Cost of renewing your Cdn passport now that you live in the US

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I was back in Canada on vacation last week and renewed my passport since there is an office in our town (instead of mailing it).

I have to say that the $260 cost ($160 fee for 10 yr renewal + $100 because it was to be mailed back to the US) is exorbitant and a major cash grab for the CDN government....had I opted to pick it up from the office a few days later I wouldn't have paid the additional $100...but by the time they could have had it ready, I was already travelling back home. There is no way though that it costs them $100 to throw it in a FedEx envelope signature required. When I received it today, it was literally just placed in a small envelope...nothing fancy or any additional paperwork included.

Thanks goodness it is good for 10 yrs; by then I will have gotten over my annoyance when I have to renew it again!

[fellaamazing 72]

Ugh! You are right.. I was told about this $100 US mailing fee when I went there to apply for my son's passport in later half of 2013. My son's passport mailing cost was like $60 being minor. My passport for 5 years earlier in 2013 didn't cost that much.

I always go to Canada since I live close to the border for passport renewals. Specially for getting a right picture.. (Add about $24 for that).

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yep - Walmart in Canada charged about $24 this time around to do my passport photos - don't forget + HST!

[Manzan76 6]

I just renewed my passport while in Canada last month. Total cost was $210 ($160 for the 10-year passport and $50 for 2-day turnaround). I think my passport photos were $12 at Shoppers.

[NikLR 13,220]

Looks like paying the quick turn around fee is the better deal! Mine expires in 2017 so I'll have to plan a Canada trip that year.

Why do you still keep a Canadian passport Udella? Or is it for getting your kids their stuff?

[fellaamazing 72]

Yeah.. Shoppers does it cheaper.

Did you pick up passport, or did they ship it to Canadian address?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

It was shipped to my US addess.

NLR - why wouldn't I maintain a Cdn passport? I like travelling in on my Cdn passport My daughter is a dual citizen as.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Udella&Wiz

[NikLR 13,220]

It was shipped to my US addess.

NLR - why wouldn't I maintain a Cdn passport? I like travelling in on my Cdn passport My daughter is a dual citizen as.

I've just read on the forum that many people don't bother so I was curious. Personal preference it is then!

[Teddy B 17,251]

Yep - Walmart in Canada charged about $24 this time around to do my passport photos - don't forget + HST!

The Walmart passport photo deal is a rip off. They include in the price a protective cover for your new passport and give it to you without asking if you even want it. They did this to my wife last month in Windsor. We were walking out of the store and back to the car when I noticed the protective cover in my wife's hand, I asked her what it was and she said they just handed it to her with the photos and charged her $24. I wanted to go back in and tell them she never asked for the protective cover and shouldn't be charged for it, but we were pressed for time and just left. We saw plenty of other places that offered Canadian passport photos for around $10 with no cover. We were able to avoid the $100 mailing fee because we expedited and picked up while we were there. Total cost including photos was right around $200.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I got mine done at a little convenience store in Toronto. I believe it was within the $8-10 range, no tax. They did a great job and even allowed me to approve the photo first.

[Manzan76 6]

I applied on a Thursday and picked it up on a Monday.

Flight back to US was Tuesday - they tried to have me pick up on Tuesday, but I said I needed my passport at least 24 hours prior in order to check in for my flight.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yep - I wish I had gone in a day earlier because then it could have been ready before we were leaving. The lady really wanted me to avoid the extra $100 which was nice of her I thought.

I applied on a Thursday and picked it up on a Monday.

Flight back to US was Tuesday - they tried to have me pick up on Tuesday, but I said I needed my passport at least 24 hours prior in order to check in for my flight.

[tdotca 41]

Costco is the cheapest. You can use your Costco card in both Canada and US.

[fellaamazing 72]

I know shoppers is cheapest. Costco requires membership. But Blacks charged me $24, and they took really good picture. I am the person who avoids wallmart at any cost. Didn't know they were ripping people off on passport photos.