Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Experience the Malahat Skywalk
    • Okanagan Adventure
    • Summer in B.C.
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Experience the Malahat Skywalk
    • Okanagan Adventure
    • Summer in B.C.
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / In-person service for mail-in passport requests now available at 300 sites in Canada

Announced changes are designed to speed up processing times for overdue passports and shorten the lineup for urgent requests at passport offices.

In-person service for mail-in passport requests now available at 300 sites in Canada

July 30, 2022 //  by The Canadian Press

Share this:

By Laura Osman, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Some travellers keen to get their passports will now be able to request their mail-in applications be transferred to any of the more than 300 local Service Canada centres for processing.

They can also now do so even if their need for a passport is slightly less urgent, as in for those planning to leave the country within the next few weeks, instead of a couple of days.

Until now, applicants in the queue could only ask for a transfer by visiting one of 35 specialized passport sites across Canada, or by contacting the call centre.

The new policy will apply to anyone who completed their application by mail more than 20 business days ago, which allows enough time for it to have been entered into the system, and has proof that they are travelling within 20 business days from when they ask for a transfer.

Social Development Minister Karina Gould says depending on when the person plans to travel, the application will either be expedited and their passport mailed to them, or their file will be transferred to a local office for printing and pickup.

People who haven’t waited the required 20 days but still need their passport quickly because they have imminent plans to travel can ask to have their applications transferred to a Service Canada location, but will have to pay extra fees.

The changes come after months of stressful waits for Canadians to renew their passports and long, hectic lines at passport offices as workers try to expedite needed documents.

Last month the prime minister announced he would assemble a committee of cabinet ministers to troubleshoot wait times and backlogs for immigration applications and passport processing, which he called “unacceptable.”

The government aims to process 90 per cent of applications mailed from within Canada or made at a Service Canada counter within 20 business days of receiving them.

Only 49 per cent of all mail-in and Service Canada applications processed last week met the 20-day target, government statistics show.

Gould says the changes will speed up processing times for overdue passports and shorten the lineup for urgent requests at passport offices.

The government blames the long waits on the fact that few people renewed or applied for new passports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that people can more easily and safely leave the country, the pent-up demand has hit the government in a giant wave.

The government expects to receive more than four million passport applications this year.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: Canada, Travel Tips & Advisories

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

10 summer stops for your Kootenay vacay

Is a visit to the Kootenay region of southern British Columbia on your late summer…

10 summer stops for your Kootenay vacayRead More

Hike like a local: Victoria hikers share their top 3 destinations

With its scenic West Coast location, boasting a unique mix of ocean shoreline, forests, rivers…

Hike like a local: Victoria hikers share their top 3 destinationsRead More

A great summer get-away close to home

Fascinating and important history, lots of active pursuits to choose from, delicious food options and…

A great summer get-away close to homeRead More

Tufted puffins return to Tofino area

Bird aficionados in the Tofino area take note: Tufted Puffins are about. Captain Keith Phillips…

Tufted puffins return to Tofino areaRead More

VIDEO: 13 caribou born in maternity pen released into the B.C. wild

The Arrow Lakes Caribou Society has released 13 caribou from their care into the wild.…

VIDEO: 13 caribou born in maternity pen released into the B.C. wildRead More

Reporter straps into old fighter jet at Abbotsford Airshow

By the time I learned the evacuation sequences for a media flight at the Abbotsford…

Reporter straps into old fighter jet at Abbotsford AirshowRead More

Bike hard, eat hard: Take a bite out of Snohomish County’s Centennial Trail

By Taylor Goebel, Everett DailyHerald I love a good sweaty bike ride as much as…

Bike hard, eat hard: Take a bite out of Snohomish County’s Centennial TrailRead More

Parks Canada launches new programs at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Parks Canada has launched new interpretive programs at Gulf Islands National Park Preserve for the…

Parks Canada launches new programs at Gulf Islands National Park ReserveRead More

10 things to see and do in Greater Victoria for summer 2022

Some of the most incredible sights and attractions in B.C. can be found in the…

10 things to see and do in Greater Victoria for summer 2022Read More

Previous Post: « See Alberta’s parks through an Indigenous lens
Next Post: Island-dwelling blonde raccoon hits the beach on hot summer day »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

10 summer stops for your Kootenay vacay

August 10, 2022

Hike like a local: Victoria hikers share their top 3 destinations

August 8, 2022

A great summer get-away close to home

August 8, 2022

Tufted puffins return to Tofino area

August 7, 2022

Recent Posts

10 summer stops for your Kootenay vacay

August 10, 2022

Hike like a local: Victoria hikers share their top 3 destinations

August 8, 2022

A great summer get-away close to home

August 8, 2022

Tufted puffins return to Tofino area

August 7, 2022

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2022 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved