Program directory · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Passport
- Program code
- BGF02 (CI)
- Core responsibility
- Citizenship and Passports
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
IRCC collaborates with Service Canada and Global Affairs Canada to facilitate travel for Canadians and contribute to a safe and secure travel regime by issuing Canadian travel documents that are internationally recognized and respected. IRCC ensures that legitimate travellers are in possession of Canadian travel documents, that potential applicants are informed and understand their responsibilities in terms of applying for and possessing Canadian travel documents, and that the needs of Canadian travel document holders are met. The Passport Program operates on a full cost-recovery basis from fees charged for travel document services.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $1.21B |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Spending $101M, against -$14.2M in 2018-19 (+816%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators added: Total number of Canadian travel documents issued, both in Canada and abroad | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators dropped: Percentage of surveyed Canadian passport holders that express confidence in the Passport Program | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Spending $307M, against $101M in 2019-20 (+203%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Spending $318M, against $251M in 2021-22 (+26%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Spending $126M, against $318M in 2022-23 (−60%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $20.6M, against $121M in 2024-25 (−83%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: Percent of client application uptake through online channel; Percentage of applications for travel documents that meet service standards | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: Total number of Canadian travel documents issued, both in Canada and abroad | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Planned spending -$25M, against $20.6M in 2025-26 (−221%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2027-28 | Planned spending -$81.1M, against -$25M in 2026-27 (−224%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2028-29 | Planned spending -$15.6M, against -$81.1M in 2027-28 (+81%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | — | — | 439,873 In 2020-21, a total of 439,873 travel documents were issued both in Canada and abroad, which represents a significantly lower volume than previously forecasted with a drop of more than 70% in passport applications. The Passport Program continuously aims to remain agile by adjusting its forecasting model, such that the latest information and trends are reflected in the uncertainties of the post CO… | No result reported |
| 2021-22 | — | — | 1,404,376 In 2021-22, a total of 1,404,376 travel documents were issued both in Canada and abroad, which represents three times more than that of the previous year. Domestic service delivery partners saw passport demand return to pre-pandemic baseline levels in February 2022. In March 2022, overall volumes exceeded baseline levels. The Passport Program continuously aims to remain agile by ensuring that its… | No result reported |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 3,000,000 | 2023 | 3,562,071 In 2021-22 application volumes began to rise and 1.4 million documents were issued, which is approximately 60% of the volume issued in 2019-20 prior to the pandemic. By April 2022, IRCC returned to the pre-pandemic baseline of demand. | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 3,000,000 | 2024 | 4,713,156 In 2023-24, the actual number of Canadian travel documents issued was 4.7 million which significantly exceeded the target of 3 million. This is expected to continue for 2024-25, led by renewals of the 10-year passports which were first issued in July 2013 and are now expiring. Their renewal is following a pattern whereby most passport holders renew within one year of passport expiration. | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 3,750,000 | 2025 | 5,163,395 In 2024-25, application volumes continued to rise due to renewals of the 10-Year passport. Based on the historical renewal pattern of 5-year passports, the majority of renewals of 10-year passports are expected to occur within one year of passport expiration. In 2024-25, there were 5,163,395 travel documents issued, returning to pre-pandemic levels. | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 74% In the 2018 survey, 74% of respondents indicated that they have confidence in the Passport program. This is consistent with respondent confidence levels over the past several years. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 76% In 2019-2020, 76% of survey respondents, who applied either from within Canada or abroad, indicated that they have confidence in the Passport program. As a blend of three responses, applicants were asked to what extent they associate the Canadian passport with a pride of citizenship and providing a sense of security as well as confidence while travelling. While the result is consistent with confi… | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 90% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 90% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $85.6M | -$14.2M |
| 2019-20 | $179M | $101M |
| 2020-21 | $137M | $307M |
| 2021-22 | $167M | $251M |
| 2022-23 | $110M | $318M |
| 2023-24 | $6.6M | $126M |
| 2024-25 | $41.1M | $121M |
| 2025-26 | $20.6M | — |
| 2026-27 | -$25M | — |
| 2027-28 | -$81.1M* | — |
| 2028-29 | -$15.6M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 799 | 770 |
| 2019-20 | 778 | 859 |
| 2020-21 | 922 | 896 |
| 2021-22 | 959 | 893 |
| 2022-23 | 872 | 960 |
| 2023-24 | 994 | 930 |
| 2024-25 | 932 | 896 |
| 2025-26 | 770 | — |
| 2026-27 | 806 | — |
| 2027-28 | 818* | — |
| 2028-29 | 818* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $85,606,743 | $151,275,243 | $108,303,021 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $178,824,148 | $65,621,952 | $58,679,035 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $136,984,408 | $75,222,261 | $8,450,625 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $167,385,285 | $34,722,078 | -$20,447,548 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $109,952,279 | $40,830,119 | -$27,054,952 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $6,582,537 | -$55,070,725 | -$9,654,338 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $41,097,803 | $18,728,982 | $6,075,804 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $20,643,448 | $7,990,270 | $1,914,466 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | -$25,003,403 | -$81,100,986 | -$15,644,776 | ||||||||
| Actual | -$14,158,031 | $101,307,641 | $307,079,052 | $251,457,202 | $317,716,768 | $126,361,976 | $120,626,725 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
