How to apply for a Canadian passport for a child under 16 in Canada
Learn how to apply for a Canadian passport for a child aged 15 or younger in 2026, including form PPTC 155, proof of citizenship and parentage, guarantor rules, passport photos, parental consent, the CAD $58.50 fee and processing options.
CA Canada
Documents & Identity ~ 11 min read
18 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-23
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To apply for a Canadian passport for a child aged 15 or younger in Canada, complete form PPTC 155 and submit proof of the child's Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage or legal guardianship, all applicable custody or decision-making documents, 2 compliant passport photos and a guarantor-signed application. All parents or legal guardians should participate and sign the application. The child passport fee for applications in Canada is CAD $58.50 as of March 31, 2026. Standard processing is 10 business days at a passport office or eligible 10-day Service Canada location, or 20 business days at a regular Service Canada Centre or by mail, plus mailing time.
What you need
- The child must be a Canadian citizen and 15 years old or younger.
- Complete the Child General Passport Application for Canadians under 16, form PPTC 155.
- Provide the child's proof of Canadian citizenship.
- Provide proof of parentage with every child passport application, even if the child has previously held a passport.
- Provide proof of legal guardianship when the applicant is a legal guardian.
- Provide all legal documents containing valid clauses related to custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time or mobility when applicable.
- Provide any valid Canadian passport or other Canadian travel document currently issued in the child's name.
- Provide 2 identical, unaltered Canadian passport photos that meet the current specifications.
- Have an eligible guarantor sign the application and the back of 1 passport photo.
- All parents or legal guardians should participate in and sign the application. The Passport Program may contact the other parent or legal guardian.
- If a parent or legal guardian is deceased, provide the required original death certificate or official copy.
- Pay the CAD $58.50 child passport fee for an application submitted in Canada.
Eligibility
A child passport is available to a Canadian citizen who is 15 years old or younger. A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years and remains valid until its printed expiry date even if the child turns 16 before that date.
A child passport cannot be renewed. Each time a child passport expires before the child turns 16, a new child passport application is required. Once the child is 16, they apply for an adult passport when a new passport is required.
The person applying must normally be one of the child's parents if the parents are not separated or divorced, the parent who has custody or decision-making responsibility if the parents are separated or divorced, or the child's legal guardian. All parents or legal guardians should participate in and sign the application, and the Passport Program may contact them.
How to do it
- Confirm that the child needs a child passport. The child must be a Canadian citizen and 15 years old or younger. Child passports cannot be renewed, so submit a new application even if the child previously had one.
- Download form PPTC 155. Use the current Child General Passport Application for Canadians under 16 from Canada.ca. Complete the form carefully and sign each required section.
- Have all parents or legal guardians participate. All parents or legal guardians should sign the application. If parents are separated or divorced, follow the rules that apply to custody and decision-making responsibilities.
- Gather proof of Canadian citizenship. Submit the child's required proof of citizenship, such as an accepted Canadian birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
- Gather proof of parentage. Proof of parentage is required with every child passport application. Depending on the circumstances, this can include a detailed birth certificate naming the parents, a court-issued adoption order or an accepted foreign birth certificate naming the parents.
- Prepare custody or guardianship documents. If applicable, include all legal documents with valid clauses dealing with custody, decision-making responsibilities, access, parenting time, mobility or the child's passport.
- Get 2 passport photos. The photos must meet Canada's child passport photo specifications, including the required 50 mm by 70 mm size.
- Find an eligible guarantor. The guarantor must know the applying parent or guardian personally for at least 2 years and know of the child. The guarantor signs the application and the back of 1 of the 2 photographs.
- Choose how to submit the application. Apply in person at a passport office or Service Canada Centre, or submit the application by mail. Choose a location based on how quickly you need the passport.
- Pay the fee. The current child passport fee for an application in Canada is CAD $58.50.
- Wait for processing. Standard service is 10 business days at a passport office or eligible 10-day Service Canada location, or 20 business days at a regular Service Canada Centre or by mail, plus mailing time.
How to apply for a Canadian passport for a child
A Canadian child aged 15 or younger needs a child passport when a passport is required for international travel. The application is made using form PPTC 155 and requires proof of Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage, passport photos, a guarantor and any applicable custody or guardianship documents.
A child passport cannot be renewed. You must submit a new application each time a child needs another passport before turning 16.
Who can apply for a child's Canadian passport?
If the parents are not separated or divorced, one of the child's parents can apply. If the parents are separated or divorced, the parent with custody or decision-making responsibilities over the child applies. A legal guardian can also apply and must provide the legal documents establishing guardianship.
