Who can apply

• members of the Privy Council who aren’t members of the Cabinet
• premiers of the provinces
• the chief justices and judges of the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal
• members of the Senate and members of the House of Commons
• speakers of the legislative assemblies of the provinces
• members of provincial cabinets
• employees of the Government of Canada in a non-diplomatic capacity going on an official mission, or to a post abroad
• private citizens employed in senior positions by international governmental organizations of which Canada is a member
• private citizens nominated as official delegates to international conferences of a non‑diplomatic character
• private citizens nominated as official advisers or experts, forming part of delegations of the Government of Canada to international conferences of either a diplomatic or non-diplomatic character

• the Governor General
• the Prime Minister
• the Chief Justice of Canada and other judges of the Supreme Court of Canada
• members of the Cabinet
• lieutenant governors
• the speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons
• the leaders of the opposition in the Senate and the House of Commons
• deputy ministers of federal departments
• ambassadors, ministers, high commissioners, and officers of diplomatic rank, attachés, trade commissioners and consular officers serving the Government of Canada abroad
• representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada to international governmental organizations and international conferences of a diplomatic character
• other employees of the Government of Canada going abroad on a diplomatic mission
• private citizens nominated as official delegates of the Government of Canada to international conferences of a diplomatic character

Diplomatic couriers can apply for a diplomatic passport based on the purpose of their mission abroad. Immediate family members of diplomatic couriers aren’t entitled to a diplomatic passport to travel with or join the diplomatic courier abroad.

Note: This isn’t the official version. We assume no responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any reproduction derived from the legislative material on this page. The legislative material on this page has been prepared for convenience of reference only and does not have official value.

Made by Order in Council P.C. 2005-2216 dated November 28, 2005.

1. Repealed (P.C. 2013-542)
2. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship may, in his or her discretion, authorize the issuance of a diplomatic passport to the following persons or to a person holding one of the following offices, as the case may be: (P.C. 2013-542)
   1. the Governor General;
   2. the Prime Minister;
   3. the Chief Justice of Canada and other Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada; (P.C. 2006-1566)
   4. members of the Cabinet;
   5. Lieutenant Governors;
   6. the Speakers of the Senate and the Speakers of the House of Commons;
   7. the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons;
   8. Deputy Minister of Departments of the Government of Canada;
   9. Ambassadors, Ministers, High Commissioners, and officers of diplomatic rank, Attachés, Trade Commissioners and Consular Officers serving the Government of Canada abroad;
   10. representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada to international governmental organizations and international conferences, of a diplomatic character;
   11. officers of the Government of Canada, not otherwise provided for in this section, proceeding abroad on a mission of a diplomatic character;
   12. private citizens duly nominated as official delegates of the Government of Canada to international conferences of a diplomatic character;
   13. members of the immediate family of a person to whom a passport has been issued under any of paragraphs (a) to (l) whose normal place of residence is with that person and who are traveling with that person or proceeding to join that person abroad; and
   14. diplomatic couriers.
3. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship may, in his or her discretion, authorize the issuance of a special passport to the following persons or to a person holding one of the following offices, as the case may be: (P.C. 2013-542)
   1. members of the Privy Council, not being members of the Cabinet;
   2. Premiers of the Provinces;
   3. repealed (C.P. 2006-1566)
   4. the Chief Justices of the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal and the other Judges of the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal; (P.C. 2006-1566)
   5. members of the Senate and members of the House of Commons;
   6. speakers of the legislative assemblies of the Provinces;
   7. members of Provincial Cabinets;
   8. persons employed by the Government of Canada in a non-diplomatic capacity proceeding on an official mission or to a post abroad;
   9. private citizens employed in senior positions by international governmental organizations of which Canada is a member;
   10. private citizens duly nominated as official delegates to international conferences of a non-diplomatic character;
   11. private citizens duly nominated as official advisers or experts, forming part of delegations of the Government of Canada to international conferences of either a diplomatic or non-diplomatic character; and
   12. members of the immediate family of a person to whom a passport has been issued under any of paragraphs (a) to (k) whose normal place of residence is with that person and who are travelling with that person or proceeding to join that person abroad.
4. 1. Notwithstanding the expiry date of a passport issued to a person under section 2 or 3, the passport ceases automatically to be valid on the date of the termination of the duty for which the passport was issued to that person, as the case may be.
   2. A person to whom a passport was issued under section 2 or 3 shall, on the expiration of the passport as provided in subsection (1), surrender it to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. (P.C. 2013-542)
5. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship may, from time to time, issue instructions, not inconsistent with this Order, regarding the issuance and control of passports issued under section 2 or 3. (P.C. 2013-542)
6. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship shall decide whether or not an individual or mission has diplomatic or official status or is of a diplomatic or official character and whether or not individuals may be considered as members of the immediate family of persons to whom diplomatic or special passports have been issued. (P.C. 2013-542)
7. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship may authorize the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development or the Minister of Foreign Affairs to exercise any of the functions of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship set out in sections 12 and 13 of the Canadian Passport Order in respect of this Order. (P.C. 2013-542)