Travel documents for a grant of citizenship for an adopted person

These instructions provide guidance for decision-makers who assess applications for citizenship for an adopted person under section 5.1 of the Citizenship Act.

Facilitation visas and special authorizations

Facilitation visas were created to allow Canadian dual-nationals travelling on a foreign national passport issued by a visa exempt country to re-enter Canada.

Facilitation visas have been replaced by special authorizations.

If there is an urgency for the adopted person to travel to Canada following their grant of citizenship that does not allow for the adopted person to wait for their citizenship certificate, the applicant must be advised that a limited validity passport (LVP) may be issued to the adopted person.

Limited validity passport (LVP)

An LVP is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and the application fee is the same as that of a full validity passport.

In some situations, a temporary passport or an emergency travel document (ETD) may be issued instead of an LVP:

• Where travel is required prior to the receipt of the regular (blue) passport at the Canadian government office abroad, a temporary passport may be issued as per the temporary passport policy.
• For immediate return to Canada, an ETD may be issued.

If an adopted person or their legal guardian confirms that they would like to proceed with an LVP, the citizenship decision maker must communicate via e-mail to the consular section at their mission with the following information:

• Given name(s) and surname(s)
• Unique client identifier (UCI)
• Date that the application was approved in the Global Case Management System

Note that the application will only be accepted at 1 of the following offices:

• Canadian government office abroad responsible for processing the 5.1 grant application
• Canadian government office abroad responsible for processing passport applications from residents of the country where the adoptee resides, where it is different

The timeframe in which the application will be processed without a certificate of citizenship is limited to 1 year from the grant issue date.

Application requirements

• Proof of imminent travel such as airline ticket, travel itinerary, etc.
• Proof that the adopted person has been granted citizenship (for example, part 2 approval letter)
• Notice for LVP form – to be provided by the consular office at time of submission
• For applicants outside of Canada and the United States: Duly completed abroad passport application form:
  • PPTC 042 – Child Abroad General Passport Application for Canadians under 16 years of age applying outside of Canada and the USA (PDF, 1.8 MB)
  • PPTC 040 – Adult Abroad General Passport Application for Canadians 16 years of age or over applying outside of Canada and the USA (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• For applicants in the United States:
  • PPTC 142 – Child General Passport Application (in the USA) for Canadians Under 16 Years of Age (PDF, 2.0 MB)
  • PPTC 140 – Adult General Passport Application (in the USA) for Canadians 16 Years of Age or Older (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• 2 identical and unaltered passport photos of the adopted person – the back of 1 photo must have the following:
  • The name of the photographer or studio, the address and the date the photos were taken (can be handwritten or a stamp)
  • Taken no more than 6 months before the application is submitted
  • The guarantor has signed the back of the photo

Adopted children only

• Proof of parentage, such as a court-issued adoption order that has the name of the adoptive parents
• All documents that relate to custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time or mobility of the child

Fees

Fees for passport application abroad are to be paid online: Online Payment

• Child passport (under 16 years old) – $100
• 5-year adult passport (16 years and older) – $190
• 10-year adult passport (16 years and older – $260

Please note that additional fees will apply for a temporary passport and an ETD: Pay your temporary passport, emergency travel document or other administrative fees – Canadians outside Canada

• Temporary passport – $110
• Child ETD (under 16 years old) – $30
• Adult ETD (over 16 years old) – $75