Canadian Passport Renewal in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Canadian passports for citizens living in the United States are applied for through the consulate or embassy, or by mail to the passport programme. The requirement that surprises applicants is not the fee: it is the guarantor, a person who has known you for at least two years and who signs the form and the back of one photograph.

Quick facts

Fees are charged in Canadian dollars and are higher for applications made outside Canada than for the same booklet at home.

Fees breakdown

Confirm the current figure with the mission before paying, since the schedule for applications abroad is set separately from the one used inside Canada.

How to renew

1. Check whether you hold proof of citizenship. Anyone born outside Canada needs a citizenship certificate before a passport can be issued.
2. Complete the application for your age group and have the guarantor sign it.
3. Take two identical photographs meeting the Canadian specification, and have the guarantor sign the back of one.
4. Assemble the supporting identification and the previous passport.
5. Submit at the mission covering your area, or by the mail route where one is offered.
6. Pay in Canadian dollars and wait for the passport to be produced and returned.

Required documents

• Proof of Canadian citizenship: a citizenship certificate, or a Canadian birth certificate for those born in Canada.
• Previous Canadian passport where you hold one.
• Two identical photographs to the Canadian specification, one signed by the guarantor.
• Guarantor’s details, who must have known you for at least two years.
• Supporting identification, such as a driving licence or U.S. document.
• For children: both parents’ consent and documents establishing custody where relevant.

Where to apply

At the mission covering your part of the United States. Coverage is organised by region, and not every office offers every service in person.

Additional notes

The certificate is not a travel document

A citizenship certificate proves status. It does not let you travel, and the passport is a separate application afterwards.

Guarantor rules

Finding a guarantor is the usual sticking point for people who moved recently. Check the current rules before completing the form, since alternatives exist where no qualifying guarantor is available.

Dual nationals entering Canada

Canadian citizens are expected to travel to Canada on a Canadian passport. Planning around that avoids problems at check-in.

Plan the sequence

Where a certificate is needed first, the combined timetable runs to many months. Start with the certificate, not with the passport.