The Canadian passport fees are set to increase as part of an effort by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration to revamp the pricing system, potentially leading to higher costs in the future. A recent order-in-council directs the government to link passport prices to the consumer price index (CPI), resulting in a 2.7% hike in passport fees effective March 31, reflecting the CPI rise in April 2024.
The new fees for Canadian applicants within the country will be $122.50, while a 10-year passport will cost $163.50. For those applying outside Canada, a 10-year passport will be priced at $266.25. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that the current fee structure of the passport program is insufficient to cover operational expenses due to a 14.5% CPI increase since the last fee adjustment, leading to a shortfall of approximately $121 million in the fiscal year 2024-25.
The department highlighted that various costs, such as employee salaries, processing expenses for domestic passport delivery, and IT costs, were not factored into the existing fee structure, accounting for around 85% of the program’s operational costs. The exact impact on passport costs after considering these expenses was not specified in the document.
NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan voiced concerns about the financial burden on Canadians, especially for residents in her Vancouver East constituency who struggle to afford passports. She criticized the government’s plan to revise passport prices, suggesting it aims to raise the cost of passport accessibility for everyday citizens.
Acknowledging that fee hikes may hinder certain groups from obtaining or renewing travel documents, the government highlighted that individuals with low incomes, large families, seniors, fixed-income earners, students, refugees, and vulnerable consular clients could be disproportionately affected. From January to November 2025, the government processed 4.19 million applications and issued about 4.02 million passports or other travel documents.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner expressed concerns about delays in passport processing experienced by her constituents, questioning the rationale behind increased fees for deteriorating services. The government faced challenges meeting the surging demand for passports in 2022 post-COVID-19, resulting in significant delays and service issues, leading to $40 million in fee refunds between Jan 31, 2023, and March 31, 2025.
Despite promises to improve service standards, including processing passports within 30 business days or offering them for free, the government has yet to implement these measures. A forthcoming Global Affairs order suggests potential implementation of these initiatives, aligning with efforts to enhance passport services and refund consular fees for delayed applications. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab did not respond to inquiries, prompting calls for accountability from critics like Jenny Kwan, who emphasized the importance of the government fulfilling its commitments to the public.