On July 28, 2026, the Canadian government expanded its online passport renewal service to make the online application process available to a wider group of eligible Canadians.

The service allows Canadians to renew their passports entirely online without having to mail in any documents or photos. However, you must first ensure that you are eligible and meet the criteria for this method of renewing your passport.

To qualify, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Have a passport that is expiring within the next 6 months or has already expired;
• Have applied for your current passport when you were 16 years or older;
• Your current passport must have been issued within the last 15 years;
• Your current passport must be a regular (blue) passport that was valid for 5 or 10 years and shows your place of birth;
• Have a home and mailing address in Canada; 
• You must submit a digital photo with your renewal application that is taken by a commercial photographer that meets specific requirements.

In addition, here are some additional requirements and limitations to be aware of:

• Once you have submitted your renewal application, your current passport will be cancelled and will no longer be valid for travel. 
• It can take up to 20 business days to process your application, plus mailing time.
• If you need your passport renewed on an urgent or express basis, you must still apply in person and are not eligible for online renewals.

Your new passport will be mailed to your Canadian address. You cannot provide an address outside of Canada for delivery of your new passport. 

For snowbirds planning to travel later this Fall who will need their passports renewed, it is recommended you start this process immediately.

You can learn more about the new online passport renewal process and renew your Canadian passport online here.