Canada promises full refund if your passport isn't processed on time
Canada is giving travellers a guarantee: if your passport isn’t processed within 30 days, you get your money back.
On March 31, the Government of Canada assured Canadians that their passport applications would be processed on time or fully refunded. The “30 days or free” guarantee is meant to improve accountability and provide clear and consistent standards. Plans for the program were first announced in March 2025.
That means that starting on Wednesday, if you apply for your passport or travel document within Canada or abroad, you’ll receive a full refund if it takes longer than 30 business days to process. The refund will be issued automatically.
Right now, Canadians can expect regular passport applications to be processed in about 10 business days if submitted at a passport office or Service Canada. It takes about 20 days if you apply through a regular Service Canada Centre, a scheduled outreach site in person, by mail, or online.
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The processing time starts when a complete application is received and ends when the passport or travel document is printed and verified — it doesn’t include mailing time.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab said that Canadians “expect reliable services from their government.”
“While most passports are processed within our service standards, our new refund policy reflects our commitment to maintaining excellence in our passport delivery system,” she said.
“As with all our services and programs, we’re focused on maximizing efficiency and making improvements that make a positive difference for people.”
The “30 days or free” guarantee is certainly a welcome change since passport fees just got more expensive.
Starting Tuesday, the fee for a five-year adult passport went up from $120 to $122.50, while a 10-year adult passport fee increased from $160 to $163.50 for those living in Canada.