How to apply for a passport from outside Canada and the United States: Video guides
Watch these video guides to walk through each step of the application process, including supporting documents and passport photo requirements.
On this page
- How to apply for a child passport from outside Canada and the United States
- How to apply for a new adult passport from outside Canada and the United States
- How to renew an adult passport from outside Canada and the United States
How to apply for a child passport from outside Canada and the United States
How to apply for a Canadian child passport from outside Canada - Transcript
In this guide, we'll show you how to apply for a Canadian child passport from outside Canada — step by step.
This applies for children from 0 to 15 years old.
Remember, a child passport is valid for up to 5 years — and it stays valid even after child turns 16.
Your passport is your most important travel document, so let's make sure every detail is perfect.
Getting it right matters.
For this application process, please gather the following documents:
- the Child Abroad Passport Application Form
- proof of the child's Canadian citizenship
- proof of parentage or proof of legal guardianship, and
- two identical passport photos of the child
Depending on your situation, you may also need to gather the following documents:
- all documents that relate to custody of the child if the parents are separated or divorced
- any valid Canadian passport or travel document issued in the child's name
Keep watching until the end for more information.
Here's an important tip: We recommend that you do not finalize travel plans or apply for visas until you receive the new passport.
If you already have travel plans, you should write your anticipated date of travel on the top right-hand side of the application form.
Also, please remember: All supporting documents that you include with your passport application must be translated into English or French by a certified translator or third party.
Translations done by you or your family members will not be accepted.
The translator will need to complete the PPTC 659 Statutory Declaration for Translators, and you need to include it in your application.
Before submitting, verify if your translator's Statutory Declaration must be notarized.
Check section B on page 3 of the application form for more details.
Ready to get started? First, download the Child Abroad General Passport Application form from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Save the form directly to your computer and use Adobe Reader version 10 or higher to fill it out.
Do not use a phone or tablet: the form won't work properly on those devices.
Incomplete or missing information and leaving fields empty will delay your application or get it rejected.
Make sure you complete all sections and required fields.
Then double-check them: required fields should not be left blank.
Let's go through the application form.
You'll need to provide the child's personal information in section 1.
Start by writing the child's surname and given name or names exactly as they appear on their proof of Canadian citizenship or most recent Canadian passport.
If the child's name has changed, refer to Section H of the application for detailed instructions.
When entering the current home address, use the location where you are staying right now.
It doesn't have to be in Canada.
If your address does not fit when completing the application form online, you can handwrite it after printing.
Make sure you include the child's natural eye colour and height: these are required fields.
If the child does not identify with the gender listed on their supporting documents, you'll need to include the PPTC 644 Gender Identifier Request form with your application.
Children under 16 are not required to sign the application.
If the child is between 11 and 15, they may sign, if they wish.
If they're under 11 or choose not to sign, simply leave that field blank.
If the child is over 16, they must apply for an adult passport.
Please review everything in section 1 before moving to the next step.
In section 2, you'll need to provide information on the applicant parent and the other parent.
Who is the "applicant parent"? The applicant parent, or "applicant" for short, is the parent or legal guardian responsible for the child, and they must live at the same address as the child.
The child cannot be the applicant, and the applicant doesn't need to be a Canadian citizen.
The "other parent" is any additional parent or guardian who shares legal responsibility for the child.
They don't need to be a Canadian citizen either.
If the other parent has died, you'll still need to provide their information.
In the signature field, write "deceased" and include an original death certificate or official copy issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial vital statistics office or, if issued outside Canada, an equivalent office.
Remember: you must include official translations along with any original documents issued in a language other than English or French.
Verify if your translator's Statutory Declaration must be notarized before submitting.
You must indicate the relationship between the applicant and the other parent.
Are you married, common law, separated, divorced, widowed or single with no relationship? Be sure to fill this out accurately, as missing information will cause delays.
When deciding who should be listed as the applicant or the other parent, think about who will be the guarantor in section 6.
Anyone with a Canadian passport who has known the applicant personally for at least 2 years can act as the guarantor.
The applicant can't also be the guarantor, but the other parent can.
If only one parent or guardian is a Canadian passport holder, that person may wish to be listed as the "other parent" so that they can also be the guarantor.
There are other options for who can be the guarantor.
Keep watching for more details later in this video.
Please provide your phone number and email address in this section where you can be reached during the application process.
This helps officials contact you quickly if they need to resolve any minor issues.
Remember: You can't sign for another person.
Each person must physically sign and date the form before the guarantor signs.
