How to Get an Urgent or Express Canadian Passport When You Need to Travel Soon
Canadians who need a passport sooner than normal processing allows can request express pickup in 2 to 9 business days, urgent pickup by the end of the next business day, or emergency weekend or statutory holiday service in qualifying situations. Expedited service requires an in-person passport application and additional fees, and urgent applicants must provide proof of why the passport is needed quickly.
CA Canada
Documents & Identity ~ 11 min read
15 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-01
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If you are in Canada and need a passport within 2 to 9 business days, apply in person at a passport office that offers express pickup. If you need it by the end of the next business day, go to a passport office offering urgent pickup and bring proof that you need the passport quickly. Emergency weekend or statutory holiday service is only for emergencies when you must travel during that specific weekend or holiday and you must contact the Passport Program before applying. As of March 31, 2026, urgent pickup costs an additional CAD 125.75 and weekend or statutory holiday service costs an additional CAD 383.50, on top of the applicable passport fee. Express pickup remains CAD 50. If you already applied and now need the passport within 9 business days or less, call the Passport Program for help rather than submitting a second application.
What you need
- A complete Canadian passport application that meets the requirements for your situation, such as an adult renewal, new adult passport or child passport application.
- All documents, photographs, references, guarantor information and identification normally required for the type of passport application you are making.
- For urgent pickup, proof showing why you need the passport by the end of the next business day.
- For express pickup, proof of need may be requested by the passport office.
- For weekend or statutory holiday service, proof of an emergency and proof that you must travel during that specific weekend or statutory holiday.
- Acceptable proof can include an airline, bus or train ticket, a paid travel itinerary, proof of illness or death in the family, or a written statement explaining the urgent passport need.
- If travelling by car, a written statement explaining why you need to travel may be used as proof.
- Payment of the regular passport fee plus the applicable express, urgent or emergency service fee.
- If you already submitted a passport application and now need it within 9 business days or less, contact the Passport Program so it can advise whether the existing file can be handled urgently or transferred.
Eligibility
Urgent and express passport services are available to Canadian passport applicants in Canada when the Passport Program can process the application within the requested timeframe. Urgent pickup requires proof that you need the passport, while applicants requesting express service may also be asked for proof.
Emergency weekend or statutory holiday service has a narrower eligibility rule. It is available only for an emergency when the applicant must travel during that specific weekend or statutory holiday. The Passport Program decides how the emergency application will be submitted.
Expedited processing does not waive the normal requirements for a Canadian passport. Your application must still be complete and you must meet all passport entitlement requirements. The government expressly states that it cannot guarantee the passport will be issued within your requested timeline if, for example, the application is incomplete or security concerns require additional review.
How to do it
- Determine exactly when you need the passport. Use express service for a passport needed in 2 to 9 business days, urgent service when it is needed by the end of the next business day, or the emergency procedure when qualifying travel must occur during a weekend or statutory holiday.
- Prepare the normal passport application and supporting documents for your situation. Expedited service does not replace the ordinary passport-document requirements.
- Prepare proof explaining why you need the passport quickly. For travel, this may be a ticket or a paid itinerary. For travel by car, prepare a written explanation. For an illness or death, bring relevant supporting evidence.
- For express service, find a passport office that specifically offers express pickup. Apply in person by appointment or as a walk-in where available.
- For urgent next-business-day service, go in person to a passport office that specifically offers urgent pickup. An ordinary Service Canada Centre that does not offer urgent service cannot provide next-business-day processing.
- For weekend or statutory holiday emergency service, call the Passport Program before attempting to apply and follow the instructions provided for the emergency application.
- Pay the regular passport fee plus the applicable expedited-service fee and any other administrative fee that applies to your case.
- Keep the pickup information provided by the passport office and return at the instructed time to collect the passport.
- If you already submitted an application and now need your passport within 9 business days or less, do not submit a duplicate application. Call the Passport Program so an officer can explain the available urgent-processing options. Additional fees may apply.
Which urgent passport service do you need?
Canada offers three faster passport-service options for people who cannot wait for ordinary processing. The right option depends mainly on how soon you need the document.
| Service | Processing target | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| Express pickup | 2 to 9 business days | CAD 50 |
| Urgent pickup | By the end of the next business day | CAD 125.75 |
| Weekend or statutory holiday emergency service | Same-day service standard for qualifying emergencies | CAD 383.50 |
These are additional charges. You must also pay the regular fee for the passport you are applying for.
How much does an urgent or express Canadian passport cost in 2026?
Passport and travel-document fees increased on March 31, 2026. For applications in Canada, the regular passport fees are currently:
- CAD 122.50 for a 5-year adult passport;
- CAD 163.50 for a 10-year adult passport;
- CAD 58.50 for a child passport.
The expedited service is charged on top of the regular fee. Express pickup costs an additional CAD 50. Urgent pickup costs an additional CAD 125.75. Emergency weekend or statutory holiday service costs an additional CAD 383.50.
