If you’ve been putting off that passport renewal, you might want to act fast, as higher fees for Canadian travel documents are officially kicking in this week.
Starting March 31, 2026, most passport and travel document services will see a price increase, marking the first time fees have been adjusted in over a decade. The federal government announced that the hike is a response to rising operational costs and the need to keep up with inflation to maintain secure service standards.
The New Price Breakdown
While the jump isn’t huge for standard renewals, every dollar counts when you’re budgeting for your next getaway.
Here is what you can expect to pay for applications made within Canada starting Tuesday:
- 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
If you are in a rush, take note: the cost for Urgent Pickup is seeing a more significant spike, jumping from $110 to $125.75. For those who need emergency service on a weekend or statutory holiday, the fee is climbing to $383.50.
A New Service Guarantee
There is a silver lining to the price hike, however. To balance the extra cost, the Government of Canada is introducing a new accountability measure beginning April 1.
Under this new policy, any complete passport application that isn’t processed within 30 business days will be free. If the government misses that window, applicants will receive an automatic refund, meaning you won’t even have to lift a finger to get your money back.
Timing Your Application
If you’re applying in person or online, the fee you pay is based on the day you submit. However, if you’re sending your documents by mail, be careful: the new fees apply based on when the application is received by the office, not when you postmark it.
After this initial jump, Canadians should get used to seeing small shifts in pricing more often. Moving forward, passport fees will be adjusted annually to stay in line with the Consumer Price Index.