If one of the parents is unable to sign the form because they live in Canada or in another country, they need to visit the nearest Passport Canada office in Canada or Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate abroad to complete consent form PPTC 028 for the child's passport application.
They will need to present their photo ID.
Finally, both the applicant and the other parent will need to submit identification showing their full name and signature, and that signature must match the one on the application.
If you're applying in person, your identification document - or ID for short - will be validated and returned immediately.
If you are applying by mail, you will both have to provide clear photocopies of both sides of your ID.
The copies must be signed and dated by the guarantor.
Please review everything before moving to the next step.
Before moving to the next section, gather the supporting documents that prove your relationship to the child and clarify any custody arrangements.
Proof of parentage shows the legal relationship between the child and their parents or guardians.
This can be:
- A long-form birth certificate, issued in Canada or abroad, indicating parentage
- An adoption order
- A proof of guardianship, or
- A family registry
Whichever document you provide, it must clearly show the full names of the child and the parents or guardians.
If your document is not in English or French, remember to include the original along with the translated version.
Remember, this document is required for every application, even if the child has had a passport before.
If the parents are separated or divorced, you must include all original relevant documents — every time you apply.
That includes documents relating to custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time and mobility of the child.
Again, if the other parent is deceased, include the death certificate with your application.
If you have questions, section J on page 5 of the application form provides more information on proof of parentage and documents related to custody.
Supporting documents are essential to the success of your application.
Double-check that everything is complete, clear and up to date.
If the child has a valid Canadian travel document, such as a passport, certificate of identity, or refugee travel document, you must include the original with your application and provide the passport number and date of issue in section 3.
See section K on page 5 of the application form for more information.
Remember: A Canadian travel document is no longer valid if it is damaged or has been reported as lost, stolen or inaccessible.
If the child's previous passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, seized, surrendered, or found after being reported lost, report it to the nearest Government of Canada office abroad.
Additional fees will apply for replacing lost or stolen passports that are not expired.
If you want the previous travel document returned to you at no cost, please check the box on the form.
If you don't want it back, it will be securely destroyed.
For section 4, you'll need to provide the child's proof of Canadian citizenship and confirm their eligibility for a Canadian passport.
You'll need to include either the child's Canadian provincial or territorial birth certificate or their certificate of Canadian Citizenship.
If you're submitting a Canadian birth certificate, it must be the original document – no copies are allowed.
For citizenship certificates issued after February 1, 2012, you can provide the original or a copy.
Certificates issued before February 2012 must be the original.
Any document you submit will be returned to you once your application is processed.
A birth certificate, adoption order, or proof of guardianship is also essential to show the legal relationship between the child, the applicant and the other parent.
See section L on page 5 of the application form for detailed information.
It's important that you don't forget any of the requested documents.
Please ensure you have all the required documents for the last few sections.
In section 5, the applicant will need to fill in the required fields and accept the declaration by signing and dating the form.
Remember, the applicant is the parent or guardian, not the child.
A missing signature will delay your application.
There are two places where you as the applicant must sign and date: here in section 5, and on page 1 in section 2.
It is important that the person who is listed as the applicant in section 2 must be the same person who completes and signs section 5.
Double check that you've signed in both places before moving on to the next step.
Next, you'll need to identify a guarantor who must complete section 6 of the application form and sign the back of one of your passport photos.
What is a guarantor? A guarantor is a person who can confirm your identity and has knowledge of the child.
Your guarantor must be available if we need to contact them when we process your application.
The guarantor can be the other parent but not the applicant.
They must have known the applicant personally for at least 2 years, and they should either hold a Canadian passport or be a member of a designated professional group.
They must be 18 years of age or older.
A member of a designated professional group does NOT need to hold a Canadian passport or be a Canadian citizen to act as a guarantor.
For guarantors in this category, please provide their work address and occupation on the form where indicated.
See section M on page 6 of the application for more information about guarantor requirements.
To the left of the guarantor's signature field, the guarantor must enter how long they've known the applicant, not the child or the child's age.
The guarantor should wait to sign the application until it is fully completed, and the applicant has signed sections 2 and 5.
The guarantor will need to physically sign the back of one of the child's passport photos.
Information on passport photos can be found later in this guide.
Mismatched signatures between the form, the photo and the guarantor's identification documents are frequent mistakes that delay applications.
The guarantor should sign carefully and consistently, making sure that all their signatures match.
The last section on the form is mandatory.
You must provide emergency contact information, which is helpful if the child needs emergency assistance while outside Canada.
