What is a Canadian passport?

A Canadian passport is the official travel document issued by the federal government to Canadian citizens. It identifies the holder as a Canadian citizen, requests safe passage from foreign authorities, and is the only document accepted for international travel from Canada to most destinations. Canadian passports are administered under the federal Royal Prerogative as exercised through the Canadian Passport Order (PC 1981-1472) and the federal Passport Canada agency within Service Canada.

The current Canadian passport is the Series K e-Passport, introduced in 2013 with embedded biometric chip technology compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The 10-year adult passport (introduced October 1, 2013) and the 5-year adult passport remain the two main options for adults aged 16 or older; passports for children under 16 are valid for up to 5 years. Adult passport fees are $160 for the 10-year and $120 for the 5-year. The Canadian passport ranks consistently among the world's most powerful, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 185 countries.

Eligibility requires Canadian citizenship. Applicants must provide proof of citizenship (a birth certificate for those born in Canada, a citizenship certificate for naturalised citizens), supporting identification, two passport-format photos, the application form, the fee, and (for first-time applicants) the names of two guarantors. Children's applications require additional parental consent. Renewal of an existing valid Canadian passport (issued after January 31, 2002, with no name changes) uses the simpler renewal application without guarantors.

The right to a Canadian passport is closely linked to the section 6 Charter mobility rights of Canadian citizens. Sections 9 and 10 of the Canadian Passport Order allow refusal or revocation of a passport in narrow circumstances including outstanding criminal warrants, child-support arrears in some provinces, and (since 2015 amendments) on grounds of preventing terrorist activity or organised crime. Kamel v. Canada (Attorney General) (2009) held that revocation of a passport engages section 6 Charter rights. The federal government also issues the Certificate of Identity (a non-citizen travel document) and the Refugee Travel Document under international conventions.