30 DAYS OR IT'S FREE: Canada rolls out passport processing guarantee
· Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — Your passport in 30 business days or it’s free.
That’s the new pledge being made by the federal government , meant to streamline passport processing and increase levels in service in light of recent increases to the cost of getting the important travel document.
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“While most passports are processed within our service standards, our new refund policy reflects our commitment to maintaining excellence in our passport delivery system,” said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab in a statement issued this week, adding that Canadians should come to expect reliable government services.
“As with all our services and programs, we’re focused on maximizing efficiency and making improvements that make a positive difference for people.”
Passport prices went up Wednesday
While passport demand fell by about 80% during the COVID-19 pandemic, travellers seeking to leave the country in the spring and summer of 2022 were faced with enormous delays — involving applicants camping overnight outside of passport offices and processing delays exceeding four months.
That backlog would persist until January 2023.
April 1 saw the price of a Canadian passport increase by $3.50, putting the cost of a 10-year regular adult passport at $163.50.
That makes a Canadian passport the ninth most expensive in the world — just ahead of Great Britain at about $153, but behind New Zealand’s approximately $176 passport.
The world’s most expensive passport can be had in Lebanon, where it costs $720 for one, with Turkey ($620) and Australia ($405) rounding out the top three.
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Some documents exempt from deadline
Prices for five-year adult Canadian passports also went up, increasing by $2.50 to $122.50 if processed within Canada.
The cost of regular five-year child passports increased by $1.50, to $58.50.
Service standards, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, are between 10 and 20 business days plus mailing time — but that depends on how and where the application is tendered.
The new policy does not apply to passport replacements, transfers or applications processed under exceptional circumstances, such as emergencies, natural disasters or labour stoppages, or to travel documents for child refugees or child identity certificates, which already come at a low cost.