Applying for the first passport abroad?

[kenjia01]

Hi guys,

I recently did my oath ceremony, and will be waiting for my certificate in the mail soon. However, I will not be able to apply for my first passport while being in Canada. Has anyone tried applying for their first while being abroad? The officer in my ceremony told me that it's not possible, and thus I will absolutely need to wait until I get my passport before traveling.

I also asked about returning to Canada via US land border with just a certificate, and was informed that although possible, it's risky. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Dalboy1980]

Hi guys,

I recently did my oath ceremony, and will be waiting for my certificate in the mail soon. However, I will not be able to apply for my first passport while being in Canada. Has anyone tried applying for their first while being abroad? The officer in my ceremony told me that it's not possible, and thus I will absolutely need to wait until I get my passport before traveling.

I also asked about returning to Canada via US land border with just a certificate, and was informed that although possible, it's risky. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I applied for my passport from the UK, it took me 9.5 weeks to receive it but IT IS possible to do it

 

[kenjia01]

I applied for my passport from the UK, it took me 9.5 weeks to receive it but IT IS possible to do it

Thanks for the confirmation! Really good to hear, fingers crossed mine won't take as much time Not sure why the clerk told me the first passport must be applied from within Canada.

 

[Dalboy1980]

Thanks for the confirmation! Really good to hear, fingers crossed mine won't take as much time Not sure why the clerk told me the first passport must be applied from within Canada.

I have no idea, I mean you'd need to check that a Canadian High Commission existed where you're located and operated those services but for me being currently in the UK, London did allow me to apply from here and so yes it was a long wait (however I applied during April when there was massive backlogs with passports), hopefully things have eased now. Just make sure forms completed, pics done properly and signed etc by relevant parties, references sorted and also payment receipts for passport paid online and you should be good to go.

 

[armoured]

... so yes it was a long wait (however I applied during April when there was massive backlogs with passports), hopefully things have eased now.

Note that for some time now, I believe ALL passports are produced/printed in Canada (except for a very small number of emergency passports which can be produced elsewhere), so yes - your delay was definitely in part due to the issues with backlogs in Canada.

I think the usual guideline is/was four to six weeks or so, at least in places where you could order and pick up the passport in the embassy/consulate. (I believe they've stopped this delivery method in many places, so add/adjust for however they deliver locally eg through couriers and the like - but I really don't know details in each location).

And my experience was they were pretty good at keeping to those guidelines, even better most of the time (they built in some extra I presume). Don't knwo about now.

 

[Dalboy1980]

Note that for some time now, I believe ALL passports are produced/printed in Canada (except for a very small number of emergency passports which can be produced elsewhere), so yes - your delay was definitely in part due to the issues with backlogs in Canada.

I think the usual guideline is/was four to six weeks or so, at least in places where you could order and pick up the passport in the embassy/consulate. (I believe they've stopped this delivery method in many places, so add/adjust for however they deliver locally eg through couriers and the like - but I really don't know details in each location).

And my experience was they were pretty good at keeping to those guidelines, even better most of the time (they built in some extra I presume). Don't knwo about now.

Yes they're printed in Canada and hence at that particular time it was crazy but in general it's 4-6 weeks for the turnaround. As for couriers etc, the UK still delivers back to your door so I didn't have to bother about anything else.

 

[armoured]

As for couriers etc, the UK still delivers back to your door so I didn't have to bother about anything else.

Yes, I assume they're mostly using couriers and stuff now - just didn't know if that added much time. Several years ago they'd let you pick up at consular sections (in person) and in some parts of the world limited use of post etc, but I think covid made them settle on 'contactless' (contact only with couriers) as standard almost everywhere.

 

[Dalboy1980]

Yes, I assume they're mostly using couriers and stuff now - just didn't know if that added much time. Several years ago they'd let you pick up at consular sections (in person) and in some parts of the world limited use of post etc, but I think covid made them settle on 'contactless' (contact only with couriers) as standard almost everywhere.

So in London....picking up the passport in person was and is still possible, however I live about 100 miles from the high commission hence why the courier method was far easier for myself.

Like anything along this (Citizenship) or PR process, as long as forms are completed correctly and I hasten to add checked multiple times, pictures conform to their requirements and payments and relevant signatures gained....then it's just a case of sending it off (I did use Royal Mail 'Special Delivery' which is tracked and guaranteed by a certain time) and then sitting and waiting and hoping they administer everything correctly and dispatch the passport asap.