A guarantor for a Canadian passport must be a Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old and has personally known the applicant for at least 2 years. The guarantor must hold a valid or recently expired (within the past year) Canadian passport that they obtained when they were at least 16 years old. They must also be available to confirm the applicant's identity and information if contacted by the passport office. In specific cases, such as for military personnel or applications outside Canada, additional types of guarantors may be accepted, including certain professionals like judges, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and others registered or licensed in their profession. Parents or legal guardians cannot act as guarantors for applications on behalf of their children but other family members who meet the criteria can. If a guarantor cannot be found, applicants may be able to use a statutory declaration in lieu of a guarantor signed by a qualified official such as a notary public or commissioner for oaths. In summary, a guarantor can be:
- A Canadian citizen 18 years or older
- Someone who has known the applicant for 2 years
- Holding a valid or recently expired Canadian passport (5 or 10 year)
- Available to verify the applicant’s information
Or, in special cases, certain professionals or military officers who meet specific criteria.
