TORONTO — The federal government is introducing a new service guarantee for passport processing, aimed at improving accountability and providing greater confidence for Canadians planning travel.

Effective April 1, 2026, applicants whose passports or travel documents take longer than 30 business days to process will receive a full refund of their application fee. The policy, announced by Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, applies to all standard applications, regardless of how they are submitted.

Under the new “30 days or free” guarantee, refunds will be issued automatically if processing exceeds the 30-business-day window. Processing time begins once a complete application is received and ends when the document has been printed and verified. Mailing time is not included in the service standard.

A complete application must include a fully filled-out form, all required supporting documents — including a compliant passport photo — and full payment of fees.

“Canadians expect reliable services from their government. While most passports are processed within our service standards, our new refund policy reflects our commitment to maintaining excellence in our passport delivery system. As with all our services and programs, we’re focused on maximizing efficiency and making improvements that make a positive difference for people,” said Minister Metlege Diab.

Service standards currently vary depending on how and where an application is submitted. In most cases, passports are processed within 10 to 20 business days, plus mailing time, whether applications are made at Service Canada centres, by mail or through Canadian embassies and consulates abroad.

The government noted that the new guarantee does not apply to all services. Exclusions include certain administrative fees, such as those for replacement documents, transfers or certified copies, as well as child refugee travel documents and certificates of identity, which are classified as low-value services under the Service Fees Act.

Urgent and express passport services are also excluded from the new policy, as they already operate under shorter timelines. In cases where those expedited timelines are not met, refunds are issued under existing rules.

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