How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Canadian Passport

Persons hand holding and giving passport of Canada

Getty Images / Margolana

Whether you lose your Canadian passport or if it is stolen, don't panic. It's not an ideal situation, but there are steps you can take to replace your passport, and you may able to get a replacement passport for a limited time.

The first thing to do when you discover your passport is missing is to contact local police. Next, you'll want to get in touch with the Canadian government. If you're within Canada, call 1-800-567-6868 to report the circumstances of the loss or theft to the Canadian Passport Office. If you're traveling outside of Canada, find the nearest Government of Canada office, either an embassy or a consulate. 

Police or other law enforcement officers will conduct an investigation, which is especially important if you're reporting your passport stolen. It may be a good idea to contact your credit card companies and bank, even if your passport is the only thing missing. There's the potential for identity thieves to do a lot of damage with a stolen passport, so keep an eye on your financial information until it's located, or until you receive a new one.

Once the investigation is completed, if authorized, you can then apply for a replacement passport which may be valid for a limited time until you have to apply for a new passport. 

Submit a completed application formphotosfeeproof of citizenship, and a Statutory Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Inaccessible or Destroyed Canadian Passport or Travel Document.

Canada's Passport Rules

Canada shrunk the size of its passports from 48 pages to 36 pages in 2013 (to the consternation of frequent travelers). However, it extended the expiration date, making passports valid for 10 years. It's also important to know that Canada is one of the few countries that don't allow citizens to hold a secondary passport (unless he or she can claim dual citizenship in Canada and another country).

What If My Canadian Passport Is Damaged?

This is another circumstance when you'll need a new Canadian passport. If your passport has water damage, is torn on more than one page, looks like it's been altered, or the identity of the passport holder is impaired or illegible, you may be denied by an airline or at a point of entry. Canadian rules don't allow you to get a replacement for a damaged passport; you'll need to apply for a new one.

What If I Find My Lost Passport?

If you find your lost passport, report it immediately to the local police and the passport office since you can't hold more than one passport at a time. Contact the passport office for specific exceptions, as they vary on a case-by-case basis.

It's worth noting that Canadians who have had multiple passports damaged or reported lost or stolen may face restrictions when applying for a new passport.

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Munroe, Susan. "How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Canadian Passport." ThoughtCo, Sep. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/how-to-replace-a-lost-or-stolen-canadian-passport-508681. Munroe, Susan. (2021, September 7). How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Canadian Passport. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-replace-a-lost-or-stolen-canadian-passport-508681 Munroe, Susan. "How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Canadian Passport." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-replace-a-lost-or-stolen-canadian-passport-508681 (accessed March 19, 2024).