Guarantors for Canadian Passport & Travel Document Applications

Key Takeaways

• A guarantor is often required for first-time Canadian passport applications, expired passports (over 15 years old), and some travel documents, such as refugee or identity certificates.

• Guarantors must meet specific requirements, like being a Canadian citizen, over 18 years of age, and having known you for at least 2 years.

• If you cannot find a guarantor, you’ll likely need to complete a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor and have it commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary.

• If you’re a Canadian applying for or renewing a Passport without a guarantor, you’ll need a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (PPTC 132).
• If you’re a non-Canadian applying for travel documents without a guarantor, you’ll need a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor (PPTC 326).

Are you planning to apply for a Canadian passport or travel documents? One of the common challenges people face is finding a guarantor—someone who can vouch for your identity to support your application. Whether you need a guarantor to apply for a passport or other travel documents, understanding the process facilitates a stress-free experience. 

Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about guarantors, including what to do if you can’t find one. Keep reading so you can breeze through your passport or travel document application with confidence.

Who Is a Guarantor?

A guarantor is a person who verifies your identity and confirms the information in your Canadian passport or travel document application. They act as a witness, vouching that you are who you say you are and that the details you’ve provided are accurate.

The government of Canada may contact your guarantor to confirm the accuracy of the information you’ve submitted in your passport application. This helps ensure every application is legitimate and prevents fraud.

When Do You Need a Guarantor?

You don’t always need a guarantor when applying for travel documents, but you do in specific situations. Here are some scenarios in which a guarantor is typically required:

• Applying for a Canadian passport for the first time: If you’re applying for a Canadian passport for the first time, a guarantor is required.
• Renewing a Canadian passport: If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, a guarantor is required.
• Applying for a child’s Canadian passport for the first time: When you’re applying for a passport for your child for the first time, they must have a guarantor.
• Renewing a child’s Canadian passport: When renewing a child’s passport (issued over 15 years ago), they aren’t eligible for simple renewal and will require a guarantor.
• Applying for a Certificate of Identity: Stateless individuals or permanent residents may need a guarantor for this certificate if they cannot obtain a passport.
• Applying for a Refugee Travel Document: Refugees or protected persons may need a refugee travel document when they need to travel but cannot obtain a passport from their country. 

Who Can Be a Guarantor?

Your guarantor must meet specific requirements, which vary based on the type of document you need and where you’re applying from.

For regular (blue) passports submitted in Canada, your guarantor must:

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have known you personally for at least two years
• Hold a five- or ten-year Canadian passport that’s valid, or expired for no more than one year
• Have been at least 16 years old when they applied for their own passport
• Be available to confirm your identity if contacted by Passport Canada
• Provide passport information (passport number, issue date, etc.)

Your guarantor can be a friend, neighbour, co-worker, or even a family member as long as they meet the criteria. 

For child passport applications, a guarantor must know the child and their parent or guardian for at least two years. The parent submitting a child’s passport application cannot act as the guarantor for their child. That said, if one parent submits an application, the other parent or legal guardian may act as guarantor (if qualified). 

Passport Applicants From Outside of Canada

If you’re applying for a Canadian passport from outside of Canada, your guarantor must meet the same criteria listed above. However, you have the additional option of using an occupation-based guarantor. You can use someone from the following list of professions as your guarantor: 

• Judges
• Police officers
• Notaries
• Lawyers
• Medical doctors
• Pharmacists
• Veterinarians
• Dentists
• Deans or heads of universities or colleges
• Signing officers at financial institutions

Occupation-based guarantors must be currently employed in their field and hold a valid license issued by a recognized authority. Retired professionals may qualify if they remain listed with their regulatory body, but it’s best to confirm beforehand. 

Military Passport Applicants

If you’re a member of the Regular Force, certain officers in the Regular Military Force can act as your guarantor. They must have known you personally for at least two years. These officers are authorized to confirm your identity with verified service records instead of stating how long they’ve known you.

Qualified officers of the Regular Military Force include:

• NDHQ directors
• Base commanders
• Commanding officers
• NDHQ career managers
• NDHQ directors general
• Personnel administrative officers
• Any other commissioned officer (captain and above) with access to service records
  • Instead of writing the number of years, an officer must include the phrase: “Through service records which I have verified.”

Regular Military Force officers may also act as guarantors for the dependents of Regular Force members, such as a spouse or child. They can do so if they have personally known the dependents of a Regular Force member for at least two years.

Military police may also act as guarantors for military personnel, but only if they’ve personally known you for at least two years.

Certificate of Identity or Refugee Travel Document Applicants

If you’re applying for a Certificate of Identity or a Refugee Travel document, your guarantor must:

• Live in Canada
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Have known you personally for at least six months
• Be available for verification
• Be an occupation-based guarantor, licensed and currently working in one of the following roles:
  • Minister of religion
  • Postmaster
  • Pharmacist, veterinarian, or optometrist
  • Dentist, medical doctor, or chiropractor
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Principal of a primary or secondary school
  • Senior administrator or teacher at a university
  • Professional engineer (P.Eng. or Ing. in Quebec)
  • Senior administrator in a community college (or CEGEP in Quebec)
  • Professional accountant (APA, CA, CGA, CMA, PA, or RPA)
  • Judge, magistrate, or police officer (municipal, provincial, or RCMP)
  • Lawyer (provincial bar member) or notary in Quebec
  • Mayor

Retired professionals from these categories may qualify only if their names remain listed by their respective associations.

