The Government of Canada has announced an increase in passport and travel document fees starting March 31, 2026, marking the first adjustment to these charges in more than a decade. The changes were confirmed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which says the revision is necessary to keep up with inflation and the rising costs associated with producing secure travel documents.
According to the government, the fee adjustments will be relatively small in most cases, increasing by only a few dollars. However, some services especially urgent processing will see a more noticeable rise.
For Canadians applying within the country, the cost of a 10-year adult passport will increase from $160 to $163.50. A five-year adult passport will go up from $120 to $122.50, while the price for a five-year child passport will rise slightly from $57 to $58.50.
Canadians living abroad will also see higher charges. The fee for a 10-year adult passport issued outside Canada will increase from $260 to $266.25. A five-year adult passport will cost $194.25 instead of the current $190, and a child passport will rise from $100 to $102.50.
Other travel documents are also affected by the adjustment. The price for an adult refugee travel document will increase from $120 to $122.50. Meanwhile, the fee for an adult certificate of identity will climb from $260 to $266.25.
Processing services for urgent passport requests will see larger increases. The “urgent” processing fee will rise from $110 to $125.75. Additionally, passports that must be processed on weekends or statutory holidays will now cost $383.50, up from the current $335.
The federal government explained that the updates are being made in line with the Service Fees Act, which allows certain government service charges to be adjusted annually based on inflation. This means passport and travel document fees could see further changes in the future.
Alongside the price increase, Ottawa is introducing a new service guarantee aimed at improving efficiency and accountability in passport processing.
Beginning April 1, 2026, complete passport applications will be processed within 30 business days. If the government fails to meet this timeline, applicants will automatically receive a refund of their passport fee.
Officials say the new policy is designed to make the passport application process more predictable and reliable for Canadians. The service guarantee was first announced by the federal government in March 2025 as part of efforts to improve service standards.
With travel demand continuing to grow, the government says the fee adjustments and service improvements will help ensure Canadians continue to receive secure and timely passport services.
