How To Apply For An Emergency Canadian Passport?

Are you in need of an emergency passport? Canadian Passports are one of the most important documents we possess as individuals. It’s about our identity and losing it at the wrong time can just be as stressful, especially if you have made advance travel plans or are on an urgent business trip. 

Did you lose your Canadian passport outside the country? Are you traveling soon and can’t find your passport? Don’t worry, whatever your situation is, I’ve got you covered here. In this article, I’ve covered as much information as possible to help you out in this situation. Let’s get started.

The All-New Canadian ePassport

All new Canadian passports are 36-page books that have a data chip in them. They are called ePassports.

Benefits of the new Canadian ePassport:

• reduced risk of tampering and identity fraud through more layers of identity checks

• a digital facial image lets facial recognition systems check the identity of the passport holder at the border if the necessary equipment is in place.

• stronger identity checks which reduce the risk of other countries putting visa requirements on traveler’s

• digital security features and images that are unique to Canada and help border authorities ensure that the passport is authentic and valid

How To Apply For The Emergency Canadian Passport?

Service Canada offers “urgent” and “express” passport services at certain locations in Canada.

To find out if you can use these services, you must apply in person.

Also, You must provide proof of travel for urgent service. You may also need to provide it for express service.

Proof of travel can be:

• an airline, bus, or train ticket

• a written declaration, if traveling by car

• a travel itinerary showing travel proof of payment

• proof of illness or death in the family requiring immediate travel

Depending on the reason for your travel, you may need to show further proof that your situation is urgent.

However, also note Service Canada won’t be liable for any losses if they can’t deliver the passport in time for your travel or your child and recommends that you don’t finalize any travel plans until you get your passport.

How Long Does It Take To Get An Emergency Canadian Passport?

For urgent or express service, you will need to pay an additional service fee along with the regular passport fee.

These include:

1. Urgent Pick-Up

• fees: CAN$110

• processing time: by the end of the next business day

2. Express Pick-Up

• fees: CAN$50

• processing time: within 2-9 business days

A passport officer will tell you the date of your pick-up.

What Are The Documents Required To Apply For An Emergency Canadian Passport?

• Keep your police report handy, locate it, and head to the nearest Canadian Embassy or consulate.

• You’ll also need your references, passport photos, and contact information ready.

• You can speed up the processing time if you have a scanned copy of your passport and your travel itinerary handy, but generally speaking, you’re still looking at 2-4 days.

• Often when applying for a temporary Canadian passport (white) you’ll be required to apply for your regular passport at the same time. You’ll also have to pay an exchange fee since that temporary Canadian passport must be returned in person or by traceable mail.

• If someone back home has access to your birth certificate and photo ID, you can ask them to bring it to the local passport office so your new passport will be valid for 5 years; otherwise, it may be valid for just 2 years.

• If you’ve lost all your ID, now would be a good time to request a letter stating your identification and that you’re in the process of getting a new passport. This will help you for ID purposes if you’re getting a money transfer from someone.

How To Cross The Canadian Border With An ePassport?

Now, this seems to be getting a little tricky in the first place. What if you have been stuck somewhere abroad and your flights are tomorrow or maybe you are in Canada and need to travel first thing in the morning and today’s a weekend? What do you do in these situations? Let’s look into the details below.

Getting an emergency passport on a weekend or holiday is still manageable. Thanks to the Government of Canada, they have pretty much covered this scenario for you as well.

If you need your emergency passport over the weekend or on a statutory holiday, call 1-800-567-6868.

This service is only for emergencies and only if you have to travel over that weekend or statutory holiday.

If you meet the requirements, you must make sure all of your required documents are ready, including your:

• completed application form

• passport photos

• valid proof of travel showing you’re traveling before the end of the next business day

With that said, make sure you collect all the documents listed in the link above and keep it handy just in case. Please don’t panic, it’s going to be ok in the next couple of hours. Just do things right and be quick in applying immediately for an emergency passport. 

If you do find an office with weekend service, make sure you have everything ready to go.

What Are The Fees To Get An Emergency Passport On Weekends and Holidays? 

However, there are a few positives to getting an emergency passport on a weekend or holiday. Now, what is that? 

Since it’s a weekend or a holiday – The passport officials will be opening the office just for you. As a result, you may get your passport in a few hours. Hurray! 

If by chance your whole family requires emergency weekend service; you’ll only be charged the $335 once.

Any additional applications submitted by members of the same family at the same time will only be charged the urgent pick-up fee of $110 each.

How To Contact Emergency Canadian Passport Assistance?

Email:

• [email protected]

• Emergency contact form

Telephone:

From outside Canada

• Call the nearest embassy or consulate.

• +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available)

• Toll-free numbers in some countries

From Inside Canada (non-passport-related)

• 613-996-8885

• 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada only)

Emergency passport services within Canada (weekends and statutory holidays)

• 1-800-567-6868 (toll-free from Canada only)

SMS:

• 613-209-1233 (carrier charges may apply)

TTY:

• 613-944-1310

• 1-800-394-3472 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada only)

How To Apply For An Emergency Passport From Outside Canada?

If you’re currently stuck in a country outside of Canada and need your passport urgently to travel back, you’ll need to immediately report it to the police or tourist police nearby. 

If you need any help or immediate assistance, don’t forget to call some friends back home to assist you with the procedures as well.

You’ll mainly need friends to be a reference point.

This is very similar to the urgent services we talked about before, they’ll need to be available when contacted by the passport officials before you actually get the emergency passport in hand.

Please note that family members are not permitted as references for issuing an emergency passport.

Final Words

Losing a passport whether in Canada or outside can be a real pain as panic sets in.

I hope that I have given you some valuable information in this article to help resolve your passport issues hopefully soon.

We all must really thank the Canadian Government for the detailed information and the services they offer in issuing a new passport as soon as possible – I mean the processing times (within 24 hours is great)

When traveling abroad or anywhere in general always be sure to store digital versions of your travel documents in your mail so you can access them any time if required.

Also, don’t forget to include emergency contacts of your credit and debit cards while storing the information.

You might also want to look at options of rescheduling your flights, extending hotel stays while you apply for, and get the emergency passport in hand.