Responsibilities of a Guarantor

Once someone agrees to act as your guarantor, they must complete specific steps to help validate your passport application. These responsibilities are not optional and must be carried out carefully to avoid delays or rejection.

A guarantor cannot charge a fee for providing this service. Additionally, they must complete the tasks listed below themselves. If your guarantor needs help, they’re encouraged to contact Passport Canada directly.

A guarantor must:

• Complete the designated section on your application form
• Indicate how long they’ve known you
• Sign and date the correct fields
• Sign the back of one passport photo and write: “I certify this to be a true likeness of [applicant’s full name]”

If you’re submitting photocopies of identification documents, a guarantor must:

• Sign and date each photocopy
• Ensure both sides of the ID are visible

Note: This step doesn’t apply if you’re submitting original ID documents.

What if You Can’t Find a Guarantor?

If you don’t know anyone who meets the guarantor requirements, don’t worry, as you can still apply for a passport or Canadian travel document. 

Instead of a guarantor, you’ll need to complete one of two forms:

• Form PPTC 132 – for Canadian passport applicants in Canada, the U.S., or abroad
  
• Form PPTC 326 – for non-Canadian applicants applying for a Canadian Certificate of Identity or Canadian Refugee Travel Document

Both forms act as a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor. They allow you to confirm your identity when no eligible guarantor is available.

We offer Form PPTC 132 and Form PPTC 326, free of charge. These are the same versions as the ones provided by the Government of Canada. You may also get these forms from any passport service location across Canada. If you’re applying for a passport from outside Canada or the U.S., you may request Form PPTC 132 from any Canadian embassy or consulate.

How to Complete Form PPTC 132 / PPTC 326

First, determine the correct form you need. PPTC 132 is for Canadians applying for a Canadian passport, while PPTC 326 is for Non-Canadians applying for travel documents. These forms must be completed with wet ink; they cannot be completed virtually. Follow the steps below to complete your Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor in no time:

1. Download Form PPTC 132 or Form PPTC 326

You can get the official Form PPTC 132 or PPTC 326 from our website for free.

2. Fill out your form completely

Use black or dark blue ink when filling out your form, and ensure you write your information using capital letters. This makes it easier to read.

3. Provide your personal information

You must provide the following information when completing Form PPTC 132 or PPTC 326:

• Your / your child’s full legal name, date and place of birth, and current address
• All residential addresses from the past five years, beginning with the most recent
• A list of all jobs you or your child has held over the past five years
• Details of two references who have known you for at least two years and aren’t related to you 
• An explanation as to why you can’t find a guarantor
• Some details about the two documents you presented to an official during the declaration process.
  

4. Have your form notarized by an authorized official

Your Form PPTC 132 or PPTC 326 must be notarized by a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for oaths. Notarization must be executed in person; it cannot be completed online.

5. Submit your completed form

Include the completed and notarized Form PPTC 132 or 326 with your travel document application and supporting documents.

Remember, only use Form  PPTC 132 or PPTC 326 if you genuinely cannot find a guarantor. Applications submitted without a guarantor may take longer to process, as Passport Canada may contact your references or request more documents.

Notarizing Your Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor 

Before submitting your application, you’ll need to meet with an authorized official to have it notarized in person. At NotaryPro, we have hundreds of professional notaries across Canada, ready to meet with you. Here’s what to expect during your notarization appointment:

• You’ll bring a valid government-issued ID.

An authorized official will check your ID against the documents listed on your form. They’ll also certify photocopies of your photos (if applicable) and your ID by signing and dating them.

• For passport applications, you’ll present two identical passport photos.

An authorized official will write on the back of one photo, “I certify this to be a true likeness of [your name],” then sign and date it.

• You’ll review your completed form.

Ensure that all fields are completed correctly, in black or dark blue ink, with no blank spaces. 

• You’ll swear or affirm your declaration.

An authorized official will ask you to confirm that the information on your form is true before witnessing your signature.

• You’ll sign your form in front of an authorized official.

You must sign your form during your appointment, and not beforehand, so the official can witness your signature.

• An authorized official will complete their section.

They will write their full name, title, contact details, and sign and date the declaration portion of the form.

Find a notary public close by and book your appointment with us today. With over 270 locations across Canada, you can get documents notarized at your convenience, near your home. Many of our notaries offer morning, evening, and weekend hours to suit your schedule.

Complete Your Application With or Without a Guarantor

A guarantor helps confirm your identity and ensures the accuracy of your Canadian passport or travel document application. Knowing who qualifies as a guarantor and what they’re responsible for is essential in helping you successfully submit your application.

If you don’t have someone who meets the guarantor criteria, you can still move forward. Instead of a guarantor, complete a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor — either Form PPTC 132 or Form PPTC 326. These forms help verify your identity and confirm that the information in your application is accurate and complete.

Most importantly, meet with a notary public near you and have Form PPTC 132 or Form PPTC 326 notarized for a successful passport application.