Take another moment to go over everything you have done so far before moving on to the last step.
Finally – passport photos.
You'll need two identical, unaltered, and unfiltered photos of the child.
Remember: A new passport means you need a new photo.
It must be taken by a commercial photographer no more than six months before submitting your application and must meet all requirements.
Pay special attention to photo size, as Canada has a different passport photo size than most other countries.
They must be 50mm wide by 70mm long.
On the back of one photo, include the photo studio's name and address, the date the photo was taken, and the guarantor's signature.
The guarantor's signature must be handwritten.
When signing, the guarantor must also certify that the photo is a true likeness of the child.
Using a guarantor who lives in the country where you are applying and ensuring they are available to sign the photos and confirm the details in your application can help to avoid delays.
Remember: Your guarantor does not need to be a Canadian citizen if they are a member of a designated professional group.
If you are submitting more than one application for your family, writing each passport applicant's name on the back of one of their photos will help consular officers keep your applications and photos together.
Your application will be delayed or rejected if the photos have problems including: being too old, stained, or the wrong size, missing the guarantor's signature, having a non-neutral facial expression like a smile, wearing clothing colours that blend into the background, having a dark-coloured background or too much light reflection, or not being taken and printed on-site by the same commercial photographer.
Read the photo requirements carefully, bring a printed copy of the instructions to your photographer, and ensure the photos are taken and printed by the same commercial studio.
You will find detailed photo instructions in section O on page 7 of the application.
You should print a copy of the passport photo specifications found at Canada.ca/passportphotos and bring them to your commercial photographer.
You have now reached the end of the guide for completing the child abroad passport application.
Before you submit the application to the nearest Canadian office, review each step to make sure the application is complete.
Apply for a child passport from abroad (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC)
How to apply for a child passport from outside Canada and the United States (MP4, 42.7 MB)
How to apply for a new adult passport from outside Canada and the United States
How to apply for a new adult passport from outside Canada - Transcript
In this guide, we'll show you how to apply for a new adult passport from outside Canada — step by step.
Before we begin, let's make sure this is the right type of application for you.
If you have had an adult passport before, you may be able to renew it, even if it is expired. Renewing a passport is simpler than applying for a new one.
Check out the video guide for renewing a passport at travel.gc.ca/passportguides to see if you qualify. If not, come back to this video and keep watching!
Your passport is your most important travel document, so make sure every detail is perfect.
Before submitting your application, make sure that:
- All required fields on the application form are filled in
- All personal details are correct
- The passport photo meets all the requirements
- Any required supporting documents have been included, and
- Your online payment receipt is included
Here's an important tip: We recommend that you do not finalize travel plans or apply for visas until you receive the new passport.
If you already have travel plans, you should write your anticipated date of travel on the top right-hand side of the application form.
Please remember: All supporting documents that you include with your passport application must be translated into English or French by a certified translator or third party.
Translations done by you or your family members will not be accepted.
The translator will need to complete the PPTC 659 Statutory Declaration for Translators, and you need to include it in your application.
Before submitting, verify if your translator's Statutory Declaration must be notarized.
Check section B on page 3 of the application form for more details. Ready to get started?
First, download the PPTC 040 Adult abroad general passport application form from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Save the form directly to your computer and use Adobe Reader version 10 or higher to fill it out. Do not use a phone or tablet — the form won't work properly on those devices.
Incomplete or missing information and leaving fields empty will delay your application or get it rejected.
Make sure you complete all sections and required fields. Then double-check them: the required fields should not be left blank.
Let's go through the application form. In section 1, you'll need to provide your personal information.
Start by writing your surname and given name or names exactly how you want them to appear on your passport.
If you are requesting a name that is different from the name that appears on your proof of citizenship or a name that is the result of a legal name change, you'll need to include extra documentation with your application.
Your requested name must be supported by your identification documents.
Detailed instructions can be found in section H on page 5 of the application.
Write down the surnames your parents had when they were born. The application process will be delayed if this information is missing.
When entering the current home address, use the location where you are living right now. It doesn't have to be in Canada.
If your address does not fit when completing the application form online, you can handwrite it after printing.
Make sure you include your natural eye colour and height: these are required fields.
If you no longer identify with the gender listed on your proof of citizenship or most recent travel document, you'll need to include the PPTC 643 gender identifier request form with your application.
Please provide your phone number and email address where you can be reached during the application process.
This helps officials contact you quickly if they need to resolve any minor issues.
