Passport RENEWAL questions-HELP!

[alohamom]

Hi everyone, I feel so stupid because I just renewed in May for myself (I was due) but my DH and kids need to renew now, their passports expire in Feb. I see on the gov website all the info regarding ADULT renewal (cost is 87 etc) but I dont see the info regarding child under 15 renewal info, just the cost (37 bucks) Do I need to redo the guarantor info for the kids?!?!? What is different about the kids renewal app vs the adult one and why cant I find the info? I know this is such a stupid question but I want to do it right the first time, has anyone jsut completed both adult and child renewal forms and know what the differences are, if any-thanks in advance for any help you can give

 

[Ted in Halifax]

there is no kids renewal form (like the adult) ... it is a different form that does require a guarantor. However, if you bring the forms in, have your spouse act as guarantor. That's what we did and it worked fine ... even said on the website that that was ok.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Hi everyone, I feel so stupid because I just renewed in May for myself (I was due) but my DH and kids need to renew now, their passports expire in Feb. I see on the gov website all the info regarding ADULT renewal (cost is 87 etc) but I dont see the info regarding child under 15 renewal info, just the cost (37 bucks) Do I need to redo the guarantor info for the kids?!?!? What is different about the kids renewal app vs the adult one and why cant I find the info? I know this is such a stupid question but I want to do it right the first time, has anyone jsut completed both adult and child renewal forms and know what the differences are, if any-thanks in advance for any help you can give

I do passport pictures at my studio. I also have all the forms. For ADULTS there is a regular form and a renewal form. The Renewal form for adults allows you to skip the guarantor information.

For CHILDREN (15 and under) there is ONLY a regular form. So yes you need to redo the guarantor information just like you did the first time.

Price doesn't change from the regular form for Adults or Kids. Even doing the renewal for adults (16 and over) requires the same payment.

Plus everyone needs 2 brand new pictures.

 

[HeatherLassell]

there is no kids renewal form (like the adult) ... it is a different form that does require a guarantor. However, if you bring the forms in, have your spouse act as guarantor. That's what we did and it worked fine ... even said on the website that that was ok.

This is correct. Now that both adults have passports and have obviously known the kids more than 2 years *lol* you can act as the guarantor.

I signed as the guarantor for both of my parents when they got their passports!

Only place that relatives can NOT be on the passport is for the 2 references!

 

[Bubbie]

Another dumb question comming up. Someone told me that starting Nov 2011, you need a longform birth certificate as id to renew a childs passport. Does anyone know if this is right?

 

[HeatherLassell]

Another dumb question comming up. Someone told me that starting Nov 2011, you need a longform birth certificate as id to renew a childs passport. Does anyone know if this is right?

Yes. As of December 2011 if you are applying for a childs FIRST passport you need to have the long form of their birth certificate. This is the one that will have the mother and fathers name on it.

IF you have a passport for that child and this is just a 'renewal' of sorts then you are exempt from this. You just need the new pictures, the completed forms and the previous passport that you are replacing.

 

[Bubbie]

Thank you HeatherLassell for the quick reply. I was going to go online tomorrow to apply for the long form birth certificate. Saves me alot of hassels.

 

[alohamom]

Thanks for all the informed and swift responses!

 

[HeatherLassell]

No problem. I am currently ordering new birth certificates for my 2 youngest kids. Just a cash grab by the government if you ask me!

Happy to help.

 

[chimo2u]

Hi everyone, I feel so stupid because I just renewed in May for myself (I was due) but my DH and kids need to renew now, their passports expire in Feb. I see on the gov website all the info regarding ADULT renewal (cost is 87 etc) but I dont see the info regarding child under 15 renewal info, just the cost (37 bucks) Do I need to redo the guarantor info for the kids?!?!? What is different about the kids renewal app vs the adult one and why cant I find the info? I know this is such a stupid question but I want to do it right the first time, has anyone jsut completed both adult and child renewal forms and know what the differences are, if any-thanks in advance for any help you can give

