Key takeaways
- Wait for the passport request. IRCC says not to submit your passport until it sends you a request letter or email
- After IRCC sends the request, you have 30 days to submit your passport
- Include a copy of the request. IRCC says sending the passport without it “will cause a delay”
- Your passport must be valid for your entire stay and have at least 1 blank page
- Outside Canada, you submit through a visa application centre (VAC). Some VACs accept passports by mail or courier only. For India, IRCC says you “may not be able to submit your passport in person”
- Inside Canada, you must mail your passport to IRCC in Ottawa. You cannot submit it in person
The rule: wait for the request, then act within 30 days
IRCC’s where to submit your passport page says: “Don’t submit your passport until we send you a passport request letter or email.” It also says: “After we send you a passport request, you have 30 days to submit your passport.”
Include a copy of the passport request. If you send the passport without it, IRCC says this “will cause a delay”. Your passport must be valid for your entire stay in Canada and have at least 1 blank page.
Families and groups
IRCC says: “Each traveller must have received their own passport request email or letter.” A family member who has no request must wait. To meet the 30-day limit, family members “may have to send their passports separately”.
If you are outside Canada: submit at a visa application centre
IRCC’s visa application centre page says: “You can only submit your passport to a VAC after you get a request letter or email from us. Some VACs accept passports sent by mail or courier only.” VACs also return passports and decision documents, including by courier.
IRCC says: “Check your visa application centre’s website to make sure you can submit your passport in person, by mail or by courier.”
A typical package includes:
- your passport request letter
- the VAC service fees (for passport transmission)
- your contact information and return address
- the VAC consent forms
For some countries, IRCC also asks for a return waybill if you mail the passport. Fees and forms differ by VAC. Read your VAC’s website for the current amounts and steps.
Notes for readers from India, Nigeria, the Philippines and China
These notes come from the IRCC where-to-submit page:
- India: “You may not be able to submit your passport in person. First, check the website of your closest VAC.”
- Nigeria: IRCC lists VACs in Lagos and Abuja.
- Philippines: IRCC lists VACs in Makati City and Cebu City.
- China: IRCC lists VFS Global in China.
If you are in Sri Lanka or another country, open the IRCC page and find your country in the list.
If you are inside Canada: mail your passport to IRCC
IRCC says that for a new visitor visa, study permit or work permit applied for from inside Canada, you “must mail us your passport” and “can’t submit your passport in person”. A super visa is different: IRCC says the passport must go to a VAC outside Canada, because “We can’t print your visa from inside Canada”. Wait until your passport is back before you book travel.
Steps from IRCC:
- Use Canada Post Xpresspost or Priority (tracked), or a courier.
- Buy 2 prepaid envelopes. Use regional envelopes if you are in Ontario or Quebec, and national envelopes elsewhere. The sending envelope is letter-size, 318 x 241 mm. The return envelope is standard size, 260 x 159 mm.
- Put in your passport, a copy of the passport request showing your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) and application numbers, and the self-addressed return envelope.
- By Canada Post, address it to: Temporary Resident Visa Section, CPC-Ottawa (e-Application), PO Box 9640, Ottawa ON K1G 6T2.
- By courier, address it to: Temporary Resident Visa Section, 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa ON K1A 1L1.
IRCC aims to return the passport “within 10 business days plus mailing time”. If you need it urgently and tracking shows IRCC already has it, call the Client Support Centre.
What this guide does not cover
The IRCC page covers online temporary resident applications. Do not apply these steps to a permanent residence (PR) application. For PR, follow the instructions in your own request letter. We also did not find an IRCC page that explains how to get more time if you miss the 30 days. Read your request letter and see our guide to how IRCC contacts you to check that a message is real.
What this means for you
- You applied from outside Canada: check your VAC’s website for in-person, mail or courier options before you travel to it.
- You applied from India: IRCC says you may not be able to submit in person. Check your closest VAC first.
- You applied from inside Canada: you must mail the passport. Buy the envelopes and use a tracked service.
- You apply with family: each person needs their own request before sending a passport.
What to do next
- Find your passport request letter or email and note the date it was sent.
- Check that your passport covers your whole stay and has a blank page.
- Open the IRCC page and your VAC’s website for your country.
- Prepare the package and keep a copy of the request.
- Use our document checklist generator and read about work permits.
Frequently asked questions
When should I send my passport to IRCC?
Only after IRCC sends you a passport request letter or email. Then you have 30 days.
Can I submit my passport by mail or courier?
Some VACs accept passports by mail or courier only. Check your VAC’s website. Inside Canada, you must mail it to IRCC.
What do I include with my passport?
A copy of the passport request. IRCC says sending the passport without it will cause a delay.
Does each family member need a request?
Yes. IRCC says each traveller must have received their own passport request.
How long does IRCC take to return my passport inside Canada?
IRCC aims to return it within 10 business days plus mailing time.
Sources
Facts as provided in our research brief dated October 11, 2026.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
