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Canadians can renew passports online starting this fall: Ottawa

Canadians will be able to renew their passports online starting in the fall.

The federal government said Canadians will be able to upload their photo “securely and conveniently” online and pay the fee to get passports updated. Ottawa is unveiling a new passport with new security features and new artwork, it said.

“The new Canadian passport is more than a travel document; it is a representation of our national identity and values. It is a reminder of the beauty and diversity of Canada, and it reflects the country’s commitment to welcoming people from all around the world,” said Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

The cover design of the new Canadian passport.

The new passport includes state-of-the-art security features designed to keep Canadians’ identities safe, such as a polycarbonate data page—a technology similar to Canada’s driver’s licences. Passport holders’ personal information will now be laser engraved instead of being printed with ink, making the data page more durable and resistant to tampering and counterfeiting. Other features include a Kinegram over the main photo, a custom see-through window with a secondary image of the passport holder, a variable laser image, and a temperature sensitive ink feature, it said.

The new passport celebrates Canada’s heritage and identity with iconic images of Canada’s natural beauty throughout the four seasons. It also includes a new cover design with an outline of a maple leaf—the first significant change in decades. The new passport will start rolling out in later this summer. Until then, the current passport remains secure and reliable, so Canadians with valid passports will only need to renew them when they are getting close to their normal renewal date. More details regarding the roll-out will be provided at a later date.