Canadian passports, travel documents set to increase costs

Starting from March 31, 2026, fees for Canadian passports and other travel documents are set to increase slightly, making it the first change to passport pricing since 2013.

 

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), most costs will rise by a few dollars, though certain urgent services will see more significant hikes.

The Canadian government stated that these adjustments are necessary to account for inflation and the rising costs of service delivery, in line with the Service Fees Act.

Read also:Nigeria among 10 countries that allow dual citizenship with Canada
Price adjustments

Under the Service Fees Act, the government may now update these fees annually to reflect economic shifts.

Applications within Canada:
10-year adult passport: Increasing from $160 to $163.50.
5-year adult passport: Increasing from $120 to $122.50.
5-year child passport: Increasing from $57 to $58.50.

Applications outside Canada:
10-year adult passport: Increasing from $260 to $266.25.

5-year adult passport: Increasing from $190 to $194.25.

5-year child passport: Increasing from $100 to $102.50.

Specialised documents and urgent services:

Refugee travel document (Adult): Increasing from $120 to $122.50.

Certificate of Identity (Adult): Increasing from $260 to $266.25.

Urgent processing fee: Increasing from $110 to $125.75.

Weekend/Statutory holiday processing: Increasing from $335 to $383.50.

The Government of Canada explained the reasoning behind the price hike on its official website:

“Canadians rely on secure, timely passport services when they need to travel. To continue delivering reliable service and keep pace with rising costs, most passport and travel document fees will increase on March 31, 2026. The adjustment reflects inflation and the growing cost of producing secure travel documents and supporting Canadians throughout the application process.”

Read also:Canada faces wave of visa expiries as over four million temporary permits lapse in 2025 and 2026

New service guarantee
Alongside the higher costs, the government is introducing a new accountability measure. Starting April 1, 2026, the federal government has committed to a 30-day processing guarantee.
The Government of Canada stated:

“In order to provide a simpler and more predictable experience for Canadians, the Government of Canada is strengthening accountability and efficiency for passport services. Starting April 1, 2026, complete passport applications will be processed within 30 business days or they will be free.”

If the IRCC fails to meet this deadline, refunds will be issued automatically to the applicants without the need for a formal request. This guarantee was originally proposed in March 2025 following previous backlogs in the renewal process.