Americans can now renew passports online. Canadians are still waiting

Americans now have the option to renew their passports online, the U.S. government announced on Wednesday, a service Canadians are still waiting for despite being promised more than a year ago.

The U.S. State Department revealed that its online passport renewal system is fully operational following successful pilot programs this summer. The service is available for adults whose passports expired within the last five years or will expire in the next year, but it excludes new passport applications, children’s passports, and renewals outside the U.S.

“With this online alternative to the traditional paper process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer a more efficient and convenient passport renewal experience,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

The department estimates that about five million Americans will be able to use this service annually.

In contrast, Ottawa announced in May 2023 that Canadians with simple passport renewals would be able to apply online starting in the fall. This process would allow applicants to pay fees and upload documents and photos through a secure government website. However, the anticipated service has yet to launch, with no updates on the passport renewal website, which still only offers in-person or mail-in options.

When asked for an update, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) did not provide a timeline, stating, “Online passport renewals are not available at this time; however, the Government of Canada is committed to offering secure online passport services for Canadians in the near future.”

In a November inquiry from Global News, IRCC had mentioned it was “working on” launching a secure online passport renewal service that protects data privacy, but no reason for the delay has been given. The department promised to communicate any updates proactively.