The Role of Passport Canada

Serving as a Special Operating Agency

Passport Canada is responsible for issuing, refusing,
revoking and withholding Canadian passports.

A passport is an official travel document issued by the government. A passport establishes the holder's identity and citizenship and entitles the holder to travel under its protection to and from foreign countries.

Passport Canada is a Special Operating Agency of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. It is responsible for issuing, refusing, revoking and withholding Canadian passports, in addition to administering their use and recovery. Passport Canada supervises all matters relating to Canadian travel documents and provides guidance to Canadian government offices abroad, enabling them to issue passports.

Besides serving the public directly, Passport Canada also works with national and international police authorities, security agents, border officials and any federal, provincial and territorial authorities that provide identification documents.