I just did this for my DS 15 whose passport was set to expire in DEC 2012.....I decided to take the hit (lose 9 months) on his PP and just renew his now so I can get him done at the child rate of $37.00 before he turned 16 in March (and then would be an adult price of $87).....Our trip is October 2012, but I was able to renew early...I just lost out on those months between January and October.....there is no other fee but the $37 cost....I would caution you to do it quickly though, as very shortly the will require you to have the LONG FORM birth certificate for children's passports....I slid in under the wire, I was told by being able to use my wallet BC card for my son.....so that will be an added expense if you need to send away for a Long form BC, as well as added wait time for that document to get back to you.....
Guarantours....parents can be the guaantour for the child (opposite parent as to the applicant)....ie) i was the one renewing our son's passport, so my husband signed the picture and acted as the guarantour for his passport.....
Hope that helps and hope you get it sorted out without any hitches Best thing about Passports is, after 2013 pp's will be valid for 10 yrs!! that will be nice to have double the time....but i can see a large increase happening when that becomes effective!!
Have fun on your trip!

PS.....I would contact your govt. office regarding how sticky they are on the long form BC....as the agent told me I was very lucky they still accepted the short form BC even though he had a valid passpoprt, if I had been applying later in January, I would have required the long form.....I really did slide in under the wire!!! They will be implementing the Long Form for all children in January, I believe.....

 

[Sue M]

I just did this for my DS 15 whose passport was set to expire in DEC 2012.....I decided to take the hit (lose 9 months) on his PP and just renew his now so I can get him done at the child rate of $37.00 before he turned 16 in March (and then would be an adult price of $87).....Our trip is October 2012, but I was able to renew early...I just lost out on those months between January and October.....there is no other fee but the $37 cost....I would caution you to do it quickly though, as very shortly the will require you to have the LONG FORM birth certificate for children's passports....I slid in under the wire, I was told by being able to use my wallet BC card for my son.....so that will be an added expense if you need to send away for a Long form BC, as well as added wait time for that document to get back to you.....
Guarantours....parents can be the guaantour for the child (opposite parent as to the applicant)....ie) i was the one renewing our son's passport, so my husband signed the picture and acted as the guarantour for his passport.....
Hope that helps and hope you get it sorted out without any hitches Best thing about Passports is, after 2013 pp's will be valid for 10 yrs!! that will be nice to have double the time....but i can see a large increase happening when that becomes effective!!
Have fun on your trip!

PS.....I would contact your govt. office regarding how sticky they are on the long form BC....as the agent told me I was very lucky they still accepted the short form BC even though he had a valid passpoprt, if I had been applying later in January, I would have required the long form.....I really did slide in under the wire!!! They will be implementing the Long Form for all children in January, I believe.....

Wow! I hadn't heard that they are changing to 10 yrs. Wouldn't you know mine expires and I just renewed That's great. 5 yrs is such a hassle. But they'll prob double the price! Can't win.

OP- I got our pics done at Costco. I think it was $6 for the 2 photos required.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Wow! I hadn't heard that they are changing to 10 yrs. Wouldn't you know mine expires and I just renewed That's great. 5 yrs is such a hassle. But they'll prob double the price! Can't win.

The new 10 year passports are called EPassports.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/eppt/index.aspx?lang=eng

Also it's not going to be anymore convenient if you have kids:
"The validity period of children's passports will not change when the ePassport is implemented. ePassports for children under 3 years of age will be valid for three years. ePassports for children aged 3 to 15 years will be valid for five years."

Unfortunately I can see them just doubling the current fee. Ugh!

 

[HeatherLassell]

PS.....I would contact your govt. office regarding how sticky they are on the long form BC....as the agent told me I was very lucky they still accepted the short form BC even though he had a valid passpoprt, if I had been applying later in January, I would have required the long form.....I really did slide in under the wire!!! They will be implementing the Long Form for all children in January, I believe.....

This is a major CHANGE in the information that was on the passport canada website only a few months ago!

It used to have a section under the birth certificate requirement that said this was only for FIRST time childrens passports. If you had a passport already your child was exempt!

BUT that appears to have changed: *from the passport website*

"For applications received on or after February 1, 2011, for Canadians born in Canada, only the following proof of citizenship documents will be accepted to support a general or child’s passport application:

“Birth certificate” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
“Certificate of birth” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
“Certificat de naissance” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency; or
“Certificate of citizenship” issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
(Some exceptions apply; see below for details.*)

Canadian travellers are encouraged to initiate the passport application process as soon as they intend to travel to ensure that the proper documentation is obtained in time for a trip abroad—and to factor in the time required to obtain proper documentation prior to submitting a passport application.

