Program directory · Employment and Social Development Canada
Passport
- Department
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Program code
- BGQ04 (HRSD)
- Core responsibility
- Information Delivery and Services for Other Departments
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
Service Canada delivers the Passport program domestically on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Canadians can apply for a passport at nearly 600 Service Canada points of service across the country or by mail. Service delivery activities include providing information, processing applications, validating identity, and issuing and printing passports.
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 | $1.52B |
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 $140M, against $14M in 2018-19 (+898%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2021-22 | Employees (FTEs) 1,725, against 1,223 in 2020-21 (+41%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2021-22 | Spending $176M, against $130M in 2020-21 (+35%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Employees (FTEs) 3,700, against 1,725 in 2021-22 (+114%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Spending $346M, against $176M in 2021-22 (+97%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Indicators dropped: Percentage of passport applications submitted by mail processed within 20 business days | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned employees (FTEs) 2,205, against 3,588 in 2024-25 (−39%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $248M, against $353M in 2024-25 (−30%). | 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
Percentage of passport applications made at a Service Canada Centre - Passport Services or a Service Canada Centre that offers expedited services, processed within 10 business days.
Expected result: Canadians can obtain a passport within Canada in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 100% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 100% Approximately 100% (99.7%) of applications were processed in 10 business days. | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | — Passport services offices issued passports on an exceptional basis 2020-21. From March 19 to July 30, 2020, passport services were restricted to critical services only. Applicants could obtain an in-person appointment at a Service Canada – Passport Services or consolidated site, for compassionate and compelling reasons only, when accompanied with proof. As of July 31, 2020, the mail-in channel wa… | No result reported |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 90% | 2022 | 92% | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 90% | 2023 | 96% | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 93% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 90% | 2025 | 88% Due to higher-than-expected application volumes and frequent system and network outages at the end of 2023–2024, the 2024–2025 fiscal year began with an unusually large inventory. These challenges continued into the first half of the year, with intake volumes remaining about 11% above Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s forecast. Although weekly service levels improved later in the yea… | Not met |
Percentage of passport applications made at a Service Canada Centre, a Service Canada Scheduled Outreach Site, or by mail, processed within 20 business days.
Expected result: Canadians can obtain a passport within Canada in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 100% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 100% Approximately 100% (99.8%) of applications were processed in 10 business days. | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | — On March 19, 2020, passport application intake was suspended at Service Canada Centres. Later that month, the offices were closed. The Service Canada Centres were gradually re-opened over several months, however passport intake remains suspended. | No result reported |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 90% | 2022 | 51% Due to the health and safety measures that were in place because of the pandemic, Service Canada operated at a reduced capacity in all offices and processing centres. During the latter part of the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with the relaxing of travel restrictions, Passport Services experienced a surge of activity consequently negatively impacting the service standards. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 90% | 2023 | 66% As pandemic restrictions eased and travel resumed in the spring, Service Canada experienced a surge in demand for passports. Only 20% of the normally anticipated passport volume was received during the first 2 years of the pandemic. This means that 3 million fewer Canadians renewed or applied for a passport during the pandemic. The post-pandemic surge resulted in lineups and longer wait times for… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 92% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 90% | 2025 | 68% Due to higher-than-expected application volumes and frequent system and network outages at the end of 2023–2024, the 2024–2025 fiscal year began with an unusually large inventory. These challenges continued into the first half of the year, with intake volumes remaining about 11% above Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s forecast. Although weekly service levels improved later in the yea… | Not met |
Percentage of passport applications submitted by mail processed within 20 business days
Expected result: Canadians can obtain a passport within Canada in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 100% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 100% Approximately 100% (99.7%) of applications were processed in 10 business days. | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | — From March 19 to July 30, 2020, passport services were restricted to critical services only. The mail-in channel was suspended, though some applicants continued to send in their applications. As of July 31, 2020, the mail-in channel was re-activated and the backlog of requests received in the preceding months was processed. Applicants were encouraged to mail in their applications and did not have… | No result reported |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 90% | 2022 | 76% Over the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume of passport applications was relatively low, due to a reduction in travel following the imposition of public health restrictions and travel advisories. With the easing of travel restrictions, Service Canada experienced high volumes in passport applications and increased passport-processing time, and responded by prioritizing those travelling im… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 90% | 2023 | 52% As pandemic restrictions eased and travel resumed in the spring, Service Canada experienced a surge in demand for passports. Only 20% of the normally anticipated passport volume was received during the first 2 years of the pandemic. This means that 3 million fewer Canadians renewed or applied for a passport during the pandemic. The high application volume, combined with the health and safety meas… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 87% The last quarter of FY 2023-2024 saw an increase in Passport application volumes beyond what was forecasted. As a result, the service standards for this service channel were slightly impacted. | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Percentage of passport applications made at a Service Canada Centre - Passport Services or a Service Canada Centre that offers expedited services, processed within 10 business days.
Expected result: Canadians can obtain a passport within Canada in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 90% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Percentage of passport applications made at a Service Canada Centre, a Service Canada Scheduled Outreach Site, or by mail, processed within 20 business days.
Expected result: Canadians can obtain a passport within Canada in a timely manner
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 | $21.3M | $14M |
| 2019-20 | $147M | $140M |
| 2020-21 | $182M | $130M |
| 2021-22 | $173M | $176M |
| 2022-23 | $176M | $346M |
| 2023-24 | $324M | $356M |
| 2024-25 | $331M | $353M |
| 2025-26 | $248M | — |
| 2026-27 | $228M | — |
| 2027-28 | $220M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $217M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 2,400 | 1,667 |
| 2019-20 | 1,887 | 1,490 |
| 2020-21 | 1,890 | 1,223 |
| 2021-22 | 1,819 | 1,725 |
| 2022-23 | 1,821 | 3,700 |
| 2023-24 | 3,178 | 3,384 |
| 2024-25 | 2,871 | 3,588 |
| 2025-26 | 2,205 | — |
| 2026-27 | 1,897 | — |
| 2027-28 | 1,776* | — |
| 2028-29 | 1,708* | — |
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 | $21,349,179 | $3,497 | $0 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $147,200,582 | $146,860,194 | $146,860,194 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $182,344,634 | $173,691,162 | $168,474,360 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $173,007,812 | $167,701,633 | $166,384,100 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $176,050,608 | $168,783,805 | $167,706,997 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $323,712,921 | $325,931,971 | $289,088,270 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $331,301,044 | $260,363,312 | $261,182,704 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $247,608,300 | $225,743,036 | $203,439,180 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $227,801,069 | $219,515,831 | $217,343,026 | ||||||||
| Actual | $14,037,581 | $140,123,892 | $130,434,613 | $175,796,991 | $346,203,095 | $355,749,727 | $352,917,701 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
