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