Canadian Passport Fee Increase & 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: What You Need to Know
Two significant changes are coming to Canadian passport services within weeks of each other. Fees are going up for the first time since 2013, and a long-promised money-back guarantee on processing times finally has a confirmed start date.
Part 1: Passport Fee Increase — March 31, 2026
On March 3, 2026, IRCC announced that passport and travel document fees will increase effective March 31, 2026. This is the first update to passport fees since 2013 — over 13 years. The adjustment reflects inflation and rising costs of producing secure travel documents.
Going forward, fees will be adjusted annually under the Service Fees Act to keep pace with inflation — so these increases will continue year over year.
New Fee Schedule (Applications received on or after March 31, 2026)
| Document Type | Current | New (Mar 31+) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-year adult passport (in Canada) | $160.00 | $163.50 |
| 5-year adult passport (in Canada) | $120.00 | $122.50 |
| 5-year child passport (in Canada) | $57.00 | $58.50 |
| 10-year adult passport (outside Canada) | $260.00 | $266.25 |
| 5-year adult passport (outside Canada) | $190.00 | $194.25 |
| 5-year child passport (outside Canada) | $100.00 | $102.50 |
| Temporary passport | $110.00 | $125.75 |
| Interim passport | $135.00 | $150.75 |
| Adult certificate of identity | $260.00 | $266.25 |
| Adult refugee travel document | $120.00 | $122.50 |
If you plan to apply soon, submitting before March 31 will lock in the current fees. See the full fee list on Canada.ca →
Part 2: 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee — April 1, 2026
Starting April 1, 2026, complete passport applications not processed within 30 business days will receive an automatic full refund of passport fees. No action is required from applicants — refunds are issued automatically.
The government first announced this initiative in March 2025, originally targeting a 2025 rollout, but the deadline was missed. The April 1, 2026 date was confirmed by IRCC on March 3, 2026.
Which Application Types Are Covered?
- Adult 5-year and 10-year passports (in Canada and from abroad)
- Child regular passport (in Canada)
- Temporary passport
- Adult refugee travel documents
- Adult certificates of identity
The guarantee applies regardless of submission method: online, in person, or by mail.
How Refunds Are Issued
- Within Canada or from the US: Cheque sent to the mailing address on file.
- Outside Canada or the US: Refunded by credit card (if used), or via cheque or electronic funds transfer.
What Is NOT Refundable
- $25 consular fee for adult applications (collected on behalf of Global Affairs Canada)
- Fees for urgent or expedited passport services
- Transfer fees, urgent or express pick-up fees
- Applications for child certificates of identity and child refugee travel documents
Current Partial Refund Policy (Before April 1)
Under the existing policy, partial refunds are available if processing exceeds service standards:
| Processing Delay | Refund |
|---|---|
| 1–10 business days outside service standards | 25% of service fee |
| More than 10 business days outside service standards | 50% of service fee |
The Bottom Line
For most Canadians, the fee increase is modest — roughly $2–$4 more for a standard passport. But the shift to annual adjustments means costs will continue to rise each year going forward.
The money-back guarantee is a more meaningful change. It gives the government a financial incentive to meet its own processing timelines and provides real relief to Canadians who experienced long waits during peak periods like the post-pandemic backlog of 2022. If your application runs late after April 1, you'll be refunded automatically — no claim required.