Service Canada Promises Passport Renewals Within 30 Business Days or its Free.
Service Canada Introduces Six-Week Passport Renewal Guarantee—Or Your Money Back
Travelers looking to renew their passports now have a new guarantee from Service Canada: if the process takes longer than six weeks, applicants will receive a full refund of their passport fees.
The initiative, announced Friday by Citizens’ Services Minister Terry Beech, aims to reduce wait times for passports and other government services, including federal benefits and social insurance numbers (SINs).
“We are modernizing service delivery and improving the passport program to reduce wait times and costs while ensuring Canadians can access the support they need without unnecessary barriers,” said Parliamentary Secretary Stéphane Lauzon in a statement.
Addressing Post-Pandemic Backlogs
This guarantee comes in response to the backlog created by a surge in passport renewals during the post-pandemic period. A newly released Service Canada report revealed that passport offices struggled to handle demand, with incoming phone inquiries nearly quadrupling between 2021 and 2022.
In the 2021-22 fiscal year, Service Canada issued just 1.3 million passports—less than half the three million issued in 2018-19. Since then, the department has expanded resources, introduced online renewal options for eligible Canadians, and implemented automated information systems to streamline the process.
Currently, standard passport processing takes 20 business days (about four weeks), with some locations offering expedited two-week service. The new six-week guarantee provides an additional buffer, ensuring that applicants who do not receive their passports on time will get a refund.
Faster Service for Social Insurance Numbers and Benefits
Beyond passport processing, Service Canada is working to accelerate services across various federal programs, including employment insurance (EI), old age security, and the Canada Pension Plan.
“With new digital options like online passport renewals, SIN online, and digital credentials, Canadians can expect to spend less time in line or waiting on hold,” Beech said.
The Service Canada report highlights new initiatives to reduce in-person visits, including the SIN@Landing program, which allows newcomers to receive their SIN at the airport upon arrival. A planned expansion, SIN@Entry, could further streamline immigration processing and cut in-person visits to Service Canada Centres by up to 50%.
With these improvements, the government hopes to make federal services more accessible, reducing wait times and improving efficiency for Canadians.