Should you require a new birth certificate, contact the Canadian vital statistics office of the province or territory of your birth.

The changes detailed above are reflected in the passport application forms. Failure to provide the proper documentation will result in the passport application being rejected.

Simplified renewal applications are not impacted by this requirement."

So this seems to indicate that all children (15 and under) must have the long form birth certificate EVEN those who already have a passport.

ADDED, heck....this is also saying if you are an adult doing a GENERAL application "not a renewal" then you will also be required to have this long form birth certificate!

This makes me ill. What a cash grab.

 

[peigirl]

I applied for my DS passport on November 30th to avoid having to get the long form.

Not sure how this is considered a cash grab though when it is the Federal Government who issues the passport and the Provincial Government who issues the birth certificates

 

[HeatherLassell]

I applied for my DS passport on November 30th to avoid having to get the long form.

Not sure how this is considered a cash grab though when it is the Federal Government who issues the passport and the Provincial Government who issues the birth certificates

Because they are the government. They know everything about me. They get the birth registration which has both parents names on it. It's just a cash grab that I now have to pay $25 per child to buy new birth certificates just so it has both parents names ON it. That's just MY opinion of course.

 

[peigirl]

Well my opinion is that they are doing it for security reasons.

I really can't see the province mailing $25 for each child to the feds but you may be right

 

[HeatherLassell]

Well my opinion is that they are doing it for security reasons.

I really can't see the province mailing $25 for each child to the feds but you may be right

I give the government enough of my hard earned money. And now in order to get a passport for my kids I have to give them even more $ to replace their birth certificates. It just makes me mad.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm a little confused. The exception is still noted on the forms:

PARENTAGE LINK BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE PARENT(S)You must provide one of the following acceptable proof of parentage documents demonstrating the relationship between the child and the parent(s):
a detailed birth certificate from Canada or a foreign country where the child was born, indicating the name of the parent(s); or
an order of adoption indicating the name of the adopting parent(s).
Note: A divorce order, court order or judgment or separation agreement attributing parental responsibilities constitutes a complement and not a substitute to a child’s birth certificate or an adoption order.
Exception: An application submitted on behalf of a child will be accepted without proof of parentage only if all of the following criteria are met:
A Canadian travel document was previously issued to the child in his or her name;
The previously issued travel document is still valid or expired for less than one year; and
The previously issued travel document accompanies the new application.

Does this not imply that a child with an existing passport does not require the long form BC?

 

[dvcdisney]

This is a major CHANGE in the information that was on the passport canada website only a few months ago!

It used to have a section under the birth certificate requirement that said this was only for FIRST time childrens passports. If you had a passport already your child was exempt!

BUT that appears to have changed: *from the passport website*

"For applications received on or after February 1, 2011, for Canadians born in Canada, only the following proof of citizenship documents will be accepted to support a general or child’s passport application:

“Birth certificate” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
“Certificate of birth” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency;
“Certificat de naissance” issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency; or
“Certificate of citizenship” issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
(Some exceptions apply; see below for details.*)

Canadian travellers are encouraged to initiate the passport application process as soon as they intend to travel to ensure that the proper documentation is obtained in time for a trip abroad—and to factor in the time required to obtain proper documentation prior to submitting a passport application.

Should you require a new birth certificate, contact the Canadian vital statistics office of the province or territory of your birth.

The changes detailed above are reflected in the passport application forms. Failure to provide the proper documentation will result in the passport application being rejected.

Simplified renewal applications are not impacted by this requirement."

So this seems to indicate that all children (15 and under) must have the long form birth certificate EVEN those who already have a passport.

ADDED, heck....this is also saying if you are an adult doing a GENERAL application "not a renewal" then you will also be required to have this long form birth certificate!

This makes me ill. What a cash grab.

Can you please post a link? I tried to look for this on the passport website, but I can't find it.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/pdfs/pptc155.pdf
See the bit near the bottom of page 4 under Parentage Link Between The Child and the Parents.