Canadian child passport forms, parent signatures, photo rules, fees, and processing times explained simply.
Child Passport Application Canada can look like a one-form errand until you start sorting birth records, photos, and signatures.
I remember gathering my son’s documents after he was born and bringing both my husband and our child along, just in case.
If you’re at that stage now, this 2026 guide will help you sort out what to prepare, what the current fee is, and how long to allow.
Canadian Child Passport Requirements: The Quick Version
A Canadian child passport is for a Canadian citizen under 16. It can be valid for up to five years.
When it expires, you apply for a new child passport rather than renew it. Once your child turns 16, they can apply for an adult passport when needed. An existing child passport remains valid until its expiry date, even after their 16th birthday.
A citizenship certificate establishes Canadian citizenship. A passport is the travel document you apply to receive. For a child born in Canada, an accepted Canadian birth certificate can also serve as proof of citizenship.
The Government of Canada’s child passport instructions explain the application options for families applying in Canada.
| Question | Short answer for applications in Canada |
|---|---|
| Can I renew my child’s passport? | No. Submit a new child passport application. |
| How long is a child passport valid? | Up to five years. |
| Can I submit the application online? | The standard child application options are in person or by mail. |
| Must both parents go to the office? | They do not necessarily need to attend together. Required signatures and legal documents still matter. |
| What is the standard child passport fee? | CAN$58.50 as of March 31, 2026. Additional services cost more. |
Child Passport Documents: What to Gather First
Before filling out the form, check which documents you already have at home.
I find it easier to think of the paperwork as answering two questions:
- Is my child a Canadian citizen?
- What shows that I am the child’s parent or legal guardian?
Sometimes one document helps answer both. Sometimes you need separate documents.
Proof of Canadian citizenship
For a child born in Canada, accepted proof may include a birth certificate from the province or territory where they were born, or a Canadian citizenship certificate.
For a Canadian child born outside Canada, the application requires a Canadian citizenship certificate.
Check the original-or-copy requirements for your specific document. The rules for birth certificates, paper citizenship certificates, and citizenship e-certificates are not identical.
Proof of parentage
Proof of parentage establishes the relationship between you and your child. Accepted documents can include:
- A detailed Canadian birth certificate showing the parent’s or parents’ names.
- A court-issued adoption order naming the adoptive parent or parents.
- A foreign birth certificate showing the parent’s or parents’ names.
Proof of parentage is required with every child passport application, even if your child previously had a passport.
If your surname on the parentage document differs from the surname on the application, you may also need a document connecting the names, such as a marriage certificate or legal name change certificate. These requirements are explained in the official child passport document list.
Family court documents and an existing passport
If applicable, include legal documents with current provisions about custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time, mobility, or your child’s passport.
Also include any valid Canadian passport or other travel document already issued in your child’s name.
Documents in a language other than English or French require an official translation.
My practical tip: I would sort the paperwork into three groups: citizenship, parentage, and any legal documents. When I first prepared my son’s application, I wasn’t sure which documents served which purpose. Giving each paper a place makes the final check much easier.
Child Passport Application Form: Use the Latest PPTC 155
For a child passport application made in Canada, the main form is PPTC 155.
Download a fresh copy from the official Canada.ca passport forms page each time you apply. The government says an application may be rejected if it uses an outdated form.
It is tempting to reuse a PDF you saved for an older child or a previous trip. Downloading it again takes only a moment and gives you the current instructions.
Complete the PDF on a computer using a compatible PDF reader, then print and sign it as instructed. The government advises against completing the form on a phone or tablet because it may not work properly.
Read the instructions at the end of the form before considering it finished. They explain details that are easy to miss when you only look at the boxes you need to fill in.
Do Both Parents Need to Sign or Attend?
This was one of the parts I found confusing when I first applied.
I brought my husband and our child because I thought having everyone there would be the safest choice. Looking back, I would have checked the attendance instructions before arranging a family outing around paperwork.
The general requirement is that all parents or legal guardians participate, sign the form, and be available if the passport program contacts them.
