Canadian passport holders will soon see an increase in fees. As of March 31, 2026, the cost of obtaining a Canadian passport is set to rise by 2.7 percent. This increase reflects the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from April 2024 and is part of a broader government initiative to link passport prices to inflation.
The move to adjust passport fees based on the CPI is designed to ensure that the Passport Program remains financially sustainable. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the current fee structure is insufficient to cover the program's operational costs. The department highlighted that since the last fee adjustment, the CPI has increased by 14.5 percent, leading to a significant gap between expenditures and revenues.
For Canadians applying within the country, the price of a five-year passport will increase to $123.24. Those applying for a ten-year passport outside of Canada will see the fee rise to $267.02. While the initial increase is 2.7 percent, future adjustments are expected as the government aims to have fees reflect the actual cost of providing passport services. The government agency said that adjusting passport program fees for inflationary changes is preferable to using adjustment formulas because the formulas do not capture the impact of inflation.
The fee adjustment may help Passport Canada keep pace with technology, international standards, and maintain client service. The agency relies on passport fees to operate. Canadians are encouraged to check the updated fee schedule on the Government of Canada website before submitting their applications.
