Apply for a Canadian Passport After Citizenship Certificate

Once you receive your Canadian citizenship certificate, you can apply for a Canadian passport. The passport application is separate from your citizenship claim and uses a different form, different photo requirements, and a different processing centre.

This guide walks through the entire passport application process for first-time adult applicants who have just received their citizenship certificate under Bill C-3.

Who Can Apply for a Canadian Passport

You can apply for a passport once you hold a valid Canadian citizenship certificate. Your CIT 0001 application proves your citizenship. Your passport proves your citizenship and serves as a travel document.

If you're wondering whether you need both documents, we cover that in proof of citizenship vs passport. Short answer: the certificate is your legal proof, the passport is what you use to travel.

The Form You Need: PPTC 040

First-time adult passport applicants use form PPTC 040 (Application for a Canadian Passport – Adult – General Program).

Download it from the official Government of Canada passport site. Do not use third-party or outdated versions.

The form asks for:

• Your full name (as it appears on your citizenship certificate)
• Date and place of birth
• Your citizenship certificate number
• Contact information
• Emergency contact abroad
• Guarantor and references

You cannot submit PPTC 040 online. All first-time adult passport applications must be submitted in person or by mail, depending on where you live.

Documents You Must Submit

Gather these documents before you apply:

• Original citizenship certificate (the one IRCC mailed you after your CIT 0001 was approved)
• Two identical passport photos meeting current passport photo specifications
• Proof of identity with your signature (driver's licence, health card, or other government ID)
• Completed PPTC 040 form signed and dated
• Guarantor declaration (on the back of one photo and in Section 4 of the form)
• Two references who can confirm your identity

Passport Photos Are Not the Same as Citizenship Photos

The photos you submitted with your CIT 0001 application do not meet passport photo standards.

Passport photos must:

• Be taken within the last six months
• Measure 50 mm wide by 70 mm high
• Show a neutral expression (no smiling)
• Be printed on matte or semi-matte photo-quality paper
• Have the photographer's name, address, and date printed on the back of one photo
• Have your guarantor's signature and attestation on the back of one photo

Most pharmacies, post offices, and photo studios in Canada offer passport photo services for $10–$20 CAD. Ask for "Canadian passport photos" specifically.

If you are outside Canada, many professional photo studios can print to Canadian passport specifications if you provide the measurements.

Guarantor Requirements

You need a guarantor to vouch for your identity. This is a separate requirement from the references.

Your guarantor must:

• Be a Canadian citizen 18 years or older
• Have known you personally for at least two years
• Hold a valid Canadian passport (five-year or ten-year)
• Be available to be contacted by the Passport Program if needed
• Not be a family member or live at the same address as you

Your guarantor must:

1. Sign the back of one of your passport photos
2. Complete Section 4 of form PPTC 040
3. Provide a photocopy of the biographical page of their valid Canadian passport

If you do not know a Canadian citizen who qualifies, you may use a professional guarantor (such as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant licensed in Canada) who has known you for at least two years in their professional capacity.

Two References

You must provide two references who can confirm your identity. References:

• Must have known you for at least two years
• Cannot be family members
• Cannot be the same person as your guarantor
• Do not need to be Canadian citizens

Provide their full name, address, phone number, and relationship to you in Section 5 of the PPTC 040 form.

Passport Fees

As of 2026, the fees for a Canadian passport are:

• Five-year adult passport: $120 CAD
• Ten-year adult passport: $160 CAD

Most first-time applicants choose the ten-year option.

Fees are subject to change. Check the official Government of Canada passport fee page before you apply.

Payment methods depend on where you submit your application (see below). Service Canada accepts debit, credit, or cash. Consulates abroad may have different payment rules.

Where to Apply: Inside Canada

If you live in Canada, submit your passport application in person at a Service Canada office that accepts passport applications.

Not all Service Canada locations process passports. Use the Service Canada office locator tool on the government website to find the nearest passport-accepting location.

Walk-in vs Appointment

Some Service Canada offices accept walk-ins. Others require appointments. Check ahead.

Wait times vary. Expect to spend 30–60 minutes at the office, especially during peak travel seasons.

Where to Apply: Outside Canada

If you live outside Canada (most common for Americans who just claimed citizenship by descent), apply at the nearest Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission.

The process is the same, but:

• You must submit your application in person or by courier (depending on the consulate's policy)
• Some consulates require appointments
• Fees may need to be paid in the local currency or by specific methods
• Processing times may be longer

Check the specific consulate's website for instructions. Each location has its own procedures.

If you are in the United States, the Canadian consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other major cities handle passport applications.

Processing Time

Standard processing time for a first-time adult passport is 20 business days from the date your complete application is received by the Passport Program.

This does not include mailing time. If you submit your application at Service Canada, processing begins once they forward it to the Passport Program in Gatineau, Quebec.

Urgent and express service options are available for an additional fee if you need your passport sooner:

• Urgent (2–9 business days): additional $110 CAD; requires proof of travel within 25 business days
• Express (10 business days): additional $50 CAD

Most applicants use standard processing unless they have imminent travel plans.

Pickup and Delivery

Your passport will be mailed to you by regular mail or registered mail, depending on the service level you choose.

If you applied in person at Service Canada and paid for express or urgent service, you may be able to pick up your passport in person. Ask at the time of application.

Your original citizenship certificate will be returned to you along with your passport (or separately). Do not laminate your citizenship certificate. Store it in a safe place.

What to Do After You Get Your Passport

Once your Canadian passport arrives, you're ready to travel to Canada or use it as proof of citizenship when needed.

If you're American, remember that holding dual US-Canadian citizenship does not create additional tax filing obligations beyond what US citizens already owe. We cover that in dual US-Canadian citizenship and taxes.

For more on what you can do once you have your citizenship certificate, see after your Canadian citizenship certificate.

Start Your Citizenship Claim First

You cannot apply for a Canadian passport until you have a citizenship certificate. If you have a Canadian grandparent or earlier ancestor and think you may qualify under Bill C-3, the first step is to confirm your eligibility.

Visit arryv.ai/check to take our free two-minute eligibility quiz. We'll tell you if you qualify, what documents you need, and how we can help you prepare a complete CIT 0001 application.