Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship maintains the authority to deny passport applications under ten specific conditions. Once the government issues a formal refusal, the application process ends entirely, and no travel document is granted to the individual, according to reports from Legit and YEN.
Grounds for Passport Refusal
The government has outlined clear criteria for rejecting applications, ranging from citizenship status to serious criminal conduct. Multiple reports verify that this range of prohibited behaviors is broad, encompassing issues such as terrorism, kidnapping, passport fraud, smuggling, war crimes, child sexual offences, genocide, violent crimes, and breaches of United Nations sanctions, among others. According to both sources, the following situations can result in a denial:
- Citizenship: Only individuals who hold Canadian citizenship are eligible to receive a Canadian passport.
- Fraudulent information: Providing incorrect details at any stage of the application process is grounds for refusal.
- Incomplete documentation: Applications may be turned down if they are submitted with errors or are missing necessary supporting materials.
- Misuse of documents: A denial may be issued if an applicant has helped someone else utilize a passport that they do not legally own.
- Criminal charges: Those facing charges for an indictable offence within Canada, or a similar major crime in another nation, face the possibility of refusal.
- Court restrictions: A passport will not be granted to anyone currently incarcerated or subject to judicial requirements that prohibit them from departing Canada. This also applies where a court order specifically restricts an individual from holding one.
- Passport-related convictions: A refusal may occur if a person is convicted of an offence under Section 57 of Canada’s Criminal Code, or a similar crime in another jurisdiction.
- Financial obligations: Outstanding financial obligations to the Canadian government related to repatriation or consular assistance provided to the applicant can result in passport services being withheld.
- Existing valid documents: If an individual already possesses a passport that has not been revoked and remains valid, Canada will not grant them a new one.
- Child safety: The application will be immediately rejected if officials have reasonable grounds to suspect that issuing a passport would facilitate the commission of a child sexual offence abroad.
Recourse After Denial
When an application is refused, the process is considered closed entirely. Officials state that these grounds for refusal are set out under Canadian law. Individuals who feel their denial was issued in error might consider consulting a legal professional, given that the reasons for refusal are legally binding.
UK Government Announces 2026 Passport Fees
In contrast to the Canadian government’s publication of these refusal standards, the UK government has announced its 2026 passport fees, which vary for first-time adult applicants based on how they choose to apply. For those seeking a 10-year passport, the costs are as follows:
- Online platform: £102
- Paper application: £115.50