Travelling outside the country in 2023? Here’s what you should know about passports
Service Canada announces end of passport backlog and recommendations for travelers
Do you dream of flying to a foreign country? Make sure your passport is current.
Feb 1, 2023 5:41 PM ASTLast updated: Feb 1, 2023 5:41 PM
Canadians envisioning a sunny vacation down south or a short vacation to England should consider applying for a passport.
Service Canada is warning applicants that seasonal peaks will result in longer wait times for passes. The upcoming March break will increase lineups for passes. The first passports with a 10-year validity (issued in 2013) will also expire this year.
Passport approval times have improved since the backlogs reported last year.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANADIAN CITIZEN PASSPORTS NOW?
Canadians should apply for a passport before booking flights or hotels. The waiting time to receive the passes depends on the proximity and urgency of the trip.
The standard waiting time for passes is 10-20 business days plus shipping time.
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
The backlog was created in the wake of COVID-19. In the first two years of the pandemic, only 20 percent of the usual volume of passport applications was received.
However, since April 2022, when travel restrictions were eased, demand for passports has skyrocketed and Service Canada has received over 542,000 applications.
“As a result, some Canadians applying for a passport have had to endure long queues and lengthy delays,” said Karina Gould, the federal minister for families, children and social development, in a press release last week.
WHAT HAPPENS TO PASSPORT STAGES AND BACKORDERS?
To make passport services more accessible to applicants, the federal government has implemented triage systems in metropolitan areas, provided systems to prioritize time-sensitive applications, increased staff to deliver passports to over 2,600, established simplified renewal tools, and introduced appointment booking systems.
In last week’s statement, Gould said Service Canada now delivers passports 95 percent of the time within the 10- and 20-day destinations. She also said the backlog has been virtually eliminated.
Some important information for passport applicants. Natalia Tola
WHERE DO I GO TO RENEWAL IN HRM?
The Halifax passport office is located in the Trade Center Office Tower (1800 Argyle St., Suite 101, Halifax). Appointments for passes are available from 8am to 4pm
Service Canada recommends that those applying for a passport in 2023 should apply in person to reduce wait times. This is because applicants have their documents reviewed in person, rather than sending them by post and waiting for the documents to be returned.
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID?
Service Canada says seasonal peaks may mean longer waits for passes as the March break increases lineups. Applicants should plan more time.
The first passports with a 10-year validity (issued in 2013) will also expire this year.
Service Canada advises applicants to be very cautious about fraud. Information packs claiming to “speed up the process” of obtaining a passport should be avoided. All passport and other travel document forms are free. Use of unofficial or outdated forms will result in immediate rejection of a passport application.
ANY ADDITIONAL TIPS?
Shari Tucker, travel consultant for Love The Way You Travel, shared some quick tips that can take a lot of stress out of applicants.
“People need to look at the entry requirements for the destination they are visiting to determine how long their passport needs to be valid. A lot of people think if their passport hasn’t expired then they’re good to go. That’s definitely not the case,” Tucker said in an email.
Many countries require passports to be valid for 3-6 months. If the traveler’s passport is not valid for that period, “you will be refused boarding or denied entry into the country. Insurance doesn’t cover it, and airlines, tours, or cruises don’t reimburse for that reason,” Tucker said.
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