BREAKING: Canada launches online passport renewals

As of July 28, Canadian citizens aged 16 years of age or older can now renew their passports online, provided the passport was issued within the past 15 years.

Individuals who renew their Canadian passport online will receive real-time updates as their application is processed.

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Renewal applications are limited to those with a home and mailing address in Canada, and are expected to include a digital passport photo (no more than six months old) taken by a commercial photographer in their application.

The digital application process will permit applicants to upload required supporting documentation instead of mailing them in or visiting a Service Canada Centre, allowing them to keep their original personal documents in their possession.

This service is not intended to replace or phase out in-person or mail-in applications; rather, it aims to provide Canadians with more options, reduce in-person wait times, and help applicants avoid common mistakes and incomplete submissions which may result in delays.

To qualify for online renewal, the passport must either have expired or be set to expire within the next six months.

The government aims to complete online passport renewals within 20 business days (not including the approximate five-day mailing time), with applicants eligible for a free passport if processing takes longer than 30 business days.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the launch of the online passport renewal service on July 28, 2026, at a press conference in Vancouver at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (PT).

The government expects to receive 4.6 million passport applications this year, with renewals accounting for roughly 60%. Up to two million applications are expected to qualify for the new online passport renewal service, reducing in-person queues at Service Canada locations.

The federal government began testing the service in December 2024, initially processing 10 applications a day and gradually expanding to 2,000. As of July 28, the testing period is over and the daily cap on online passport renewals has been lifted.

"The online system was designed and tested according to Government of Canada security and privacy standards, and we will continue to monitor it as more Canadians begin to use it," Diab said during the Vancouver press conference.

According to the immigration minister, the expansion of online passport renewal availability is part of the government's broader work to modernize passport services for Canadian citizens.

Online passport renewals are presently unavailable to Canadians residing outside Canada and individuals under 16. The government may broaden access as it continues to review the system.

Individuals with more than six months of validity remaining on their passport or those with a damaged, seized, or surrendered passports are not eligible for online renewal.

Those who meet the eligibility criteria to submit an digital renewal application can do so through the IRCC Portal - New Version.

This is a breaking news article. CIC News will provide more details as they become available.

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