What to Do If Your Passport Is Lost or Stolen in Canada

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You reach into your bag at the airport check-in counter and feel nothing but lint. Your passport—the document standing between you and your flight, job interview, or family reunion—is gone. Maybe it slipped out of your jacket at a café in Montreal. Maybe it was lifted from your hotel room in Vancouver. Either way, your mind races: what do I do now?

If your passport is lost or stolen in Canada, the situation feels overwhelming, but it is absolutely manageable. The Government of Canada has a clear process for replacing it, and acting quickly protects you from identity fraud while getting you back on track. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, how much it will cost, how long it will take, and the mistakes that turn a headache into a nightmare.

The Problem

A lost or stolen Canadian passport is more than an inconvenience. It is a valid government-issued travel document containing your full name, date of birth, photograph, and passport number—everything a fraudster needs to attempt identity theft or travel under your credentials. Once it leaves your possession, you no longer control who sees it or what they do with it.

Any Canadian citizen can be affected. The impact is immediate: you cannot board an international flight, cross a land border, or in many cases check into accommodation that requires passport identification. If you are abroad when it happens, you may be stranded until you secure a replacement.

The mistakes people make are costly. Some freeze for days, hoping the passport will turn up. Others assume a police report is optional. Some travellers try to use a passport they later find, not realizing that once reported lost or stolen, it is permanently cancelled and using it can trigger serious security issues.

Why It Happens

Passports go missing for two broad reasons: genuine loss and theft.

Genuine loss usually happens during travel. You set it on a restaurant table in Toronto while pulling out your wallet. You leave it in the seat-back pocket of a flight from Calgary. These are accidents, but common because travellers treat their passport like a wallet—pulling it out frequently, then stuffing it back carelessly.

Theft is more deliberate. Pickpockets operate in crowded tourist zones, transit hubs, and busy markets. Thieves target backpacks left on café floors, jackets draped over chairs, and bags in overhead bins. In some cases, passports are stolen during home or vehicle break-ins. The risk spikes when you carry all family passports in one bag—lose that bag, and everyone is stuck.

Damage is a less obvious cause. A passport left in a back pocket, exposed to water, or bent repeatedly can become illegible. While not technically "lost," it creates the same problem: an unusable document that must be replaced.

The Solutions

When your passport disappears, you have three realistic paths forward depending on where you are and how urgently you need to travel.

1. Standard Replacement from Within Canada

Report the loss or theft to the Canadian Passport Program by calling 1-800-567-6868 as soon as possible. Then check whether you are eligible to renew. If not, apply for a new passport.

You must submit a completed declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document (form PPTC 203) alongside your application. You also pay the standard passport fee plus an additional $45 administrative fee for replacing a valid lost or stolen passport.

Advantages: This is the standard, fully valid replacement. You can choose a 5-year or 10-year adult passport with full biometric features.

Disadvantages: Standard processing runs 10 to 20 business days or more, and the Passport Program may review or investigate how your passport was lost before issuing a replacement, causing delays.

When it makes sense: This is the right choice if you are not travelling within the next two weeks.

Costs: As of March 31, 2026, a 5-year adult passport costs $122.50 and a 10-year adult passport costs $163.50, plus the $45 replacement fee. A child passport costs $58.50 plus the $45 fee.

2. Urgent or Express Replacement from Within Canada

If you have immediate travel plans, request expedited service at a passport office. Urgent pickup delivers your passport by the end of the next business day. Express pickup typically takes 2 to 9 business days, though some locations take slightly longer.

You must apply in person and provide proof that you need the passport urgently. Acceptable proof includes a paid travel itinerary, airline ticket, or a written statement explaining an emergency such as illness or death in the family.

Advantages: You get a valid passport fast enough to salvage most travel plans.

Disadvantages: You pay significantly more. Urgent pickup costs an extra $125.75 on top of regular and replacement fees. Weekend or statutory holiday emergency service costs $383.50. Appointments can be scarce during peak travel seasons.

When it makes sense: Choose this only if you have confirmed, non-refundable travel within the next week or two and cannot delay your departure.

3. Emergency Replacement from Outside Canada

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are travelling abroad, contact the nearest Government of Canada office immediately. Consular officials will guide you through applying for an emergency travel document or temporary passport if you need to travel urgently. Emergency passports have limited validity and may not be accepted by all countries or airlines, so verify entry requirements before booking onward travel.

