Canada to guarantee passport processing in 30 days or it's free

The federal government is now offering full refunds if it takes longer than 30 business days to process your passport.

Effective April 1, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab said refunds will be automatically issued if the process of receiving completed documentation and printing a passport or travel document takes longer than 30 days. The time it takes to mail the document is not included in the 30 days.

The government said the move is part of its plan to improve its travel document services, though most applications are completed within 10 to 20 business days.

“While most passports are processed within our service standards, our new refund policy reflects our commitment to maintaining excellence in our passport delivery system,” Diab said in a release. “As with all our services and programs, we’re focused on maximizing efficiency and making improvements that make a positive difference for people.”

The federal government has also upped prices for 10-year passports to $163.50 from $160, while the cost of a five-year passport climbed $2.50 to $122.50.

Canada’s fees for a 10-year passport are the 10th highest in the world, according to Compare the Market’s Passport Price Index. Australia ($404.10), Mexico ($326.70) and the United States ($226.36) are the most expensive.

Though the federal government is working to improve services, it’s doing so with fewer staff.

It has cut more than 1,000 passport office positions since May 2025, which the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) said would cause delays and backlogs.

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