Passport and other travel documents: Refunds for applications processed outside service standards
You may be eligible for a partial refund on your passport or other travel document application if the processing time for your application was outside our service standards.
The processing time for your application starts when we have your application form, all your supporting documents and fees. The processing time doesn’t include the additional review time required for complex applications, the holds we place on the application while we collect additional information from you or the mailing time.
Who gets a refund
In most cases, if you submitted an application on or after February 1, 2023, and it was not processed within our service standards, you’re eligible for a refund.
This policy applies to the following applications:
- adult 5-year passport in Canada
- adult 10-year passport in Canada
- child regular passport in Canada
- adult 5-year passport from abroad
- adult 10-year passport from abroad
- child regular passport from abroad
- temporary passport
- adult refugee travel document
- adult certificate of identity
Refunds are automatic
You don’t have to do anything to get your refund. However, it can take some time for it to be issued. Depending on where you applied from, you may have to wait for it to arrive in the mail.
How we refund applications in Canada or from the US
We’ll issue your refund as a cheque and send it to the mailing address we have on file for you.
How we refund applications outside Canada or the US
We typically refund the credit card you used to pay your fees.
However, if you didn’t pay with a credit card, we’ll send your refund as a cheque or an electronic funds transfer.
When to contact us
If your application wasn’t processed within the service standard and you haven’t received your refund by July 1 of the fiscal year after you applied, contact us to ask about your refund. The Government of Canada’s fiscal year begins April 1 and ends March 31.
How refund amounts are calculated
The amount of your refund is based on how long it took for your application to be processed.
Applications processed
- 1 to 10 business days outside service standards will be refunded 25% of the service fee
- more than 10 business days outside service standards will be refunded 50% of the service fee
Refund amounts
| Name | Fee | Refund amount if 1 to 10 days outside service standards (25%) | Refund amount if more than 10 days outside service standards (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 5-year passport in Canada | $95.00 | $23.75 | $47.50 |
| Adult 10-year passport in Canada | $135.00 | $33.75 | $67.50 |
| Child regular passport in Canada | $57.00 | $14.25 | $28.50 |
| Adult 5-year passport abroad | $165.00 | $41.25 | $82.50 |
| Adult 10-year passport abroad | $235.00 | $58.75 | $117.50 |
| Child regular passport abroad | $100.00 | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| Temporary passport | $110.00 | $27.50 | $55.00 |
| Adult refugee travel document | $95.00 | $23.75 | $47.50 |
| Adult certificate of identity | $235.00 | $58.75 | $117.50 |
Not all fees are eligible for a refund
The following fees are not eligible under the Service Fees Act:
- the $25 consular fee for adult applications
- This fee is collected on behalf of Global Affairs Canada for providing consular services abroad.
- fees related to urgent or expedited passport services
- For example, urgent and express pick-up services, transfer fees.
- applications for child certificates of identity and child refugee travel documents
This is because the fees for these services are considered low-materiality.
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