Other charges can apply in special cases, such as replacing a passport that was still valid or transferring an application file to another passport office.
How do you get express passport service?
Choose express pickup when you need your passport within 2 to 9 business days.
You must apply in person at a passport office that offers express pickup. You can use the official passport service location finder to identify an office with the required service.
An appointment may be available, but walk-in service is also offered at participating passport offices. High-demand locations may prioritize people travelling within 48 hours.
The Passport Program states that you may need to provide proof that you need the passport.
Can every express passport office issue it in two business days?
No. The federal urgent-service page currently identifies some locations with longer minimum express-processing times. Kelowna, British Columbia and Pointe-Claire, Quebec offer express processing in 4 to 9 business days, while Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island offers 3 to 9 business days.
Check the service offered by your chosen location before travelling to the office.
How do you get next-business-day urgent passport service?
If you need the passport by the end of the next business day, use urgent pickup.
Go directly to a passport office that offers urgent pickup. You do not need an appointment for this service, but you must bring proof explaining why you need the passport so quickly.
Do not assume that every Service Canada Centre can issue an urgent passport. The Government of Canada specifically instructs urgent applicants to use a passport office with urgent pickup, not a regular Service Canada Centre without that service.
What proof do you need for an urgent passport?
The Government of Canada gives several examples of acceptable evidence. Depending on your circumstances, proof can include:
- an airline ticket;
- a bus or train ticket;
- a travel itinerary showing proof of payment;
- proof of illness in the family requiring you to travel;
- proof of a death in the family requiring travel;
- a written statement from you or another person explaining why the passport is needed;
- a written statement explaining your travel when travelling by car.
A written explanation can also support a non-travel urgent requirement, for example a legal, banking or residency requirement.
The Passport Program can assess the evidence and circumstances. Providing proof does not create an absolute guarantee that a passport will be issued on time.
How does weekend or statutory holiday emergency passport service work?
This is not an ordinary convenience service. It is available only for emergencies when you must travel during that specific weekend or statutory holiday.
Call the Passport Program in advance at 1-800-567-6868 and follow the instructions you receive. During regular weekdays, the published telephone hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, or 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Newfoundland, excluding statutory holidays.
For emergency-service information outside those hours, the Passport Program provides a callback process. You can leave a message on Friday or on the weekday before a statutory holiday after regular closing time, or on Saturday or Sunday. The program states that callbacks about emergency services are made between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time.
The current additional weekend or statutory holiday service charge is CAD 383.50, in addition to the regular passport fee. If eligible family members require passports at the same time, separate passport and expedited-service charges apply according to the official fee rules.
Do urgent passport applicants need the normal passport documents?
Yes. Faster processing does not reduce the document requirements for a Canadian passport.
You must submit a complete application for your particular situation. That could be an adult passport renewal, a new adult passport application or a child passport application. Depending on the application type, the normal requirements can include:
- the correct completed application form;
- passport photographs meeting federal specifications;
- proof of Canadian citizenship where required;
- valid identification where required;
- a guarantor where the application type requires one;
- references where required;
- an existing passport where required;
- child custody, parentage or related documents for a child application where applicable.
This guide covers the expedited-service exception. The underlying eligibility and document rules for a normal passport application still apply unchanged.
What if you already applied and now need the passport sooner?
Do not automatically submit another passport application. If you already applied and now need the passport within 9 business days or less, the Government of Canada instructs you to call the Passport Program.
Staff can review your situation and help identify a way to obtain the passport urgently. This may involve moving or transferring the existing application to an office capable of expedited processing. Additional fees may apply.
Use the Government of Canada urgent passport instructions rather than filing a duplicate application.
Can you get an urgent Canadian passport online?
No. The expedited services covered here are in-person services.
Canada does offer online renewal to eligible adult applicants, but the current Service Canada location guidance specifies that online renewal is intended for applicants who do not need the passport for at least 20 business days plus mailing time. It is not the route for express or next-business-day pickup.
How do you pay for urgent or express passport service?
For an in-person passport application in Canada, accepted payment methods currently include:
- Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit or prepaid cards;
- debit card;
- a certified cheque or postal or bank money order in Canadian funds for the exact amount;
- certain cheques from Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government departments.
Cash and personal cheques are not accepted. The government also states that you cannot use the online passport-fee payment method for an application that you are submitting in person.
Is urgent passport issuance guaranteed?
No. The Government of Canada expressly states that it cannot guarantee that you will receive the passport on time.
An application may take longer if it is incomplete, information has to be verified, security concerns arise or another issue prevents normal issuance. The Passport Program also states that it is not liable for losses if it cannot deliver a passport within the traveller's required timeframe.
For this reason, the government recommends not finalizing travel arrangements until the passport has been received.
What are the official expedited passport service standards?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's current service standards list:
- 2 to 9 business days for express pickup;
- by the end of the next business day for urgent pickup;
- same day for weekend and statutory holiday emergency service.
