What you need to renew your passport outside Canada and the US

You need all of the following:

form

the date your last passport was issued
the date it expired
the passport number
- See an example of where to find this information on your passport.
2 identical passport photos
2 references

You need everything listed above to renew your passport. You need to apply for a new passport if you don’t.

If it’s still valid, you also need to send us your most recent passport.

Passport photo requirements

On the back of 1 of your photos, the photographer must write or stamp:

You do not need a guarantor’s signature on the photo. Passport renewals don’t need a guarantor.

Passport photo requirements abroad may be different than in Canada

Your photos must follow Canadian photo requirements. We’ll reject and return your application to you if you don’t submit an acceptable photo.

To avoid any problems, print a copy of the passport photo specifications (PDF, 652 KB) and bring it to the photographer.

Your references must:

To avoid delays, make sure your references are available if or when we need to contact them.

For example, they’re not travelling outside the country.
If they’re in a different time zone, it may take longer to contact them, which could delay your application.

We may ask for additional references at any time.

Your references cannot be:

Read a full list of people who can’t be a reference

These people can’t be a reference on your renewal application:

spouse or common-law partner
- Whether you’re the opposite or same sex, you’re considered common-law partners if you’ve lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 1 year, but you aren’t legally married.
  - A boyfriend, girlfriend or romantic partner can be a reference if you’re not in a common-law relationship.
  - If your marriage or common-law relationship has ended, your former spouse or partner can serve as a reference.
parent, step-parent, foster parent, or a parent’s spouse or common-law partner
mother-in-law or father-in-law
child (biological, adopted, foster or stepchild) or your child’s spouse or common-law partner
son-in-law or daughter-in-law
sibling (brother, half-brother or stepbrother, or sister, half-sister or stepsister) or your sibling’s spouse or common-law partner
brother-in-law or sister-in-law
grandparent (biological, adopted, step or foster grandparent) or your grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner
grandmother-in-law or grandfather-in-law
grandchild (biological, adopted, step or foster grandchild) or your grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner
grandson-in-law or granddaughter-in-law
anyone else who’s related to you or your spouse or common-law partner by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, adoption or guardianship and lives at the same address as you
- For example, if your aunt, uncle or cousin lives with you, they cannot be a reference.