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Canadian Passport - Mail-In Application Timelines

issteven

Hero Member
Jan 2, 2014
673
201
Asking for references and guarantor even though the application has a citizenship certificate that is given by the government, has an ID copy that is given by government, shows that IRCC does not trust itself nor the system. In reality, in 3 years you can really know someone very well for 2 years.. especially in Vancouver :) can't even make friends let alone finding a person to be a reference for a passport application.

I don't have anyone so I will send that section empty.
your ex-colleague? your landlord? your dentist?
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Asking for references and guarantor even though the application has a citizenship certificate that is given by the government, has an ID copy that is given by government, shows that IRCC does not trust itself nor the system. In reality, in 3 years you can really know someone very well for 2 years.. especially in Vancouver :) can't even make friends let alone finding a person to be a reference for a passport application.

I don't have anyone so I will send that section empty.
Well, I'd suggest that you follow the instructions on the official website.

Here you go :

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-references-guarantors.html#declaration

If you can’t find a guarantor
You must

  • complete the Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor form
  • find someone who can administer an oath to swear to and sign the form
    • This person doesn’t need to know you personally.
    • If you’re in Canada,this can be a
      • notary public
      • justice of the peace
      • commissioner for oaths
    • If you’re outside Canada, this can be a
      • Canadian or British diplomatic or consular representative
      • Qualified local official, such as a civil servant or member of Parliament
Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor form
The Statutory Declaration in Lieu of a Guarantor form is not available online.
To get the form
 
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rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Guys, heads up. A friend of mine in Brampton showed up at the Brampton Passport office today and he was turned away saying they only accept Urgent applications at the passport office. He also mentioned that about 10 other people were also turned away for this reason.

This is crazy - The website says walk-in is available and doesn't say walk-in applications are exclusive to Urgent Passport applicants. Were any of you who tried to apply in-person at passport office turned away for this reason?

I don't have any data from Mississauga Passport Office. If any of you visited Mississauga PP office and successfully submitted a non-urgent PP application, please do let me know. Thank you!
 

issteven

Hero Member
Jan 2, 2014
673
201
Guys, heads up. A friend of mine in Brampton showed up at the Brampton Passport office today and he was turned away saying they only accept Urgent applications at the passport office. He also mentioned that about 10 other people were also turned away for this reason.

This is crazy - The website says walk-in is available and doesn't say walk-in applications are exclusive to Urgent Passport applicants. Were any of you who tried to apply in-person at passport office turned away for this reason?

I don't have any data from Mississauga Passport Office. If any of you visited Mississauga PP office and successfully submitted a non-urgent PP application, please do let me know. Thank you!
this makes mail applicants feel better
 

cyclist

Hero Member
Mar 26, 2016
279
9
Vancouver,BC, Canada
Visa Office......
Ankara
App. Filed.......
June 22,2016
Doc's Request.
December 13,2016
AOR Received.
August 16,2016
File Transfer...
August24,2016
Med's Done....
April 6,2016
Interview........
Nov 3, 2016(passed)..January 17 ,2017 DM (Ecas)
LANDED..........
17-02-2017
Well, I'd suggest that you follow the instructions on the official website.

Here you go :
I have guarantor, I don't have references ..only people I know is my family and my in-laws that can't be a reference. Also, there is an instruction on who can be guarantor very detailed explanation on the form but no instructions on who can be or cannot be a reference. My take from that is having a guarantor is a primary requirement but reference is additional. meaning it is not required.
 
Last edited:

bellaluna

VIP Member
May 23, 2014
7,405
1,781
Guys, heads up. A friend of mine in Brampton showed up at the Brampton Passport office today and he was turned away saying they only accept Urgent applications at the passport office. He also mentioned that about 10 other people were also turned away for this reason.

This is crazy - The website says walk-in is available and doesn't say walk-in applications are exclusive to Urgent Passport applicants. Were any of you who tried to apply in-person at passport office turned away for this reason?

