Getting a Canadian Passport for your Baby
Does my baby have to have a passport?
It is recommended that anyone travelling outside of Canada have a valid passport, and this is even true for your baby. A passport is required in many countries and you should check with your travel destinations if you do not plan on having a passport for your baby.
In order to get a valid passport for your child you must:
- Obtain and complete a form for children under 16 years of age (available at www.ppt.gc.ca)
- Have proof of Canadian citizenship for the baby (e.g. Birth certificate)
- Have 2 identical passport photos of the child taken by a commercial photographer
- It is often difficult to have passport photos taken of children under 1 year old. A full front view of the babies’ head and shoulders is required and parent’s hands or arms may not be seen in the picture. Passport Canada states that they are lenient about the expression of a newborn.
- I would call ahead to the photo studio where you are planning on having your child’s photo taken and ask if they routinely take baby passport photos. If they do not you should not go there, as you do not want to go through the work of having the picture taken, standing in line at the passport office to be told that the picture is not acceptable.
- If you have a low chair that helps your child to sit up (e.g. Bumbo chair) this may help at the photo studio. The chair cannot be visible in the picture.
- Have a guarantor sign the form and one of the photos
- A guarantor must be a Canadian Citizen who has known you (the parent/guardian) for at least 2 years
- They must also be in a profession meeting certain criteria set out by the government of Canada which includes such professions as medical doctor, dentist, lawyer and mayor (a full list is included on the passport form)
- Submit the form, ID, photos and payments at a passport office or mail it in to the address on the form
- The fee for a 3 year Canadian passport for children under the age of three is $22
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