"30 Days or Free": Canada's New Passport Renewal Policy
Photo Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
As of Apr. 1, all Canadian passport renewal applicants will be eligible to receive a full refund if Service Canada takes more than thirty business days to process their applications, not including mailing times. The new “30 days or free” policy provides a “clear and consistent” standard for applicants, according to a news release published on Mar. 31 that is from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The “30 days or free” regulation was designed to improve Canada’s service accountability and consistency for passport processing. Processing times for passport applications, on average, “vary between 10 to 20 business days.”
“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,” Immigration Minister Lena Diab outlined in the news release.
The Government of Canada stated that one of the intended outcomes was to build a more trusting relationship between Canadian citizens and the government. Another planned outcome was reducing the uncertainty for applicants waiting for their passports, as well as helping relieve the passport backlog during peak travel times.
According to the Government of Canada, Service Canada faced heavy passport demand in 2024-2025, issuing 5 million passports. Additionally, passport demand was projected by the IRCC at around 4.5 million for 2025-2026. Backlogs were evident in 2022-2023 since only 70 per cent of applicants met service standards, far below the 90 per cent target.
“By making services more efficient and better suited for the needs of Canadians, the ‘30 days or free’ passport guarantee reinforces that they can expect timely, predictable service, and it ensures Service Canada remains accountable for meeting established standards,” added Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu in the government’s news release.
However, the government also recently introduced increases to the fees for obtaining passports, effective Mar. 31. According to CityNews, the cost of a 10-year adult passport for Canadians living in Canada increased from $160 to $163.50, which has drawn criticism from opposition parties.
"I think a lot of Canadians who have had challenges getting their passports processed in a timely fashion are going to wonder why they are paying more to get worse service," Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner told CBC.