What you need to renew your passport

You need all of the following:

form

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

  • their studio or company name
  • their complete address and
  • the date the photos were taken

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

Read the full photo requirements(opens in a new tab)  for more information.

Who can be a reference for you

Your references must

  •  be 18 or older
  •  have known you for at least 2 years
  •  agree to you using their name and contact information for your application

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.

Who can’t be a reference for you

Your references cannot be 

  • a member of your immediate family
  • your spouse or common-law partner
  • your child or grandchild
  • other members of your extended family
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.

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