Getting a Canadian passport for your child

Children generally need their own passport to travel internationally, even when travelling with their parents. This guide explains how to apply for a Canadian child passport, which documents to prepare and what to know about processing times, fees and photos.

Table of contents

• How to apply for a Canadian child passport
• Documents needed for a Canadian child passport
• Canadian child passport processing times
• Canadian child passport fee
• Can you renew a Canadian child passport?
• Guarantor requirements for a Canadian child passport
• Canadian child passport photo requirements

How to apply for a Canadian child passport

How you apply depends on where you live and how soon you need the passport.

Applying from Canada

• For standard service, apply at a passport office or a Service Canada Centre that offers 10-business-day processing, visit a regular Service Canada Centre for 20-business-day processing, or apply by mail. In-person applications are accepted by appointment or walk-in.
• For express service, which takes 2–9 business days, visit a passport office that offers express pickup. Additional fees apply, and you may need to provide proof that you need the passport within that time.
• For urgent service, with pickup by the end of the next business day, visit a passport office that offers urgent pickup. This is a walk-in service: you must provide proof that you need the passport urgently, and additional fees apply.

These are the service options listed in the Government of Canada's child passport application guidance.

Applying from the United States

Apply by mail. Canadian consular offices in the United States do not provide regular passport services. If you need a passport urgently, contact the nearest Government of Canada office in the United States.

Applying from outside Canada and the United States

Apply through a local Government of Canada office abroad.

Documents needed for a Canadian child passport

Prepare the following documents for your child's application:

• A completed application form.
• Proof of your child's Canadian citizenship, such as a long-form birth certificate or a citizenship certificate.
• Proof of parentage or legal guardianship, as applicable.
• All documents relating to the child's custody, mobility or access arrangements.
• Any valid Canadian passport or other travel document issued in the child's name.
• Two identical passport photos of your child that meet the requirements below.
• On the back of one photo, the photographer must provide their name, full address and the date the photos were taken. Your guarantor must also sign the back of that photo.

Canadian child passport processing times

The standard processing time depends on how you apply:

• At a passport office or a Service Canada Centre offering 10-day processing: 10 business days, plus mailing time if the passport is mailed to you.
• At a regular Service Canada Centre or by mail from Canada: 20 business days, plus mailing time.
• By mail from the United States: 20 business days, plus mailing time.

These are the official passport service standards, not guaranteed delivery dates. Processing begins once the application, supporting documents and payment have been received. Corrections or additional checks can add time, so allow for mailing as well as processing.

Canadian child passport fee

The child passport fee is CAN$58.50 for applications submitted in Canada, following the fee increase on 31 March 2026.

Available payment methods include:

• Credit card or prepaid card (Visa®, MasterCard® or American Express®).
• Debit card.
• Certified cheque or money order (postal or bank) in Canadian funds for the exact amount, payable to the "Receiver General for Canada".

Can you renew a Canadian child passport?

A child's passport cannot be renewed. When it expires, you need to apply for a new passport using the same application process.

Once your child turns 16, they can apply for an adult passport, which can later be renewed if they meet the renewal requirements.

Guarantor requirements for a Canadian child passport

A guarantor confirms your child's identity and signs the application form and one of the two passport photos. They must have known you personally for at least two years and know of your child.

Canadian child passport photo requirements

Make sure your child's photos meet these requirements:

• The photo must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high).
• Your child's face must measure between 31 mm (1¼ inches) and 36 mm (1⁷⁄₁₆ inches) from the chin to the crown of the head (the natural top of the head).
• The photos must be clear, sharp and in focus.
• Lighting must be even, with no shadows, glare or flash reflections.
• There must be a clear contrast between your child's face and the background.
• The photos must show your child's natural skin tone.
• The photos must be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper.
• The photos must be original and unaltered.
• Your child must have a neutral expression, with eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed and no smile. However, newborns may have a range of facial expressions.
• The photos must have been taken within the past six months.
• Your child's face and shoulders must be centred and square to the camera, with no head tilt.
• Headwear worn daily for religious or medical reasons is allowed.
• Glasses are permitted, but your child's eyes must be clearly visible, with no glare on the lenses.
• Neither your hands nor your child's hands should appear in the photos.
• The background must be plain white or light-coloured, with a clear contrast between your child and the background.

Here is an example:

Preparing a baby's document photo should fit around feeds, naps and the moments when your child is comfortable. Visafoto helps parents prepare photos at home for visas and other documents that accept home photography and online photo preparation.

For an infant, try taking 20 to 60 photos over a few short, relaxed attempts rather than chasing one perfect shot. A blink or a turned head does not mean the whole session was wasted: look through the other frames for a clear view of your baby's face. Stop for a feed, a cuddle or a nap whenever needed. You can photograph a baby lying on a blanket on a firm, flat surface, or use a car seat if their head is supported and their face is clearly visible. Stay with your baby throughout.

For an older child, take the photo at home before the document appointment, when neither of you is rushing. Where the application accepts this method, prepare and print the photo in advance so it is already in your folder when you arrive.

To prepare your child's photo with Visafoto:

1. Take several pictures with a phone or camera and choose a sharp frame with a clear view of the face and the required pose and expression.
2. Upload that frame and select the country and document you are applying for.
3. Let Visafoto adjust the photo's size, crop and background for the selected format.
4. Review the result and download the digital file and printable template.

For documents that permit these adjustments, your starting background does not need to be perfect. Visafoto can replace it, remove background shadows and improve lighting, contrast and resolution. You can concentrate on catching a clear view of your child's face rather than arranging a studio at home. If a frame is blurred or the expression is unsuitable, choose another from the pictures you have already taken.

You receive a digital photo for applications that accept an uploaded image and a template for printing. The template is tailored to the selected document, not a universal passport-photo size. The Canadian format illustrated below is 50 × 70 mm per portrait; the printing paper size is a separate measurement. When printing a template for an eligible application, ask the photo lab to use its specified paper size without resizing the portraits.

If you are unsure which source frame to choose or whether the result looks right, contact Visafoto's 24/7 support team. Explain what concerns you so you know whether to try another frame or adjust the printing settings. If a government authority rejects a photo purchased from Visafoto, you can request a 100% refund under the refund policy.

For detailed baby passport photo tips, check this article.

For more practical ideas, read how to take a passport photo of a baby without the stress.

Last updated: 7 October 2026.