All parents or legal guardians should participate in the application and sign the form. The Passport Program may contact other parents or guardians during processing.
If a parent or legal guardian has died
If another parent or legal guardian is deceased, the application must include the original death certificate or an official copy issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics office, or the equivalent authority outside Canada. A funeral home statement of death is not accepted as a death certificate.
What form do you need for a child passport?
Use the current Child General Passport Application for Canadians under 16, form PPTC 155. The Government of Canada recommends completing the form on a computer using compatible PDF software and reading the instructions before submitting it.
Each parent or legal guardian should sign the application where required. If both parents or guardians cannot sign, contact the Passport Program for instructions rather than submitting an incomplete application.
What documents are required for a Canadian child passport?
Every child passport application requires supporting documents, even if the child previously had a Canadian passport.
The core documents are proof of the child's Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage or legal guardianship, any applicable custody or decision-making documents, and any valid Canadian passport or other travel document currently issued in the child's name.
Proof of Canadian citizenship
You must provide the child's proof of Canadian citizenship. Depending on the child's circumstances, this can be a qualifying Canadian birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
If the child has a citizenship e-certificate, print a copy. Special document rules apply to some older paper citizenship certificates, so follow the current Passport Program instructions for the specific document you have.
Proof of parentage
Since November 5, 2024, proof of parentage is required with every child passport application, including when the child has previously received a passport.
Accepted examples include a detailed or long-form birth certificate issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial vital statistics office that names the parent or parents, a court-issued adoption order naming the adoptive parents, or a foreign birth certificate naming the parents.
If a parent's surname on the proof of parentage differs from the surname used on the passport application, provide a document linking the names. Examples listed by the Government of Canada include a marriage certificate, common-law relationship certificate or legal name change certificate.
Custody, separation, divorce and decision-making documents
If there is a court order, separation agreement, divorce judgment or other legal document dealing with the child, provide all documents containing clauses that remain in force and relate to custody, decision-making responsibility, access, parenting time, mobility or the child's passport.
If parents have joint custody or joint decision-making responsibilities, either parent can apply, but all applicable legal documents must still be submitted and all parents or guardians should participate as required by the Passport Program.
If a divorce has been granted and a relevant provision remains in force, provide the applicable divorce judgment or order.
Do you need a guarantor for a child passport?
Yes. A child passport application requires a guarantor.
The guarantor must have known the applying parent or legal guardian personally for at least 2 years and must know of the child. The guarantor signs the child's passport application and 1 of the 2 passport photographs.
On the back of 1 photograph, the guarantor must write the required certification that the photo is a true likeness of the applicant and sign it.
Can the other parent be the guarantor?
The person submitting the child passport application cannot act as their own guarantor. Another parent or legal guardian may be able to act as guarantor if that person independently meets all current guarantor requirements. Use the official guarantor guidance to confirm eligibility before signing.
Canadian child passport photo requirements
You need 2 identical and unaltered photographs that meet Canadian passport standards.
Each photo must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high. The child's face must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from the chin to the crown of the head.
The photographer must write or stamp the date the photograph was taken and the name and complete address of the photo studio on the back of 1 photo. The guarantor must certify and sign that same photograph.
The photos must follow the Government of Canada's current requirements for image quality, background, lighting and alterations. Photos that do not meet the specifications can delay the application.
How much is a Canadian child passport in 2026?
For applications submitted and received in Canada on or after March 31, 2026, the fee for a child passport is CAD $58.50.
The child passport has 5-year validity only. There is no 10-year Canadian passport option for a child aged 15 or younger.
Additional fees can apply for urgent or express processing, pickup services or replacement of a valid passport that was lost or stolen.
Where can you apply for a child passport in Canada?
You can apply in person at a passport office or participating Service Canada location, or submit the application by mail.
The best submission method depends on how soon you need the passport. Passport offices and Service Canada locations that offer 10-day processing are faster than regular Service Canada locations or mail applications.
Can you apply for a child passport online?
No. The current online passport service does not provide a standard online application route for a new child passport. Child applications are submitted in person or by mail using the official child passport application process.
How long does a child passport take in Canada?
A regular application submitted in person at a passport office or Service Canada Centre that offers 10-day processing has a service standard of 10 business days.
An application submitted at a regular Service Canada Centre, a scheduled outreach site offering passport services or by mail has a service standard of 20 business days.
Mailing time is not included in these service standards. Processing can also take longer if the Passport Program needs corrections, replacement photos, additional documents, routine verification or security checks.
Express and urgent child passport processing
If the passport is needed sooner, express or urgent service may be available at passport offices that provide those services.
Express pickup has a service standard of 2 to 9 business days. Urgent pickup is by the end of the next business day.
