Canadian Passport After Citizenship: How to Apply After Your Ceremony

The citizenship certificate you receive at the ceremony is your proof of status, but it isn't a travel document. To travel internationally on a Canadian passport — which offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 185+ countries — you need to apply for the passport separately. This process has specific requirements for first-time applicants that are more involved than a standard renewal.

When You Can Apply

You cannot apply for a Canadian passport before you've taken the Oath of Citizenship. The certificate is issued either as a downloadable e-Certificate (available from your IRCC portal within five business days of the ceremony) or as a paper certificate mailed within two to four weeks.

Wait until you have your certificate in hand before starting the passport application. The certificate is a required supporting document and you cannot submit without it.

For most new citizens who need to travel soon, obtaining the e-Certificate and immediately beginning the passport application is the fastest path.

The Guarantor Requirement

Every first-time adult Canadian passport applicant must have a guarantor. This is the requirement that catches most new citizens off guard.

Who can be a guarantor:

• A Canadian citizen
• Aged 18 or older
• Has known the applicant for at least two years
• Holds a valid Canadian passport, or one that expired within the last year
• The guarantor's passport must be a 5-year or 10-year adult passport (not a child's passport)

The guarantor's role: The guarantor must:

1. Sign the back of one of your passport photos to certify they've known you and the photo is a true likeness
2. Complete the guarantor section of the application form, providing their passport number and citizenship details
3. Be willing to be contacted by Passport Canada if there are questions

Who cannot be a guarantor:

• A family member, including a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or in-law
• Someone you work for, or who works for you (in a direct employment relationship)
• Anyone under 18

The two-year acquaintance requirement is the practical challenge for many new citizens. If you don't have a Canadian citizen friend, colleague, or neighbor who qualifies, think about:

• A doctor, dentist, or other professional you've seen regularly
• A workplace colleague (if they're not your direct supervisor or subordinate)
• A church or community organization member
• A former landlord

Two References Also Required

Beyond the guarantor, first-time passport applications require two references. References do not need to be Canadian citizens, but they must:

• Have known the applicant for at least two years
• Not be the guarantor
• Not be immediate family members

References do not sign documents or attend in person — they provide their name, contact information, and relationship to you on the application form, and may be contacted by Passport Canada.

Documents Required

For an adult first-time passport application (form PPTC 153):

• Citizenship certificate — your original paper certificate or a printed copy of the e-Certificate
• Proof of identity — a valid provincial or territorial photo ID (driver's license, provincial ID card, etc.) or an original or certified copy of another government-issued photo ID
• Two passport photos — same specifications as citizenship photos: 50mm × 70mm, taken by a commercial photographer, with one signed on the back by your guarantor

About your old passport: You do not need to surrender your foreign passport to apply for a Canadian passport. However, be aware that depending on your country of origin, using your foreign passport after you've taken the Canadian oath may have legal implications (India's rules, for example, require you to surrender the Indian passport promptly after naturalization).

Application Fees

Current Canadian passport fees:

• Adult 10-year passport (16 and older): CAD $160
• Adult 5-year passport (16–64): CAD $120 (useful if you already have the 10-year and want to choose, but the 10-year is generally better value)
• Child passport (up to 15 years): CAD $57 (valid for 5 years)

Urgent processing (pick up within 3 business days at a passport office) is available for an additional surcharge. Express service (pick up within 10 business days) also has an added fee.

Where to Submit

First-time passport applications must be submitted in person at a Service Canada Centre that offers passport services, or at a dedicated passport office. You cannot mail a first-time application — the original citizenship certificate must be inspected in person.

Check the Service Canada website for office locations and appointment availability. Passport offices in major cities often have long queues; book ahead when possible.

Processing Times

Standard processing from a Service Canada Centre: approximately 20 business days from when the application reaches the passport office.

Express processing (applied at a regional passport office): approximately 10 business days.

Urgent processing (appointment at a passport office): 3 business days or fewer, subject to reason verification.

For most new citizens who aren't immediately traveling, standard processing is adequate. If you have travel within 30 days of applying, book an express or urgent appointment.

What You Can Do With the Canadian Passport

Once issued, the Canadian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 185+ countries. The specific countries and terms change periodically — check the Government of Canada's travel website for current lists.

Notable access with a Canadian passport:

• EU Schengen Area (26 countries) — visa-free for tourism and business
• United Kingdom — visa-free for short visits
• United States — visa-free for short visits under the US-Canada passport agreement
• Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand — visa-free
• Most of Latin America and Southeast Asia — visa-free or visa-on-arrival

Note for former US citizens or dual US-Canadian citizens: the US requires its citizens to use a US passport to enter the United States. Even if you have a Canadian passport, you must carry your US passport for entry into the US.

The Canada Citizenship Guide includes a post-ceremony checklist covering the passport application, voter registration, and the steps required for your home country's citizenship transition (OCI for Indian nationals, RA 9225 for Filipino nationals, etc.).

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