Child Canadian Passport Application: Parents, Photos and Consent

A child Canadian passport application is needed each time a child under 16 needs a new passport. A child book cannot be renewed. Start with proof of the child's citizenship and parentage, then check who has the right to apply and sign. These are separate parts of the file.

Who should apply for the child?

First, use the official child passport guide. The applicant must be a parent who meets the rules or the child's legal guardian. If parents are separated or divorced, the current custody and decision-making terms matter.

All parents or legal guardians should sign the form. However, if this is not possible, contact the Passport Program for instructions. Do not sign for another parent or leave out their name to make the form easier. Staff may contact them when they review the file.

For example, the adult who takes the child to school is not always the person with legal power to request a passport. Check the court order rather than relying only on daily care arrangements.

Which records prove citizenship and parentage?

Next, gather the accepted proof of Canadian citizenship. The rules differ for a provincial birth record, a paper citizenship certificate and an electronic certificate. Read the current checklist before deciding to send an original or a copy.

Also, include proof of parentage for every child passport request. A birth certificate that names the parents may serve this purpose. A short certificate without those names may not. If you need to order a new record, tell the provincial office which version the passport checklist requires.

Legal guardians need proof of that role. Include all current legal records with terms about custody, parenting time, access, mobility or the child's passport. Send the full relevant records as instructed; a summary written by a parent is not a substitute.

What happens if a parent has died?

In that case, the guide calls for an original death certificate or an official copy from the proper vital statistics office. A funeral home's statement is not accepted as that certificate. If you cannot get the required proof, ask the Passport Program what to do before you submit the file.

Also, give the details you can about the parent who died in the form's parent section. This helps link the record to the child. Keep a clear copy of what you provide for your own file.

Who signs the child's photo?

You need a guarantor who meets the child passport rules. They must have known the applicant personally for at least two years and know of the child. Their role differs from that of a travel companion or a person named as a reference.

For a paper request, get two matching commercial photos. The studio must add its name, full address and the date taken to the back of one print. The guarantor must also certify and sign that print as required. Check those details while the photo is still easy to replace.

However, a smiling school photo or a cropped family picture is not a passport photo. Use the current child photo rules, including the special guidance for babies.

How do you send a complete request?

• Use the current child form for the place where you apply.
• Review names and dates against the birth or citizenship record.
• Add any valid passport already issued to the child.
• Check the required signatures on both the form and photo.
• Choose a service based on the real travel date.

Then pay the current official fee and keep the receipt. If you need urgent service, check the office and proof-of-travel rules before going there. An appointment at a general service desk does not itself secure urgent pickup.

Does a passport give permission to travel?

No. A passport proves identity and citizenship for travel; it does not settle a parenting dispute. A consent letter or court order may also be needed for a trip with one parent. Therefore, check the child's travel papers and the family order separately before booking departure.