Under this policy, eligible applicants who submit a complete and approved application will receive a full refund of their passport fee if processing takes more than 30 business days.
The timeline starts when a complete application is received and ends when the passport is printed and verified. Mailing time is not included. Delays caused by missing documents, errors, or additional review also do not count.
A complete application must include the form, all required documents, photos, and full payment. If anything is missing, the processing clock will not start.
This guarantee applies only to applications that meet all requirements and are approved. It does not mean that submitting an application guarantees a passport.
Most applications are still processed within current service standards, which range from 10 to 20 business days depending on where the application is submitted.
The new rule does not apply to urgent or express services, which have separate timelines and refund policies.
Refunds will be issued automatically. In-person or mail applicants will receive a cheque, while online renewals will be refunded to the original payment method when possible.
If a refund is not received by July 1 of the following fiscal year, applicants are advised to contact Passport Canada.
