Canada: Passport Changes – July 1st, 2013
An update on recent developments related to Canada’s passport program.
1. Responsibility for passport program shifts departments July 2: On May 8, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley announced that effective July 2, 2013, primary responsibility for Passport Canada will move to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This move is in line with the duties CIC already performs, such as determining Canadian citizenship. Service Canada will assume responsibility for passport operations, including the 34 passport offices across the country and the call centres.
2. Deployment of the 10-year ePassport July 1: The new 36-page ePassport will be available to Canadians through all service channels as of July 1, 2013. Applicants age 16 and over will also have the option of applying for a 5-year or 10-year passport. Continue reading →