Sign and date the required field in section 1 and include place of signature.
Your signature must fit in the white box. No one else can sign on your behalf.
Review everything in section 1 before moving to the next step.
Next, you'll need to identify a guarantor who must complete section 2 of the application form and sign the back of one of your passport photos.
What is a guarantor? A guarantor is a person who can confirm your identity.
Your guarantor must be available if we need to contact them when we process your application.
The guarantor must be 18 years of age or older. They must have known the applicant personally for at least 2 years, and they should either hold a Canadian passport or be member of a designated professional group.
They can be a relative if they meet all the requirements.
A member of a designated professional group does NOT need to hold a Canadian passport or be a Canadian citizen to act as a guarantor.
For guarantors in this category, please provide their work address and occupation on the form where indicated.
See section J on page 6 of the application for more information about guarantor requirements.
The guarantor should wait to sign the application until it is fully completed, and you have signed in sections 1, 5 and 9.
The guarantor will need to physically sign the back of one of your passport photos.
Information on passport photos can be found later in this guide.
Mismatched signatures between the form, the photo and the guarantor's identification documents are frequent mistakes that delay applications.
The guarantor should sign carefully and consistently, making sure that all their signatures match.
If you previously held a Canadian travel document, such as a passport, certificate of identity, or refugee travel document, provide the number and date of issue in section 3 if known.
If the document is still valid, you must include the original with your application.
Providing an expired passport is not required, but it can help avoid processing delays.
See section K on page 7 of the application form for more information.
Remember, a Canadian travel document is no longer valid if it is damaged or has been reported as lost, stolen or inaccessible.
If your most recent travel document has been reported lost, stolen, damaged or inaccessible, and has not yet expired, you'll have to submit declaration form PPTC 203 with your application.
The form can be found at Canada.ca/passportforms.
Additional fees will apply for replacing stolen or lost passports that are not expired.
If you want the previous travel document returned to you at no cost, please check the box on the form.
This is especially important if you have valid visas or other documentation in the passport.
If you don't want it back, it will be securely destroyed.
For section 4, you'll need to provide your proof of citizenship and confirm your eligibility for a Canadian passport.
If you were born in Canada, complete section 4A.
If you were born outside Canada, complete section 4B.
You'll need to provide one of the following acceptable proofs of citizenship:
- A birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory – you must provide the original document.
- A Canadian citizenship certificate, which must be the original if it was issued before February 1, 2012.
- A certificate of naturalization
- A certificate of registration of birth abroad, or
- A certificate of retention of Canadian citizenship
Any document you submit will be returned to you once your application is processed.
See section I on page 6 of the application form for more information.
Please go over the documents you have gathered for the last few sections.
It's important not to forget any of the requested documents.
Section 5 asks that you present at least one valid piece of government issued photo identification that matches the name you want on your new passport.
If you wish to use a Canadian passport that has been expired for less than one year to support your identity, we recommend presenting an additional form of ID as well.
Make sure you include an additional form of ID with the same name and date of birth with your application if your previous passport was issued:
- Before you turned 16, or
- For a period of validity of less than 5 years
Previous Canadian passports that have been expired for more than a year can't be used as ID.
If you're applying in person, non-passport identification documents - or ID for short - will be validated and returned to you immediately.
If you are applying by mail, you'll have to provide clear photocopies of both sides of your ID.
The copies must be signed and dated by your guarantor.
If your ID is issued by a foreign government authority equivalent to the federal, provincial or territorial authorities in Canada, it will be accepted.
Your ID must include your name, date of birth, photo and signature.
You must include a French or English translation of the ID if it is in a foreign language.
For detailed instructions, see section L on page 7 of the application.
A common mistake seen on applications is missing signatures.
Be sure to sign and date this section before moving on to the next step.
Next, select a period of validity for your passport. You can choose:
- 5-year validity, or
- 10-year validity,
Both formats have 36 pages, so select the validity period that best suits your travel style.
You will need to apply for a new passport if you run out of pages.
In section 7, you need to provide your addresses and occupations from the past 24 months.
If you need more space, you can use form PPTC 056, which is linked in this section and include it in your application.
Incomplete information or gaps between occupations will result in delays processing your application.
Include as much detail as possible. Note down what you were doing during the last two years, without leaving any time gaps.
Identify all periods of employment, unemployment, studying, homemaking, and retirement.
In section 8, you'll need to provide two references who have known you for at least two years, are 18 years of age or older, and are not family members or your guarantor.
