CANADIAN PASSPORTS
The Step-by-Step Guide on the Passport Canada home page walks you through the passport process for adults, children under 16 and for Canadians in other countries. The passport fee is currently $87 for adults and it’s good for 5
years. The best method of obtaining or renewing a passport is to attend a BC Passport Location in person:
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Victoria Bay Centre - Level 4 1150 Douglas Street
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Vancouver - Suite 241 Sinclair Centre 757 Hastings Street West
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Richmond (English only) - Suite 310 5611 Cooney Road
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Surrey (English only) - Suite 900 13401-108th Avenue
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Kelowna - Suite 110 Capri Centre 1835 Gordon Drive
Processing times in person are approximately 10 business days.
Mail and courier are options too, but the process takes about twice as long:
BY MAIL
Passport Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Gatineau QC K1A 0G3
CANADA
BY COURIER
Passport Canada
22 de Varennes Building
22 de Varennes Street
Gatineau QC J8T 8R1
CANADA
Simplified Renewal Application
Process (PDF)
A simplified renewal process is now available for Canadians who already have a passport. Renewal applicants are not required to submit documentary evidence of citizenship, supplementary identification or get the signature of a guarantor. However, applicants must submit their most recent passport, the required fee and two new photographs. The photographs do not need to be signed, as a guarantor is not required.
The name and address of the commercial photographer or studio, as well as the date the photos were taken, must be provided on the back of one photo.
First Time Passport Application
(PDF)
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All THREE (3) pages of the application form completed and signed within the last 12 months.
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TWO (2) identical passport photos taken within the last 12 months.
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Application form and one of the photos certified by your guarantor.
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Proof of Canadian citizenship (original only,
see below).
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The fee ($87 in 2011)
For applications received on or after February 1, 2011, for Canadians born in Canada, only the following proof of citizenship documents will be accepted to support a general or child’s passport application:
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“Birth certificate” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
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“Certificate of birth” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
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Certificat de naissance” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency; or
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“Certificate of citizenship” issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Simplified renewal applications are not impacted by this requirement.
Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are available from the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the province or territory of your birth. For more information on how to obtain a birth certificate, contact your
Canadian Vital Statistics
Office.
CANADA CUSTOMS
You must declare everything you acquire abroad regardless
of who it's for. Keep receipts to prove the price and calculate the
conversion to Canadian dollars. Exemptions
are determined in days by the Canada
Border Services Agency. You do not count the day you leave Canada,
but you include the day you come back
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24 Hours - You can claim up to CAN$50 worth of
goods without paying any duties. This is your personal exemption. You
must have the goods with you when you arrive in Canada and you cannot
include tobacco products or alcoholic beverages in this exemption. If
the goods you bring in are worth more than CAN$50 in total, you cannot
claim this exemption. Instead, you have to pay full duties on all
goods you bring in.
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48 Hours - You can claim up to CAN$400 worth of
goods without paying any duties. You must have the goods with you when
you arrive in Canada. Although you can include some tobacco products
and alcoholic beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes,
tobacco products and manufactured tobacco.
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7 Days - You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. Although you can include some
tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products and manufactured tobacco. With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive.
VISA APPLICATIONS
Cruise companies make visa arrangements on behalf of their passengers to enter countries where cruise ship excursions are
running. If you are traveling on your own,
visas are your own personal responsiblity. You can frequently pay for visas at the airport as you enter a country. US cash seems to
resolve visa issues reasonably quickly. In order to guarantee your ability to enter a country, purchasing a visa in advance can reduce stress
and simplify your travel. The best source for information on Visa requirements is the
International Visa Passport Service Corp. They have a database of visa requirements that is
easy to search. It gets more costly to use this approach but is worth it
to be able to confirm travel itineraries. Other sources to use are Visa
Universe and Visa
HQ
Don't take any chances with your trip to Brazil. A
visa is absolutely required in advance. Visiting the Argentinian
side of Iguazu Falls and hoping to arrange a visa to the Brazilian side at
the border crossing? It's not going to happen!
Here’s an example of options for Tanzania, which requires a visa:
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Obtain a visa at the airport on upon your arrival for $50 US cash.
Very chaotic and time consuming, as most passengers don't have visas
and only two staff were available to process them. I chose this
option and regretted it.
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Obtain a visa from the Tanzanian consulate in Ottawa by mailing them an application, your passport and a $75 Cdn money order.
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Obtain a visa by mailing an application and your passport to IVPSC.com and they will charge your credit card $170 Canadian.
You are guaranteed your paperwork is completed properly.
