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Passport Refusal, Revocation & Cancellation

The mandate of the Passport Program is to issue secure Canadian passports through the authentication of identity and entitlement determination, facilitating travel, and contributing to international and domestic security.

Canadian passports are the property of the Government of Canada. If a person is requested to return a passport, the passport must be provided to the Passport Program without delay or by the date indicated. If the passport is not returned as requested, it will be cancelled. Once a passport is cancelled, it cannot be reactivated and is no longer valid for travel.

Understanding Passport Refusal, Revocation & Cancellation

Passport Refusal, Revocation, and Cancellation​

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  • Both the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness have the authority to refuse to issue, revoke, cancel or suspend an existing passport.

  • If there are grounds to refuse to issue, or revoke a passport, an investigation is conducted. At the conclusion of the investigation, a decision is rendered.​

  • This decision may be challenged within 30 days of the date of the decision by filing an application for judicial review before the Federal court of Canada.

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Refusal

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The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness may refuse to issue a passport for a number of reasons including but not limited to:

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  • The person is not a Canadian citizen

  • The person has provided false or misleading information during the passport application process

  • The person has failed to provide a completed application,or requested material

  • The person is charged in Canada of an indictable offence or, an offence committed outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an indictable offence, including but not limited to:

    • providing false or misleading information to any government agencies, including on passport applications

    • smuggling, trafficking, kidnapping and abduction

    • sexual offences against children

    • terrorist activities

 

Revocation

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The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship may revoke a passport for reasons including:

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  • The person uses the passport to assist in committing an indictable offence in Canada or, if committed abroad, an offence that would constitute an indictable offence if committed in Canada, including but not limited:

    • to offences related to travel documents

    • false or misleading information to government agencies

    • smuggling, trafficking, kidnapping and abduction

    • sexual offences against children

    • terrorist activities

    • violent crimes, war crimes

  • Allow another person to use the passport

  • Obtained the passport by means of false or misleading information or

  • Is no longer a Canadian citizen.

 

Cancellation

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The Minister of Immigration. Refugees and citizenship may cancel a passport for various reasons, including:

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  • The person is deceased

  • The person is no longer in possession of the passport

  • If the person has been advised by the Minister to return the passport, but failed to do so

  • There are reasonable grounds to believe that cancellation is in a child’s best interest

  • There are reasonable grounds to suspect that cancellation is required to prevent sexual offences against children outside Canada

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To speak with a Canadian immigration lawyer about a Passport Refusal, Revocation or Cancellation book your consultation today.

The explanations and information provided herein are only general explanations, information and samples. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your privacy policy.

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