Who can apply may depend on a court order or agreement about decision-making responsibilities.
If a parent cannot sign or cannot be located, contact the passport program for instructions. Do not assume that leaving a signature blank or attaching a brief explanation will be enough.
Signing the application and attending the office are separate matters. Standard applications in Canada can also be submitted by mail, so both parents do not automatically need to stand at the counter together.
Child Passport Photos and Guarantor Requirements
Photos are a small part of the application, but they deserve their own check before you submit everything.
You need two identical passport photos of your child.
On the back of one photo, the photographer must include:
- The studio’s name.
- The studio’s complete address.
- The date the photo was taken.
Your guarantor must also sign the back of that photo and complete the required part of the application.
For an application in Canada, the guarantor must have known the applying parent personally for at least two years and know of the child. They must also meet the passport program’s other eligibility requirements.
Check those requirements before asking someone to sign.
My practical tip: Keep the photos in a separate envelope until the application is ready. Before putting them into the package, turn them over and check the photographer’s information and guarantor’s signature. It is an easy detail to overlook when you are concentrating on the forms.
Canadian Child Passport Fees in 2026
The standard fee for a child passport for Canadians applying in Canada is CAN$58.50.
This fee took effect on March 31, 2026. The previous standard fee was CAN$57.
The government adjusts passport fees annually, so check the official passport fee information when you are ready to pay.
For mailed applications, the applicable fee depends on when the government receives your application, rather than when you put it in the mail.
Also remember that the passport fee is only part of your total preparation cost. Passport photos, obtaining a missing document, and optional faster service may add to the amount you spend.
Child Passport Processing Times: How Long Should You Allow?
Processing depends on where and how you apply.
| Application method in Canada | Standard processing period |
|---|---|
| In person at a passport office or a Service Canada Centre offering 10-day processing | 10 business days |
| In person at a regular Service Canada Centre offering passport services | 20 business days |
| By mail | 20 business days |
Mailing time is additional. Business days also exclude weekends and statutory holidays.
These are service standards under normal circumstances. The actual time can be longer if the application needs corrections, new photos, additional documents, or further checks.
The Government of Canada’s passport service standards explain how the timelines work and recommend waiting until you receive the passport before finalizing travel plans.
My planning tip: Count backward from your trip and leave space for ordinary family delays—a busy week, a photo retake, or someone being unavailable to sign. Having the passport ready early removes one job from the week before departure.
Common Child Passport Questions
Does my child need to be present?
A standard child passport application in Canada can be submitted by mail, so your child does not need to appear in person for that route.
If you plan to visit an office, check the instructions for your particular service and pickup situation. Special circumstances can have additional requirements.
That is a useful detail to confirm before arranging transportation or taking your child out of school.
Can I apply for my child’s passport online?
The standard child application process currently offers in-person and mail submission.
You may complete the PDF on your computer, but completing a form electronically does not mean you have submitted the application online.
Follow the child application instructions when choosing your submission method.
What if my child already had a passport?
You still submit a new child application and the required supporting documents.
A previous passport does not replace proof of parentage. Include any valid passport or travel document in your child’s name as instructed.
What happens when my child turns 16?
An existing child passport stays valid until its expiry date.
When your child needs another passport at age 16 or older, they apply through the adult passport process.
A Final Check Before You Submit
For a Child Passport Application Canada submission, I would do one quiet check at the kitchen table before leaving home or sealing the envelope:
- Current application form, completed and signed as required.
- Proof of Canadian citizenship, in the accepted format.
- Proof of parentage or legal guardianship.
- Applicable legal documents concerning the child.
- Any valid passport or travel document in the child’s name.
- Two correct passport photos, including the required information on the back.
- Guarantor details and signatures.
- The correct fee for the service you are requesting.
When I first applied, I wanted to make sure I had everything, which is why the whole family came along. Now, I would start by understanding what each document is for and checking the instructions one section at a time.
You do not need to memorize the entire passport process. You need a complete application, the right documents, and enough time to deal with anything that needs another look.