Canadian Passport - Types of Passports

Types of Passports

Before 1947, there were two types of passports: those issued to people who were born British subjects and those issued to people naturalized as British subjects.

Today, there are six types of Canadian passports:

Regular Passport (navy cover)

These documents are issued to citizens for occasional travel, such as vacations and business trips. They contain 24 pages (19 pages available for visa labels and stamps). The maximum validity period varies with the age of the passport holder. Children (3 to 15 years of age) and adults (16 years of age or over) are issued passports with a maximum validity of 5 years; children (under 3 years of age) are issued passports valid for a maximum of 3 years.

Frequent Traveller Passport (navy cover)

These are issued to frequent travellers, such as business people. These passports cost slightly more than a regular passport, containing 48 pages; $5 more for adults, $2 for children. The validity period for this passport is the same as for the regular passport.

Temporary Passport (white cover)

These are issued on behalf of Passport Canada to Canadians with an urgent and proven need for an interim passport while abroad.

Emergency Passport (1 page)

Emergency passports are one-use documents issued to Canadians for direct return to Canada or to another Canadian mission where full passport services may be obtained. The passport contains details of the person,, photo, travel details and expiry date of the passport.

Special Passport (green cover)

These are issued pursuant to the Order Respecting the Issuance of Diplomatic and Special Passports to people representing the Canadian government on official business, including Privy Councillors, Members of Parliament, provincial cabinet members, public servants, citizens nominated as official non-diplomatic delegates and Canadian Forces members who are posted abroad. Since January 2009 special passports have been issued as electronic passports, in preparation of the full implementation of the ePassport program.

Diplomatic Passport (maroon cover)

These are issued pursuant to the Order Respecting the Issuance of Diplomatic and Special Passports to Canadian diplomats, top ranking government officials (including lieutenant governors and commissioners of territories), diplomatic couriers, and private citizens nominated as official diplomatic delegates. Since January 2009 diplomatic passports have been issued as electronic passports, in preparation of the full implementation of the ePassport program.