A guarantor is a person who can confirm your identity when you apply for a passport or other travel document
. They are required for first-time applicants or those who are not eligible for a simplified renewal
. The guarantor must meet certain requirements, such as:
- Being 18 years of age or older
- Having known the applicant for at least 2 years (or for children under one year, since birth)
- Not being related to the applicant by birth, marriage, de facto, or same-sex relationship
- Not living at the applicant's address
- Holding or having previously held a passport that was issued with at least two years of validity
Guarantors can be family members or members of the applicant's household, as long as they meet the requirements
. They can also be occupation-based guarantors, such as professionals, employees, or representatives of certain organizations, as long as they meet the specific requirements for their profession
. If the guarantor is retired, they can still be used if their name is still on the professional association list
. In some cases, a guarantor may be required for applications submitted outside Canada, as long as the person meets the basic guarantor requirements and is registered/licensed with the appropriate local authority to practice their profession
