Passport Renewal Question

[me_dennis]

My passport has expired and I have completed the Simplified Renewal Forms. I got 2 new photos taken, but I am not sure if I need to have the new photos signed by a Guarantor. Does anyone know if I need to have the photos signed? If so, I heard that Alberta Registry will sign the photos for me, can anyone confirm this?

Thanks in advance!

[ken0042]

I believe they still need a guarantor. But now it can be anybody you have known for 2 years who holds a valid Canadian passport. It no longer has to be doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief, etc.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I believe they still need a guarantor. But now it can be anybody you have known for 2 years who holds a valid Canadian passport. It no longer has to be doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief, etc.

Thanks. I was looking at the website, and I read this:

Family members and those residing at the same address as yourself may be your guarantor provided he or she meets the specified requirements. Please note however that if you are the parent or legal guardian applying for a passport for your child, you cannot act as guarantor.

So from what I gather, my sister can sign my photo as long as she has a valid passport?

[arsenal]

I thought you had to renew your passport 6 months before it expires, otherwise you have to have to apply for a new one.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by arsenal

I thought you had to renew your passport 6 months before it expires, otherwise you have to have to apply for a new one.

Nope, as long as it has expired within the past 6 years.

To be eligible to participate in this project, an applicant must

• live in Canada,
• have been at least 16 years of age at the time of their previous application,
• have a passport that is still valid or has expired within the last 12 months,
• have a 5-year-validity passport issued within the last six years in Canada, that has not been altered or damaged, or reported as lost or stolen,
• have lived in Canada when their last passport was issued, and
• apply using the same name that appears on the personal information page (page 2) of the previous passport.

[onetwo_threefour]

It's actually funny. I am a lawyer and used to do passport stuff for people all the time, but do not have a passport and now I can't be a guarantor anymore...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by arsenal

I thought you had to renew your passport 6 months before it expires, otherwise you have to have to apply for a new one.

No, but some countries won't let you enter if your passport expires within 6 months of your attempted entry.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

Thanks. I was looking at the website, and I read this:

Family members and those residing at the same address as yourself may be your guarantor provided he or she meets the specified requirements. Please note however that if you are the parent or legal guardian applying for a passport for your child, you cannot act as guarantor.

So from what I gather, my sister can sign my photo as long as she has a valid passport?

correct. I acted as my brothers guarantor.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

Nope, as long as it has expired within the past 6 years.

To be eligible to participate in this project, an applicant must

• live in Canada,
• have been at least 16 years of age at the time of their previous application,
• have a passport that is still valid or has expired within the last 12 months,
• have a 5-year-validity passport issued within the last six years in Canada, that has not been altered or damaged, or reported as lost or stolen,
• have lived in Canada when their last passport was issued, and
• apply using the same name that appears on the personal information page (page 2) of the previous passport.

That means it can only be expired by 1 year, not 6.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That means it can only be expired by 1 year, not 6.

oops I meant to say valid for 6 years

[Staypuft]

I didn't need a guarantor for anything when I got my passport 3 months ago.
Take that for what you will.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by getbak

No, but some countries won't let you enter if your passport expires within 6 months of your attempted entry.

Also valid for Canadians returning to Canada attempting to enter the country with less than 6 months left on their passport.

[coaster]

I just renewed my passport as well and did not need a signature on my photo. They probably just use your last photo as reference.
BTW It took less than 2 weeks to get it back.

[FurnaceFace]

Government no longer requires a guarantor with professional designation to sign the pics. Last line below explains it all:

New Guarantor Policy

On October 1, 2007, Passport Canada will introduce a simpler guarantor policy, which will allow most Canadian adult passport holders to act as guarantors.
Under this new policy, to be a guarantor, a passport holder:

• Must hold a five-year Canadian passport that is valid or has been expired for no more than one year,
• May be a family member,
• May reside at the same address as the applicant,
• Must have known the applicant for at least two years, and
• Must be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older and must have been 16 years of age or older when they applied for their own passport.

By moving to a Canadian passport holder criterion for guarantor declarations, Passport Canada will be able to verify guarantor information from its own database, and will not have to rely on occupational directories.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20070608d.aspx?lang=eng

[OzSome]

I thought there was a no thing that you don't need to have a guarantor to sign the back of your pictures anymore. When I applied for my passport I was reading the pamphlet that effective October I believed that you no longer require to have a guarantor.

[megatron]

I'm in the process of renewing my passport as well and reading the Simplified Renewal Form, I didn't see anything regarding getting a guarantor to sign your passport pictures. Maybe I missed something?

[Rubber Ducky]

I just went to the Harry Hays building last Thursday to renew my passport. I arrived around 11 AM, and was out the door at 11:05 AM. It was the least painful government office trip I've ever had.

I filled out the paperwork online, printed the paperwork, took that plus my old passport and 2 photos, and voila, renewal complete.

Oh, and pay your 82 bucks. 82 bucks to renew a passport. Sheesh.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Rubber Ducky

I just went to the Harry Hays building last Thursday to renew my passport. I arrived around 11 AM, and was out the door at 11:05 AM. It was the least painful government office trip I've ever had.

I filled out the paperwork online, printed the paperwork, took that plus my old passport and 2 photos, and voila, renewal complete.

Oh, and pay your 82 bucks. 82 bucks to renew a passport. Sheesh.

Personally don't mind that fee. Seems reasonable considering the amount of people it has to go through and the quality of the product that you're buying. Fees that tick me off are like the $15 fee for cheque certification. It takes a single employee about 4 minutes to do it and they jack you for $15. And it costs them little more than .0002 cents for the ink.

[calculoso]

Also know that the Passport Office is open until 8 or 9 pm. It was very helpful when I renewed my passport a couple of weeks ago.

[icarus]

This is interesting. I took my new passport application in to the Canadian Consulate (next to my house) yesterday. It cost me $115 AUD I think... I guess that is to cover the courier cost in between Australia and Canada.

My guarantor had to be a lawyer (or similar) and had to have known me for two years but DID NOT have to be a Canadian passport holder.

Maybe it is different for overseas applicants?

Oh and my guarantor did have to sign the back of one of my photos.