |
Courier Address |
| Government of Canada
Passport Program Gatineau Quebec K1A 0G3 |
Government of Canada
Passport Program 22 Varennes Street Gatineau, Quebec, J8T 8R1 |
Fees for your Canadian Passport from the USA
|
Passport Fees |
||
| Passport Type | Professional Fees
(USD) |
Government Fees
(CAD) |
| 5-year adult passport (age 16 or over) | $285 | $190 |
| 10-year adult passport (age 16 or over) | $285 | $260 |
| Child passport (0 to 15 years of age) | $150 | $100 |
| 5 year adult passport (age 16 or over with name change) | $300 | $190 |
| 10 year adult passport (age 16 or over with name change) | $300 | $260 |
How to Pay for your Canadian Passport from the USA
|
How to pay your fees |
Fill out the payment section on your application form with any of the following:
|
Obtaining Proof of Canadian Citizenship
To obtain a Canadian passport, a child born outside Canada to a Canadian parent will first need to provide proof of their Canadian Citizenship. This is done through an application for a Canadian citizenship certificate. The application process for a citizenship certificate can take up to 15 months or longer, so it is important to plan ahead if you need this documentation for your passport application. If you’re in urgent need of proof of citizenship, there may be options to expedite the process.
Once proof of citizenship is obtained, the individual can proceed with the Canadian passport application.
If you reside in the USA and would like to apply for a Canadian passport or you believe you may qualify for Canadian citizenship then get in touch with us.
Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship is allowed under Canadian law, as outlined in the Citizenship Act. This means that if you are a Canadian citizen, either by birth, descent, or naturalization, you are eligible to apply for a Canadian passport even if you reside in another country, such as the United States. Let’s break down the different ways Canadian citizenship can be acquired and the process for applying for or renewing a Canadian passport from abroad.
Canadian Citizenship by Birth (Jus Soli)
Under the principle of jus soli—which translates to “law of the soil”—any individual born on Canadian soil automatically acquires Canadian citizenship. This rule applies regardless of the citizenship or immigration status of the parents, except in the case of children of foreign diplomats.
Canadian Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Canadian citizenship can also be passed down through parents under the principle of jus sanguinis—”law of the blood.” Children born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, either by birth or naturalization, automatically inherit Canadian citizenship at birth. This applies regardless of where the child is born, as long as one parent is a Canadian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
Please note that due to recent legislative changes Canadian Citizenship will be able to be obtained through a Canadian grandparent:
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has introduced legislation aimed at broadening citizenship by descent beyond the first generation, in an inclusive manner that upholds the integrity of Canadian citizenship.
Under this proposed legislation, individuals born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad before the legislation takes effect would automatically be granted Canadian citizenship. Additionally, it would allow children born abroad and adopted by a Canadian parent beyond the first generation to be eligible for a direct grant of citizenship. Once the legislation is in force, parents born outside Canada who have or adopt children abroad will need to have spent at least 1,095 cumulative days physically present in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption to pass on Canadian citizenship.
