Canadian passport fees just went up but you could get your passport for free

Fees for a Canadian passport just increased, but you could get the travel document for free with a new refund guarantee.

If you’re applying for or renewing a passport soon, here’s what you need to know.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shared details about recent updates to passport services, including increased fees and a “30 days or free” guarantee.

Travel document and passport fee changes aligned with inflation and service delivery costs came into effect on March 31, 2026.

These are the new fees for Canadians submitting and mailing passport applications in Canada:

• $58.50 for a child passport
• $122.50 for a five-year adult passport
• $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport

That’s a $1.50 increase for a child passport, a $2.50 increase for a five-year adult passport and a $3.50 increase for a 10-year adult passport.

Fees also went up for Canadians who are picking up their passport or receiving it by mail outside of Canada. These are the new fees:

• $102.50 for a child passport
• $194.25 for a five-year adult passport
• $266.25 for a 10-year adult passport

That’s a $2.50 increase for a child passport, a $4.25 increase for a five-year adult passport and a $6.25 increase for a 10-year adult passport.

Also, as of April 1, 2026, there is a new “30 days or free” guarantee for passport processing.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that applicants will get a full refund of the passport or travel document fee if it takes more than 30 business days to process their application.

Refunds will be issued automatically, so you don’t have to apply for a refund or request your money back.

Processing time starts when a complete application is received and ends when the passport or travel document is printed and verified. It doesn’t include mailing time.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said this new guarantee gives “a clear and consistent standard for applicants” regardless of how they apply.

Typically, service standards for passport applications are between 10 and 20 business days, depending on the type of Service Canada location you apply at or if you apply at an embassy, at a consulate or through the mail.

The new “30 days or free” guarantee doesn’t apply to:

• some administrative services, such as replacement, transfer, or true certified copy fees, or for child refugee travel documents and child certificates of identity
• urgent and express services (which have separate and shorter timelines)
• applications processed in exceptional circumstances that may impact operations

This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.