You may need to provide proof explaining why the passport is needed quickly. Accepted examples can include airline, bus or train tickets, a paid travel itinerary, evidence of illness or a death in the family, or a written explanation of another urgent need. Additional fees apply.
The Government of Canada does not guarantee that a passport will be issued in time for travel and recommends not finalizing travel plans until the passport is received.
How long is a Canadian child passport valid?
A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years. It remains valid until the expiry date printed in the passport even if the child turns 16 before it expires.
Once a child passport expires after the holder has turned 16, the person applies for an adult passport rather than another child passport.
Can a child passport be renewed?
No. Canadian child passports cannot be renewed. A new child passport application is required each time until the child reaches the age for an adult passport application.
What if the child's current passport is lost or stolen?
If a child's valid Canadian passport is lost or stolen, contact the Passport Program as soon as possible to report it. When applying for the replacement, additional documentation and an additional lost or stolen passport fee are required.
If the missing passport was already expired, follow the application instructions that apply to an expired previous child passport.
What happens after you submit the application?
The Passport Program reviews the application, citizenship and parentage evidence, guarantor information, photographs and any custody or legal documents. The department may contact parents, guardians or the guarantor to verify information.
If information is missing or additional evidence is required, processing can take longer than the published service standard.
After the passport is issued, it is mailed or made available for pickup according to the service selected when the application was submitted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a Canadian passport for my child?
Complete form PPTC 155, provide proof of the child's Canadian citizenship and parentage, include applicable custody or guardianship documents, obtain 2 compliant passport photos, have an eligible guarantor sign the application and 1 photo, and submit the application in person or by mail with the fee.
What age qualifies for a Canadian child passport?
A child passport is for a Canadian citizen aged 15 or younger.
How much is a Canadian child passport in 2026?
For applications in Canada received on or after March 31, 2026, the child passport fee is CAD $58.50.
How long is a Canadian child passport valid?
A child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years and remains valid until its printed expiry date even if the child turns 16 before then.
Can I renew my child's Canadian passport?
No. Child passports cannot be renewed. You must submit a new child passport application each time until the child is old enough to apply for an adult passport.
What form do I use for a Canadian child passport?
Use the Child General Passport Application for Canadians under 16, form PPTC 155.
What documents do I need for a child's Canadian passport?
You need proof of the child's Canadian citizenship, proof of parentage or guardianship, applicable legal documents concerning custody or decision-making responsibilities, any valid Canadian travel document issued to the child, 2 compliant passport photos and the completed application.
Is proof of parentage required if my child already had a passport?
Yes. Since November 5, 2024, proof of parentage is required with every child passport application, even if the child has previously held a Canadian passport.
Do both parents need to sign a Canadian child passport application?
The Government of Canada states that all parents or legal guardians should participate in and sign the application. The Passport Program may contact the other parent or guardian.
What happens if the parents are separated or divorced?
The parent with custody or decision-making responsibility normally applies. You must submit all legal documents with valid clauses related to custody, decision-making responsibility, access, parenting time, mobility or the child's passport.
Do I need a guarantor for a Canadian child passport?
Yes. The guarantor must meet the applicable eligibility rules, know the applying parent or guardian personally for at least 2 years and know of the child. The guarantor signs the application and 1 passport photo.
How many photos are required for a Canadian child passport?
You need 2 identical, unaltered passport photos that meet Canada's specifications.
What size must a Canadian child's passport photo be?
The printed photo must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high. The child's face must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown.
Can I apply for a Canadian child passport online?
No. A standard child passport application is submitted in person or by mail using the current child application process.
How long does a Canadian child passport take?
The regular service standard is 10 business days when applying at a passport office or eligible 10-day Service Canada Centre, or 20 business days at a regular Service Canada Centre or by mail. Mailing time is additional.
Can I get a child's passport urgently?
Yes, if you qualify and use a passport office offering expedited service. Express pickup is 2 to 9 business days and urgent pickup is by the end of the next business day. Proof of need and additional fees apply.
What if one parent or legal guardian has died?
Submit the original death certificate or an official copy issued by the appropriate vital statistics authority or equivalent foreign authority. A funeral home statement of death is not accepted.
Does my child need a new passport immediately after turning 16?
No. A valid child passport remains valid until the expiry date printed in it, even if the child turns 16 during its validity period.
Official sources
How to apply for a child passport in CanadaDocuments to submit when applying for a child's passportPassport photo requirementsPassport and travel document fee changesPay your passport fee in CanadaCanadian passports and other travel documents service standardsGet urgent, express or emergency weekend passport servicesRelated procedures
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