December 18, 2013
For Canadians Living Abroad
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, recently announced changes to the Canadian passport application process. For Canadian citizens living and working outside of Canada, the criteria for selecting a guarantor will now be consistent with requirements for those living within Canada. The intention, the Minister says, is to simplify the process of finding a guarantor.
A guarantor can be any adult holding a valid or recently expired (within 12 months) Canadian passport. Alternately, an applicant living in Canada or abroad can now select from the same universal guarantor list. This list includes members of the following professions:
- Medical Doctor
- Veterinarian
- Dentist
- University or College Dean
- Lawyer/Notary
- Notary/Public
- Judge
- Pharmacist
- Police Officer
- Signing Officer of a full service banking institution or trust company
These professionals do not themselves need to be Canadian citizens. This is a measure that will make it easier for Canadians abroad to find a qualifying guarantor for their passport applications and renewals.
Back in July 2013, Canada also introduced the option of applying for passports valid for either 5 or 10 years. The popularity of the new 10 year passport will ideally reduce the volume of Canadian passport renewals needing to be processed. Needing to apply for a passport less often may prove more convenient for many Canadians who live and work abroad.