Your references don't have to be Canadian citizens or live in Canada.
For detailed information on who can or can't be a reference, go to Canada.ca/passportreferences.
Be sure to provide accurate and up to date contact details for your references so that officials can reach them easily.
To avoid delays, make sure that your references are available to receive a call from us.
If they are in a different time zone, it may take longer to contact them, which could delay your application.
Providing emergency contact information in section 9 is mandatory.
This information ensures that consular officials are better able to help if you need emergency assistance while outside Canada.
Don't forget to sign and date this section.
Check that you have signed sections 1, 5 and 9, and that the signatures match the signature on your identification documents.
The guarantor can now sign section 2.
Please go over everything you have done so far before moving on to the last step.
Finally – passport photos. You'll need two identical, unaltered, and unfiltered photos.
Remember: A new passport means you need a new photo.
It must be taken by a commercial photographer no more than six months before submitting your application and must meet all requirements.
Pay special attention to photo size, as Canada has a different passport photo size than most other countries.
They must be 50mm wide by 70mm long.
On the back of one photo, include the photo studio's name and address, the date the photo was taken, and the guarantor's signature.
The guarantor's signature must be handwritten.
When signing, the guarantor must also certify that the photo is a true likeness of you.
Using a guarantor who lives in the country where you are applying and ensuring they are available to sign the photos and confirm the details in your application can help to avoid delays.
Remember: Your guarantor does not need to be a Canadian citizen if they are a member of a designated professional group.
If you are submitting more than one application for your family, writing each passport applicant's name on the back of one of their photos will help consular officers keep your applications and photos together.
Your application will be delayed or rejected if the photos have problems including:
- being too old, stained, or the wrong size,
- missing the guarantor's signature,
- having a non-neutral facial expression like a smile,
- wearing clothing colours that blend into the background,
- having a dark-coloured background or too much light reflection, or
- not being taken and printed on-site by the same commercial photographer.
Read the photo requirements carefully, bring a printed copy of the instructions to your photographer, and ensure the photos are taken and printed by the same commercial studio.
You will find detailed photo instructions in section N on page 8 of the application.
You should print a copy of the passport photo specifications found at Canada.ca/passportphotos and bring them to your commercial photographer.
You have now reached the end of the guide for completing the adult abroad general passport application.
Before you submit the application to the nearest Canadian office, review each step to make sure the application is complete.
Apply for a new passport abroad (IRCC)
How to apply for a new adult passport from outside Canada and the United States (MP4, 40.6 MB)
How to renew your adult passport from outside Canada and the United States
How to renew your adult passport from outside Canada - Transcript
In this guide, we'll show you how to renew your adult passport from outside Canada step by step.
Before we begin, let's make sure this is the right type of application for you.
Renewing a passport is simpler than applying for a new one.
You can renew your passport if your last passport was an adult passport issued when you were 16 or older, was issued no more than 15 years from the date you applied for your new one, and was valid for 5 or 10 years.
Your name, date of birth, place of birth, and gender identifier must match the ones you want on your new passport.
If all of this is true for you, keep watching.
If not, check out our guide for applying for a new adult passport from abroad at Travel.gc.ca/passportguides.
Your passport is your most important travel document, so make sure every detail is perfect.
Before submitting your application, make sure that all required fields on the application form are filled in, all personal details are correct, the passport photo meets all the requirements, your most recent valid Canadian passport is included, and your online payment receipt is included.
Here's an important tip.
We recommend that you do not finalize travel plans or apply for visas until you receive the new passport.
If you already have travel plans, you should write your anticipated date of travel on the top right hand side of the application form.
Ready to get started? First, download the PPTC482 adult abroad simplified renewal passport application form from the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Save the form directly to your computer and use Adobe Reader version 10 or higher to fill it out.
Do not use a phone or tablet.
the form won't work properly on those devices.
Incomplete or missing information and leaving fields empty will delay your application or get it rejected.
Make sure you complete all sections and required fields.
Then double check them.
The required fields should not be left blank.
Let's go through the application form.
In section one, you'll need to provide your personal information.
Start by writing your surname and given name or names exactly how they appear on your last passport.
If you are requesting a different name or gender identifier, you can't renew your passport.
You'll have to apply for a new adult passport using the adult general application form and provide additional documentation.
You can find detailed instructions in section H on page four of the application.
Write down the surnames your parents had when they were born.
The application process will be delayed if this information is missing.
When entering the current home address, use the location where you are living right now.
It doesn't have to be in Canada.
