Getting Your Baby A Canadian Passport

October 26, 2021 Natalie Preddie

For world travel, you will inevitably need a passport and so will your baby. When I was younger, I travelled on my mother’s passports, both Canadian and United Kingdom. Now, children and infants must have their own passports which lasts for at least 5 years. Personally, I think this is silly. Children change so much from 0 – 5 years that a picture might not remain a reliable form of identification the entire time. For example, as an infant, I looked like a shrivelled Kim Jong Ung but by five, I started to resemble a reasonably cute little munchkin…or so I’m told.

Regardless, rules are rules and your infant will need a passport.

Getting Your Baby A Canadian Passport

You can download the passport application form here and apply either my mail or in person at your nearest passport application office.
You will also need:

• Proof of your child’s Canadian citizenship (long‐form birth certificate or citizenship certificate)
• Two identical passport photos (the name and address of the photographer and the date the photos were taken must be included on the back of one of the photos. Read the full requirements for more information) One photo needs to be signed by the guarantor.
• Proof of parentage or proof of legal guardianship (if applicable).
• All documents that refer to the custody of, mobility of, or access to the child.
• Any valid Canadian passport or travel document issued in the child’s name.

Passport Photo

You will need to get your infants passport photo taken at a studio that specializes in infant passport pictures. There are 19 rules and unique specification for passport photos which can make it tricky to get the perfect shot, especially with a baby. Use a commercial photographer who knows the rules and will automatically know what your passport application will require. There are many passport photography options: We chose Wal‐Mart but you can also
visit Sears or Shopper’s Drug Mart.
If you apply for your child’s passport in person, you can pick it up from a passport office. When you apply, you will receive a receipt and a date for pick up. Alternatively, the passport can be sent to you via mail. It can take anywhere from 2‐8 weeks to recieve your baby’s passport so ensure that you consider that time before planning your first trip with baby.

For more information, visit: cic.gc.ca/english/passport/child/

Good luck and happy travel planning!

For more family travel tips, visit Natty P’s website

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