OTTAWA- The federal government is lifting the limit on how many Canadians can apply online to renew their passports, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced. Previously, a maximum of 2,000 people per day could submit their applications online, but that daily cap has now been completely removed. However, the online process remains restricted to individuals whose passports are expiring within six months or have already expired.
Speaking at a news conference in Vancouver, Diab stated that eligible Canadians will no longer have to wait for an online application slot to become available and can apply at their convenience. Applicants must apply from within Canada and upload a digital passport photo taken by a commercial photographer along with their supporting documents.
Diab also indicated that the government may consider expanding eligibility in the future to include children under 16 and Canadians living abroad. Traditional application methods, such as applying in person or by mail, will remain available. The government assured that the online system has been thoroughly tested and is prepared to handle the increased volume without technical glitches.
The expansion is part of ongoing efforts to modernize the system following severe post-pandemic passport backlogs and delays. While the standard processing time remains 20 days, the government recently introduced a “30 days or free” policy, guaranteeing that applications not processed within 30 days will be provided free of charge.
