New Canadian Passport Design Announced
The cover design for the new Canadian passport | Photo Credit: Government of Canada
A redesign for the Canadian passport was announced by Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser on May 10. The new cover and pages showcase more of Canada’s natural features and wildlife with fewer historical images than the current design. Fraser claimed this new redesign was necessary to increase security against counterfeiting.
New security features include an updated, tamper-proof data page, metallic foils in the shape of a maple leaf on the covers and a debossed maple leaf on the back. Colour-shifting ink in the shape of a deer and snowflake, and a visible passport chip and antenna are also new features that can be used to confirm the validity of passports and to keep the information of their holders secure. The personal information page is now made of polycarbonate, which will last longer and is less likely to be damaged by water.
The art on the covers and the pages for visas have also been redesigned. The font, the placement of the text and the Canadian Coat of Arms have been adjusted. Outlines of maple leaves are also added.
Leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Pollievre, criticised the removal of Terry Fox from the art in passports in a tweet. The removal of an image of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, which honours Canadian veterans who served during the First World War, was also criticised by the Royal Canadian Legion.
Fraser pushed back saying, "If you maintain elements that may have existed in the previous design, it becomes easier to counterfeit the Canadian passport, which is something we want to protect against."
Canadians who currently hold the old version of the passport do not need to renew early to ensure their passport is accepted as a travel document. Both the old and new versions are secure, reliable, and recognised before they expire.
Beginning this fall, Canadians will be given the option to renew their passports online. The procedure includes uploading the necessary documents and passport photos onto a government website.
Production for the new version is expected to start this summer. Depending on when an application is made, some Canadians may receive the new version while some may still receive the old version.