A damaged Canadian passport may no longer be acceptable for travel. Damage can affect the passport’s physical condition, security features, or electronic chip and may cause problems when travelling.
If your Canadian passport has been damaged, Canada Passport Help can assist you with preparing and reviewing the appropriate replacement passport application, including PPTC 203 (opens in a new tab) when required, supporting documents, references, and passport photos, to help identify potential issues before submission.
How Do You Replace a Damaged Canadian Passport?
If your adult Canadian passport is damaged, you will need to renew your passport or apply for a new adult passport, depending on whether you meet the Government of Canada’s passport renewal requirements.
If you are eligible to renew, the renewal process is generally simpler because an adult passport renewal does not require a guarantor, proof of Canadian citizenship, or supporting identification.
If you are not eligible for renewal, you will generally need to apply for a new adult Canadian passport, which has additional documentation and guarantor requirements.
Canada Passport Help can review your circumstances and help identify which application process appears appropriate.
Do You Need PPTC 203 for a Damaged Canadian Passport?
If your damaged passport is still valid, you must submit PPTC 203 — Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Inaccessible, Damaged or Found Canadian Travel Document with your passport application.
If your damaged passport has already expired, you generally use the normal passport application process and do not need PPTC 203 solely because the expired passport was damaged.
Is There an Additional Government Fee for Replacing a Damaged Passport?
There is no additional CAD $45 lost-or-stolen passport fee solely because your passport is damaged.
If your damaged passport is still valid, the Government of Canada requires PPTC 203 with your application and the applicable regular passport fee.
The additional CAD $45 replacement fee applies to valid passports that are lost or stolen, not passports being replaced solely because they are damaged.
Can You Renew a Damaged Canadian Passport?
Yes. You may still be eligible to use the adult passport renewal process even though your passport is damaged.
You must meet the Government of Canada’s passport renewal requirements and provide the required information about your most recent passport.
If you are not eligible for renewal, you will generally need to apply for a new adult Canadian passport.
Canada Passport Help can review your circumstances and help identify which application process appears appropriate.
What Do You Need to Replace a Damaged Canadian Passport?
The documents you need depend on whether you qualify for an adult passport renewal or must submit a new adult passport application.
For an adult passport renewal, you will generally need:
- The required passport renewal application;
- PPTC 203 if your damaged passport is still valid;
- Two Canadian passport photos; and
- Two references who meet the Government of Canada requirements.
If you are not eligible for renewal and must apply for a new adult passport, additional requirements apply, including proof of Canadian citizenship, identification, and a guarantor.
Passport Photo Requirements
For a paper adult passport application or renewal, you must provide two identical, unaltered passport photos that meet Government of Canada specifications.
On the back of one photo, the photographer must write or stamp:
- The name of the photo studio or company;
- The complete address of the studio; and
- The date the photos were taken.
If you are eligible for an adult passport renewal, a guarantor is not required and your renewal photos do not need to be signed by a guarantor.
Canadian passport photo requirements differ from those of other countries. Canada Passport Help can help identify photo studios familiar with Canadian passport photo requirements and review your photos before submission.
How Canada Passport Help Can Assist
Replacing a damaged Canadian passport may involve additional forms and requirements beyond a standard passport application.
Our professional review is designed to help identify potential issues before you submit your application, including:
- Determining whether the adult renewal or new adult passport application appears appropriate;
- Preparing and reviewing PPTC 203, when required;
- Missing or incomplete information;
- Application errors or inconsistencies;
- Passport photo issues;
- Reference or guarantor issues, where applicable; and
- Missing supporting documentation.
Our objective is to help you prepare a complete, properly documented, and carefully reviewed damaged passport replacement application and reduce the risk of avoidable corrections or delays.
Frequently Asked Questions About Damaged Canadian Passports
Can I travel with a damaged Canadian passport?
A damaged passport may cause problems when travelling and may not be accepted by an airline, border authority, or immigration authority. If your passport is damaged, replacing it before travelling can help avoid problems associated with presenting a damaged travel document.
Can I renew a damaged Canadian passport?
Yes. You may still be eligible to use the adult passport renewal process if your passport is damaged, provided you meet the Government of Canada’s renewal requirements.
If you are not eligible for renewal, you will generally need to apply for a new adult Canadian passport.
Do I need PPTC 203 if my Canadian passport is damaged?
If your damaged passport is still valid, yes. You must submit PPTC 203 with your replacement passport application.
If the damaged passport has already expired, you generally do not need PPTC 203 solely because the expired passport was damaged.
Is there an extra $45 fee to replace a damaged Canadian passport?
No. The additional CAD $45 Government of Canada replacement fee applies to valid passports that are lost or stolen. It does not apply solely because a passport is damaged.
The regular applicable passport fee still applies.
More Questions?
For detailed information about damaged Canadian passports, passport renewals, new adult passport applications, references, guarantors, passport photos, and supporting documents, visit Canada Passport Help FAQs
Questions About Replacing a Damaged Canadian Passport?
Have a question about replacing your damaged Canadian passport or determining whether you may be eligible to renew?
Our team is available to help.
- Call: +1 (888) 808-0455
- Email: info@canadapassporthelp.ca
- Online: Contact Us