ARCHIVED - Notice – Alberta wildfires special assistance measures for passports and travel documents

May 16, 2016 – Alberta wildfires passport and travel documents special measures: As a result of the wildfires, Canadian passports and travel documents may have been lost, damaged or destroyed.

To support those affected by the wildfires, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum, announced that special measures have been put in place for the issuance and replacement of passports and travel documents.

If you have previously submitted a passport application

Anyone directly affected by the wildfires in Alberta and other affected areas who had submitted a passport application and was expecting their passport in the mail is asked to call 1-800-567-6868 to confirm the pick-up location or to provide an alternate mail location.

If your passport was lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a Canadian citizen, and your passport was lost, damaged or destroyed as a direct result of wildfires, you will be provided with a free replacement. The additional fee for a lost passport will also be waived. The replacement passport will be valid for the same length of time as the original passport.

The guarantor requirement for adult applicants who are applying to replace a valid passport will also be waived.

These retroactive special measures are in effect since May 3, 2016, until August 3, 2016. Passport applications must be submitted or post stamped within that time period. For passport-related questions, call 1-800-567-6868.

To replace your valid passport

Holders of valid passports must apply either by mail or in person at one of the 34 passport offices or at a Service Canada passport receiving agent location.

What to submit

If applying as an adult applicant (16 years of age and older), please submit the following:

• a completed Adult Simplified Renewal Passport Application (PDF, 640.2KB) form;
• two new passport photos (the cost will not be reimbursed);
• the previous passport, if available (even if damaged);
• proof of residence in an affected area or a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB) form;
• a completed Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document [PPTC 203] (PDF, 120.09KB) form.

If applying for a child (0 to 15 years of age), please submit the following:

• a completed Child General Passport Application (PDF, 444.53KB) form;
• two new passport photos (the cost will not be reimbursed);
• the child’s previous passport, if available (even if damaged);
• the child's proof of Canadian citizenship;
• proof of parentage;
• proof of legal guardianship (if applicable);
• all documents that refer to custody and/ or mobility of or access to the child (if applicable);
• proof of residence in an affected area or a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB) form; and
• a completed Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document [PPTC 203] (PDF, 120.09KB) form.

If you need a Canadian passport urgently, find out where and how you can apply. For urgent processing, the proof of travel requirement can be substituted with a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB) form.

Non-Canadians

If you have previously submitted an application for a Canadian travel document (certificate of identity or refugee travel document)

Anyone directly affected by the wildfires in Alberta and other affected areas who had submitted a travel document application and was expecting their travel document in the mail is asked to call 1-800-567-6868 to confirm the pick-up location or to provide an alternate mail location.

If your travel document was lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a non-Canadian citizen, and your travel document was lost, damaged or destroyed as a direct result of the wildfires, you will be provided with a free replacement. The additional fee for a lost travel document will also be waived. The replacement travel document will be valid for the same length of time as the original travel document.

These retroactive special measures are in effect since May 3, 2016 until August 3, 2016. Travel document applications must be submitted or post stamped within that time period. For travel documents-related questions on fees, pick-up or redirection of the documents to another location or other related questions, call 1-800-567-6868.

The guarantor requirement for adult applicants who are applying to replace a valid travel document will also be waived.

To replace your valid travel document (certificate of identity or refugee travel document)

Holders of valid travel documents must apply by mail or in person at the Passport Office in Gatineau, Quebec.

What to submit

If applying as an adult applicant (16 years or age and older), please submit the following:

• a completed Adult Travel Document Application [PPTC 190] (PDF, 397.15KB) form (guarantor is not required);
• two new passport photos (the cost will not be reimbursed);
• the previous travel document, if available (even if damaged);
• proof of immigration status in Canada, such as a
  • permanent resident card;
  • temporary resident permit;
  • Notice of Decision (NOD) from the Immigration and Refugee Board;
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Verification of Status (VOS) or Replacement of an Immigration Document form (PDF, 745.33KB);
• supporting identification documents;
• proof of residence in an affected area or a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB) form; and
• a completed Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document [PPTC 203] (PDF, 120.09KB) form.

If applying for a child (0 to 15 years of age), please submit the following:

• a completed Child Travel Document Application [PPTC 192] (PDF, 451.72KB) form (guarantor is required);
• two new passport photos (the cost will not be reimbursed);
• the child’s previous travel document, if available (even if damaged);
• proof of immigration status in Canada, such as a
  • permanent resident card;
  • temporary resident permit;
  • Notice of Decision (NOD) from the Immigration and Refugee Board;
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Verification of Status (VOS) or Replacement of an Immigration Document form (PDF, 745.33KB)
• proof of parentage;
• proof of legal guardianship (if applicable);
• all documents that refer to custody and/ or mobility of or access to the child (if applicable);
• proof of residence in an affected area or a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB); and
• a completed Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document [PPTC 203] (PDF, 120.09KB) form.

If you need a Canadian travel document urgently, find out where and how you can apply. For urgent processing, the proof of travel requirement can be substituted with a Declaration Disaster Assistance [PPTC 626] (PDF, 51.3KB) form.