New Guarantor Policy In Effect For Canadian Passports
Posted October 1, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Travelling without a passport grows more difficult with each year, but thanks to a new policy, getting one should now be a little bit easier.
On Monday, Canada ‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced new regulations for passports, allowing most Canadian adult passport holders residing in Canada or the U.S. to act as guarantors on applications. It’s the latest attempt to improve passport services and expedite the application process.
“In only a few months, we have increased Passport Canada ‘s capacity by 40 per cent, we have launched the simplified passport renewal process and we are announcing today the new guarantor policy,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier.
Under the new Passport Canada policy, effective October 1, 2007 , an eligible guarantor must:
- Be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older;
- Hold a five-year Canadian passport that is valid or has been expired for no more than one year;
- Have been 16 years of age or older when they applied for his or her own passport;
- Have known the applicant personally for at least two years.
The move is in part a response to a rising demand for Canadian passports, which has doubled in less than a decade. In 1999 Passport Canada issued 1.7 million passports, in 2006 a total of 3.6 million were granted.
Now, any family member or person living with the applicant can act as guarantor, provided they meet the above requirements.
For more information on documentation required for travel to the United States and upcoming changes to the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, click here.
Applying for a passport? Check out the following links to help you on your way.
Canadians living in Canada, click here.
Canadians living in the U.S. or Bermuda, click here.
Canadians living abroad, click here.
Non-Canadians living in Canada, click here.
