New Passport Rules On Guarantors

Effective October 1, 2007, it is no longer necessary to have a designated "professional" act as a guarantor on your passport application. Most adult Canadian passport holders can now act as a guarantor for a passport applicant.
 
The new policy provides that in order to be an eligible guarantor:
1. You must hold a valid 5 year Canadian passport, or have a passport that has not been expired more than one year.
2. You must have known the applicant personally for at least 2 years.
3. You must be a Canadian citizen 18 years or older.
4. You must have been 16 years of age or older when you applied for your own passport.
 
Family members are eligible to act as guarantors provided they meet the new policy requirements. If you still intend to ask a professional (lawyer, doctor etc.) to act as your guarantor, you should ensure that they meet the new requirements in all respects.

The new passport application form is available at www.passportcanada.gc.ca or at any Passport Canada office, Service Canada Centre or Canada Post office. Currently, all Canadians travelling to or through the United States by air must present a valid passport. Canadians travelling to the United States by land or sea are not required to carry a valid passport until the summer of 2008 at the earliest