OTTAWA, March 13, 2026 — Canadians will face increased costs for travel documents starting March 31, as the federal government moves to adjust fees for inflation and rising production expenses. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) declared on Tuesday that this marks the first major adjustment in over a decade, noting that fees will now undergo annual updates to maintain service sustainability.
The government stated that a standard 10-year adult passport for domestic applicants will rise to $163.50, while a five-year document will cost $122.50. For families, the fee for a five-year child passport is set to increase to $58.50. IRCC maintained that these changes are necessary to ensure the continued security and quality of Canadian travel documents.
In a significant policy shift, the government affirmed that a new service accountability standard will take effect on April 1, 2026. Under this mandate, any complete application not processed within 30 business days will be handled free of charge.
“The service will be free if the 30-day processing timeline is exceeded,” the department asserted in its official announcement. Officials declared that refunds will be issued automatically to applicants in such cases, removing the need for individuals to file manual claims.
For Canadians living outside the country, the cost of a 10-year passport will jump to $266.25. The government also noted that additional charges for urgent pickups, holiday services, and temporary travel documents will be adjusted upward. Despite the new 30-day guarantee, current processing times remain at approximately 20 business days across various submission channels.