If your address does not fit when completing the application form online, you can handwrite it after printing.
Make sure you include your natural eye color and height.
These are required fields.
Please provide your phone number and email address where you can be reached during the application process.
This helps officials contact you quickly if they need to resolve any minor issues.
Sign and date the required field in section one and include place of signature.
Your signature must fit in the white box.
No one else can sign on your behalf.
Review everything in section one before moving on to the next step.
For section two, you will have to provide the passport number, date of issue, and date of expiry of the most recent Canadian passport issued to you in your current name.
If your passport is still valid, you will have to provide the original with your application.
Providing an expired passport is not required, but it can help avoid processing delays.
If your current passport is still valid for more than 12 months, please provide a written statement explaining why you want to replace it.
See section I on page 4 of the application form for more information.
Remember, a Canadian travel document is no longer valid if it is damaged or has been reported as lost, stolen, or inaccessible.
If your most recent travel document has been reported lost, stolen, damaged, or inaccessible, and has not yet expired, you'll have to submit declaration form PPTC203 with your application.
The link to the form can be found in section I on page 4.
Additional fees will apply for replacing stolen or lost passports that are not expired.
If you want the previous travel document returned to you at no cost, please check the box on the form.
This is especially important if you have valid visas or other documentation in the passport.
If you don't want it back, it will be securely destroyed.
Next, select a period of validity for your passport.
You can choose 5-year validity or 10-year validity.
Both formats have 36 pages, so select the validity period that best suits your travel style.
You will need to apply for a new passport if you run out of pages.
Next, you need to provide your addresses and occupations from the past 24 months in section 4.
If you need more space, you can use form PPTC056, which is linked in this section, and include it in your application.
Incomplete information or gaps between occupations will result in delays processing your application.
Include as much detail as possible.
Note down what you were doing during the last 2 years without leaving any time gaps.
Identify all periods of employment, unemployment, studying, homemaking, and retirement.
In section five, you'll need to provide two references who have known you for at least 2 years, are 18 years of age or older, and are not family members.
Your references don't have to be Canadian citizens, or live in Canada.
For detailed information on who can or can't be a reference, go to canada.
ca/passport references.
Be sure to provide accurate and up-to-date contact details for your references so that officials can reach them easily.
To avoid delays, make sure your references are available to receive a call from us.
If they are in a different time zone, it may take longer to contact them, which could delay your application.
Providing emergency contact information in section 6 is mandatory.
This information ensures that consular officials are better able to help if you need emergency assistance while outside Canada.
Don't forget to sign and date this section.
Check that you've signed sections 1 and six and that the signatures match the signature on your identification documents.
Please go over everything you have done so far before moving on to the last step.
Finally, passport photos.
You'll need two identical, unaltered, and unfiltered photos.
Remember, a new passport means you need a new photo.
It must be taken by a commercial photographer no more than 6 months before submitting your application and must meet all requirements.
Pay special attention to photo size as Canada has a different passport photo size than most other countries.
They must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm long.
On the back of one photo, include the photo studio name and address and the date the photo was taken.
If the studio's name and address are in a different language, you can translate this information yourself into English or French and write it on the back of the same photo.
If you are submitting more than one application for your family, writing each passport applicant's name on the back of one of their photos will help consular officers keep your applications and photos together.
Your application will be delayed or rejected if the photos have problems, including being too old, stained, or the wrong size, having a non-neutral facial expression like a smile, wearing clothing colors that blend into the background, having a dark colored background, or too much light reflection, or not being taken and printed on site by the same commercial photographer.
Read the photo requirements carefully.
Bring a printed copy of the instructions to your photographer and ensure the photos are taken and printed by the same commercial studio.
You will find detailed photo instructions in section K on page 5 of the application.
You should print a copy of the passport photo specifications found at Canada.ca/passport photos and bring them to your commercial photographer.
You have now reached the end of the guide for completing the Adult Abroad Simplified Renewal Passport Application.
Before you submit the application to the nearest Canadian office, review each step to make sure the application is complete.
Renew a passport outside Canada and the United States (IRCC)
How to renew your adult passport from outside Canada and the United States (MP4, 27.4 MB)
Related links
- Find a passport or travel document form (IRCC)
- Translation of documents that accompany a passport application (IRCC)
- Lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found passports and other travel documents (IRCC)
- References and guarantors for Canadian passport and other travel document applications (IRCC)
- Canadian passport photo requirements to share with your commercial photographer (IRCC)
- What to do after you get your passport and how to keep it safe (IRCC)
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