Passport emergency happen quite often and the excitement of your vacation can cause you to forget to check the expiry date on your passport. In some cases, the passport may not even be where you last placed it. If you ever run into a situation where your passport is expired, lost or stolen, there are a few options to pursue in order to renew your passport or apply for a new one on short notice.
You must have a valid passport in order to travel internationally and an expired passport will never be accepted, even if you have other documents that state your identity. It is generally recommended that you renew your passport six months before the expiry date or before so that you don’t run into any problems and leave yourself with enough time to receive your new passport. Some countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months; otherwise, they may not allow you entry, so giving yourself enough time is always the best option.
Processing times for passport applications submitted in Canada take anywhere between ten to twenty business days, but if you need your passport sooner there are two options you can consider, including urgent services and express services, both of which require you to apply in person at select passport office locations. If you select urgent services, your passport can be ready for pick up by the end of the next business day, but you will be required to pay a fee in addition to the passport costs. If you select express services, your passport can be ready for pick up within two to nine business days and you will be required to pay a fee in addition to the passport costs, although it will be less than the fee charged for urgent services.
In order to use urgent services, you will have to provide proof of travel and this may also apply for express service as well. Proof of travel includes an airline, bus or train ticket, travel itinerary showing proof of payment, proof of illness or death in the family requiring immediate travel or a written declaration if traveling by car. Additional proof may be required to show that your situation is urgent, depending on the reason for your travel, and you will have to provide a completed application form and any other necessary documents.
A guarantor is mandatory when applying for a new passport because it is a security measure that can confirm your identity and they must have known you for a minimum of two years. If these criteria cannot be met by anyone you know, there is a statutory declaration form you can complete, which must be sworn to before and signed by a notary public and Wendy Fuller Notary Public in Vancouver can help. We provide notary services, so if you need to get one signed in lieu of a guarantor, give our office a call today and we will schedule an appointment!
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