Passport Renewal Questions

[warlord 73]

Ok, so have done this a few times in the past, but things change so need to verify a few things.

First years ago, we always had to have a guarantor for the passport and had to be a Canadian with a lot of requirements. That finally got changed to allow US citizens to qualify if they were notary, doctors, etc that knew you for 2 years.

Now it seems you only need the guarantor if you are applying for a new passport only and if you are renewing a passport, you just need two people regardless of jobs to be your reference and they can be anyone.

Is this correct that I don't need anything more than just 2 references? Do they need to sign the back of my photos at all (as the guarantor used to have to do)?

Secondly since I'm going up to Canada and going to be in Montreal for a day, I was thinking of getting my photos done here (there's a good place that does Canada style photos) and then get the application all set up and then hand deliver it with my credit card (can't use personal checks it states) at the main passport office in Montreal.

Can I just walk into that main office (Tour Ouest, 200 René-Lévesque Blvd W) and do this and then have the passport sent to my home address back here in the US?

Just want to make sure I get things in order so I don't wind up missing something and then having to mail the whole thing from the US again since I'll already be in Canada and it will make things easier.

(Oh and since I'm an American with dual citizenship, I don't need the Canadian passport to get home as I will have my US one)...

[S & P 10]

My Husband is getting ready to renew his Canadian passport as well.

We are planning on driving to Windsor to the Service Canada office, they have a place to get passport photos in the same building, can't find one here near us in the US to do the photos right.

From everything I have researched, you indeed only need two references (anyone not related to you, known you for 2 years)

The only info needed on the back of your photos is the name and address of the professional photographer and the date the photos were taken, no signatures required.

Also, from my understanding of what the application says, even if you are applying IN Canada, but are having your passport sent to you in the USA, you have to pay the higher fee $190 5 year, $260 10 year, not real clear if you can have the passport mailed to a relative in Canada and pay the cheaper fees.

Edited June 16, 2016 by S & P

[warlord 73]

Thanks, that's what I figured as well as there's no need for a guarantor anymore as it used to be. And yes found out filling out the forms and realizing that it does cost a hell of a lot more to send them back here than to a Canadian address. Luckily I still have a few connections up there and will just send it to that Canadian address and they can send it to me for a lot cheaper.

I found a local camera shop here that actually advertises Canadian passport photos and it's one of the very few in town that does it for $15. Another one does them, but takes a day to process and costs $35. Mine was done in 10 mins and they had all the rules of what they needed to do. So luckily got that taken care of in advance as it would have been more expensive probably in Canada to get them done.

Glad the passport thing has gotten easier, before you had to have a Canadian to sign and vouch for you which for me was next to impossible as I hadn't lived in Canada for over a decade at the time and didn't know anyone. My dad got a veterinary friend to sign it for me. That was a royal pain...