A service standard is a processing target, not an entitlement to automatic passport issuance. The applicant must still satisfy all requirements.
Can the expedited fee be refunded if the service standard is missed?
The Government of Canada's current passport remission guidance states that urgent and express pickup services have their own shorter timelines. If the Passport Program does not meet the applicable urgent or express timeline, you may be eligible for a full refund under the Financial Administration Act.
Whether a refund applies depends on the circumstances and the applicable exclusions. A delay caused by unusual or exceptional circumstances can fall outside the normal remission policy.
What if you need a Canadian passport urgently while abroad?
The in-Canada urgent and express pickup system does not apply in the same way outside Canada. If you are abroad, contact the nearest Government of Canada office.
The embassy, high commission or consulate will determine whether your situation qualifies for an urgent passport service, a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Do not pay an overseas urgent-service fee until the Government of Canada office handling your case confirms that you should do so.
Common urgent passport mistakes to avoid
- Going to an ordinary Service Canada Centre for next-business-day service instead of a passport office that specifically offers urgent pickup.
- Submitting the application without proof of why you need an urgent passport.
- Assuming express processing is available at every passport location.
- Waiting until a weekend emergency to discover that you must contact the Passport Program for instructions.
- Using online passport renewal when you need the passport within the expedited-service timeframe.
- Submitting an incomplete passport application because you assume urgent status allows missing documents to be supplied later.
- Submitting a second application after your existing application becomes urgent instead of contacting the Passport Program.
- Paying only the expedited fee and forgetting that the normal passport fee is also required.
- Assuming an express or urgent service standard guarantees issuance despite unresolved identity, security or document issues.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a Canadian passport if I need to travel urgently?
Urgent pickup has a service standard of by the end of the next business day. Express pickup takes 2 to 9 business days. Emergency weekend or statutory holiday service is available only for qualifying emergencies.
How much is urgent passport service in Canada in 2026?
Urgent pickup costs an additional CAD 125.75 as of March 31, 2026. You must also pay the regular passport fee and any other administrative fee that applies.
How much is express passport service in Canada?
Express pickup within 2 to 9 business days costs an additional CAD 50 on top of the regular passport fee.
How much is weekend emergency passport service?
The additional weekend or statutory holiday emergency service fee is CAD 383.50 as of March 31, 2026, plus the regular passport fee.
What proof do I need for an urgent Canadian passport?
Examples include an airline, bus or train ticket, a paid travel itinerary, proof of illness or death requiring travel, or a written statement explaining why you need the passport. If travelling by car, you can provide a written statement explaining the travel need.
Can I get an urgent Canadian passport without a plane ticket?
Potentially. The government accepts other forms of proof, including a written statement from you or a third party explaining why you need the passport, and evidence of legal, banking, residency, illness or family-death circumstances.
Do I need an appointment for next-day urgent passport service?
No. For urgent pickup by the end of the next business day, the Government of Canada instructs applicants to go to a passport office offering urgent pickup without an appointment.
Can any Service Canada office issue an urgent passport?
No. You must use a passport office that specifically offers urgent pickup for next-business-day service or express pickup for 2-to-9-business-day service.
Can I renew my Canadian passport online if I need it urgently?
No. Current online renewal is intended for eligible applicants who do not need the passport for at least 20 business days plus mailing time. Urgent and express pickup require in-person service.
What if I already applied for a passport and my travel is now urgent?
If you already applied and now need the passport within 9 business days or less, call the Passport Program. It will help determine an urgent-processing option for the existing application, and extra fees may apply.
Should I submit a second passport application if my first one is still processing?
No. Contact the Passport Program if the existing application has become urgent instead of automatically filing a duplicate application.
Can I get a Canadian passport on a Saturday or Sunday?
Emergency weekend service exists, but only for emergencies when you must travel during that specific weekend. You must contact the Passport Program and follow its emergency-service instructions.
Is next-business-day passport service guaranteed?
No. The government cannot guarantee issuance within the requested timeframe if the application is incomplete, security concerns arise or other verification is required.
Can I get my urgent-service fee refunded if the passport is late?
You may be eligible for a full refund if the Passport Program misses the applicable urgent or express service timeline, subject to the government's remission rules and exclusions.
What do I do if I need a Canadian passport urgently while outside Canada?
Contact the nearest Government of Canada office abroad. That office decides whether you qualify for urgent service and whether a regular, temporary or emergency travel document is appropriate.
Official sources
Government of Canada: Get urgent, express or emergency weekend passport servicesGovernment of Canada: Submit an adult passport application in Canada and pay the feesGovernment of Canada: Renew a passport in person in CanadaGovernment of Canada: Passport and travel document fee changes effective March 31, 2026Government of Canada: Pay your passport fee in CanadaGovernment of Canada: Passport and biometrics service locations in CanadaImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Passport service standardsGovernment of Canada: Refunds for passport applications processed outside service standardsImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: 2024 to 2025 Fees Report with express pickup fee and service standardRelated procedures
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