| As of January 23, 2007, a new American law | | | | their photocopies. After the necessary |
| requires everyone entering the United States | | | | verification, the original copies of all the |
| by air to have a valid Canada passport. This | | | | documents submitted by you will be returned. |
| has a lot more people getting their Canada | | | | In case, you are submitting only copies of |
| passports than ever before. Most people | | | | all documents, your guarantor must sign them |
| expect that applying for a Canadian passport | | | | all. |
| either for the first time or replacing an | | | | |
| expired one is stressful. People who have | | | | Obtaining a guarantor's signature on the |
| been through this process have many tales of | | | | Canadian passport application is a must. |
| woe regarding the long waiting period at the | | | | Generally, a guarantor is a person who knows |
| government offices, scuttling to locate and | | | | you personally for not less than two years |
| get all the required forms, and then sweating | | | | and can verify the accuracy of your |
| over the application form for accuracy, else | | | | statements and documents supporting your |
| the submission gets delayed. | | | | Canadian passport application. In fact, the |
| | | | guarantor must also sign one of your passport |
| Going through such a process can undoubtedly | | | | size photographs too along with the documents |
| be hellish for those who have time | | | | supporting your identity and citizenship. |
| constraints. Following the below-mentioned | | | | |
| steps can however save you a lot of trouble | | | | Obtain a proof of your valid Canadian |
| and speed up the process resulting in quick | | | | citizenship - You need to have your birth |
| approval: | | | | certificate or that of your Canadian |
| | | | citizenship. In case you are born outside |
| Get your Canada passport application form - | | | | Canada, you may produce certificates of |
| These application forms are now available | | | | Canadian Citizenship, Naturalization, |
| online are interactive in nature. They guide | | | | Retention of Canadian Citizenship, or |
| the applicants through all the procedures | | | | Registration of Birth Abroad. |
| very well to minimize the possibilities of | | | | |
| errors and eliminate chances of omission. You | | | | Using a previous Canadian passport as |
| can also get them at a Canada postal outlet | | | | supporting identification - A previous |
| or passport service location. | | | | Canadian passport may be used a supporting |
| | | | identification provided that all of the |
| Take passport size photos - You need to take | | | | following conditions are met: the passport is |
| a passport size photograph and its two | | | | still valid or is year after its expiry date; |
| identical copies, not more than a year old. | | | | the passport itself is submitted with the |
| | | | application form; the name on the passport is |
| Get your form and photo identity cards signed | | | | the same as the one on the application, |
| by a guarantor - Just take a print out of the | | | | |
| form mentioned above and fill it accurately | | | | On average, the passport application process |
| checking all your queries online. You need to | | | | takes 10 days if you are applying in person |
| have at least one proof of your identity that | | | | and 20 days if you applied by mail. The |
| has your name and signature; the document | | | | Canadian government also provides urgent or |
| must have been issued to you by the | | | | express services for emergency or |
| provincial, federal, or municipal government. | | | | compassionate reasons on a case-by-case |
| One such document could be your provincial | | | | basis, applications must be in person and |
| driver's license. You must submit the | | | | submitted with a proof of emergency. |
| originals of all the documents along with | | | | |