The United States government recently announced that Americans can now renew their passports online, a service that Canadians have been waiting for over a year since it was promised. The online renewal system is fully operational for adults whose passports have expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year. This option is not available for new passport applications, children’s passports, or renewals outside the U.S. The U.S. State Department estimates that about five million Americans will be able to use this service each year.
On the other hand, Canadians are still waiting for the promised online passport renewal service that was announced in May 2023. The initial plan was for Canadians with simple passport renewals to be able to apply online, pay fees, and upload necessary documents and passport photos on a secure government website starting that fall. However, there have been no updates or changes to the passport renewal website, which currently only allows for in-person or mail-in applications. The Canadian government has stated that online passport renewals are not available at this time but is committed to offering secure online passport service options to Canadians in the near future.
Despite not providing a timeline for when the online passport renewal service will be available, the Canadian government has reassured that they are working on a secure and data privacy-protected system. Lessons learned from delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a public service strike last spring have led to the development of a digital renewal option. The goal is to make the passport renewal process quicker and easier for individuals looking to renew a valid passport with minimal complications.
The U.S. State Department has reported that most passport applications are now completed in less time than the standard six to eight weeks, and the online renewal system is expected to further reduce processing times. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter mentioned that they hope to expand the program in the upcoming years to include more American citizens, such as those living abroad, those seeking to renew a second passport, and children’s passports. They intend to continue improving passport services and making them more convenient for U.S. citizens.
Both Canada and the U.S. faced pressure to revamp their passport services due to pent-up demand and staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant backlogs and wait times for applications. While Canada has made progress in reducing backlogs and meeting service standards for new passport deliveries, the delay in implementing the promised online renewal service has left many Canadians waiting for a more convenient option. The Canadian government has not provided a reason for the delay, but they have expressed their commitment to providing secure online passport services in the future.