I don't have any data from Mississauga Passport Office. If any of you visited Mississauga PP office and successfully submitted a non-urgent PP application, please do let me know. Thank you!
The website also does say very very generally “walk-in services not guaranteed” so I always assumed walk-ins would be a case to case or per-branch basis, but it is annoying that nowhere is it clear on the website if the passport office/SC branch you want to go to accepts urgent only, etc.

Or at least, you know, put a sign up on the door.
 
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issteven

Hero Member
Jan 2, 2014
673
201
I have guarantor, I don't have references ..only people I know is my family and my in-laws that can't be a reference. Also, there is an instruction on who can be guarantor very detailed explanation on the form but no instructions on who can be or cannot be a reference. My take from that is having a guarantor is a primary requirement but reference is additional. meaning it is not required.
a guarantor is needed for first-time passport applicants. passport renewals just need references.
 

sg02

Star Member
Jan 7, 2017
122
100
I called Passport Canada today and they confirmed my passport is printed but there's no clarity about when the passport / certificate will be mailed-out. When I enquired about tracking number, I was asked to call back again in 2 weeks. However the person did confirm the in-depth details of my application till date:

Here's my updated timeline:
July 3rd: Application Sent via regular mail (Toronto->Gatineau)
July 7th: Application Received by Passport Canada (Gatineau)
July 8th - 18th: Transferred to Whitby (Not sure about exact date)
July 19th: Applicated Received in Whitby / Processing Started
July 27th: CC Charged by Passport Canada Whitby
July 29th: Passport Printed (Currently passport going through quality checks)
I received my passport today. Here's my updated timeline:

July 3rd: Application Sent via regular mail (Toronto->Gatineau)
July 7th: Application Received by Passport Canada (Gatineau)
July 8th - 18th: Transferred to Whitby (Not sure about exact date)
July 19th: Applicated Received in Whitby / Processing Started
July 27th: CC Charged by Whitby Office
July 29th: Passport Printed
July 30th: Certificate Received
August 3rd: Passport Received

Took exactly one month. Good luck everyone.
 

Wash an

Hero Member
Oct 20, 2013
767
170
I received my passport today. Here's my updated timeline:

July 3rd: Application Sent via regular mail (Toronto->Gatineau)
July 7th: Application Received by Passport Canada (Gatineau)
July 8th - 18th: Transferred to Whitby (Not sure about exact date)
July 19th: Applicated Received in Whitby / Processing Started
July 27th: CC Charged by Whitby Office
July 29th: Passport Printed
July 30th: Certificate Received
August 3rd: Passport Received

Took exactly one month. Good luck everyone.
Congrats. That was quick. Mine was charged by the same office on July 31st.
 

cyclist

Hero Member
Mar 26, 2016
279
9
Vancouver,BC, Canada
Visa Office......
Ankara
App. Filed.......
June 22,2016
Doc's Request.
December 13,2016
AOR Received.
August 16,2016
File Transfer...
August24,2016
Med's Done....
April 6,2016
Interview........
Nov 3, 2016(passed)..January 17 ,2017 DM (Ecas)
LANDED..........
17-02-2017
a guarantor is needed for first-time passport applicants. passport renewals just need references.
oh, so I don't need references? this is my first passport after getting my citizenship.
 

yasir22

Hero Member
Jun 5, 2014
716
177
ontario
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
21-05-2014
Doc's Request.
29-04-2015
File Transfer...
SA on 30-07-2014
Med's Request
19-05-2015
Med's Done....
upfront med.: 7-04-2014 and re-med.: 21-05-2015
Interview........
Waived !!
Passport Req..
DM on 2-06-2015, PPR on 05-06-2015
VISA ISSUED...
Visa issued: 02-07-2015, Received: 07-07-2015
LANDED..........
January 2016
oh, so I don't need references? this is my first passport after getting my citizenship.
You need both guarantor and references
 
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