Advantages: It gets you home or to your next destination when you have no other document.

Disadvantages: Emergency passports are temporary solutions. They often lack biometric chips and pre-printed visas. You will still need to apply for a full replacement passport once you return to Canada.

When it makes sense: This is your only option if you are outside Canada without a passport and need to travel before a standard replacement can be processed and mailed internationally.

The Best Choice

The right path depends on your timeline and location.

If you are in Canada with no urgent travel, the standard replacement is the smartest move. It costs the least and gives you a full-validity passport. Since April 1, 2026, the Government of Canada offers a 30-business-day processing guarantee: if your complete application takes longer than 30 business days to process, you receive a full automatic refund of your passport fee.

If you are in Canada but travelling within the next week, urgent pickup is your lifeline. Yes, it is expensive, but missing a $2,000 flight or a critical business meeting is usually more costly.

If you are outside Canada, contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate immediately. Do not wait to see if the passport turns up. The sooner you start the emergency process, the more options you have.

One note on travel insurance: most policies do not cover the actual cost of replacing a lost or stolen passport. However, if your passport was stolen and you file a police report, trip cancellation or trip interruption benefits may reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses you lose because of the delay. Check your policy details before assuming you are covered.

Step-by-Step Action Plan

Here is exactly what to do, in order, the moment you realize your passport is missing.

1. Retrace your steps. Check pockets, bags, hotel safes, and vehicle compartments. Call any business where you may have left it.
2. Report the loss to the Canadian Passport Program at 1-800-567-6868. This officially cancels the passport and prevents fraudulent use.
3. File a police report if the passport was stolen. While not required for replacement, it supports insurance claims and creates a formal record.
4. Gather your documents: proof of Canadian citizenship, government-issued photo ID, two compliant passport photos, and a completed passport application form.
5. Complete form PPTC 203. This declaration must accompany your application.
6. Calculate and pay your fees. Include the regular passport fee plus the $45 replacement fee. Add urgent or express fees if needed. In-person locations accept credit card, debit card, certified cheque, or money order. Cash and personal cheques are not accepted.
7. Submit your application in person at a Service Canada Centre or Passport Office, or by mail. Urgent service requires an in-person application.
8. Do not use the passport if you find it later. Once reported, it is permanently invalid. Using it can result in detention or denied boarding. Return it to the Passport Program immediately.

Common Mistakes

1. Waiting to report it. Every hour you delay increases identity fraud risk and shrinks your replacement window.
2. Trying to use a "found" passport after reporting it lost. It is cancelled the moment you report it. Border agents will flag it.
3. Skipping the PPTC 203 form. Your application will be rejected or delayed without this declaration.
4. Applying by mail when you need urgent service. Mail cannot be expedited. Go in person.
5. Forgetting the extra $45 fee. Incomplete payment means your application gets sent back.
6. Assuming travel insurance covers the replacement cost. Most policies do not pay for the new passport itself. Know what your plan actually covers.
7. Carrying all family passports in one place. If one bag goes missing, everyone loses their document. Split them across bags and travellers.

Expert Takeaway

The most important lesson is this: speed beats hope. The moment you suspect your passport is gone, act as if it is gone for good. Report it, start the replacement process, and protect yourself from the downstream chaos of identity fraud, missed flights, and cancelled plans. A lost passport is a solvable problem. A delayed response is what turns it into a crisis.

FAQ

Do I need a police report to replace a lost passport in Canada?

No. A police report is not required by the Passport Program to issue a replacement. However, if your passport was stolen, filing a police report is strongly recommended for insurance claims and identity protection.

How much does it cost to replace a lost Canadian passport?

You pay the standard passport fee plus a $45 administrative fee for replacing a valid lost or stolen passport. As of March 31, 2026, a 5-year adult passport costs $122.50 and a 10-year adult passport costs $163.50. Urgent or express service incurs additional fees.

How long does it take to get a replacement passport in Canada?

Standard processing takes 10 to 20 business days or more. Express service takes 2 to 9 business days. Urgent pickup is available by the end of the next business day. Since April 1, 2026, applications not processed within 30 business days qualify for a full automatic refund.

Can I travel if I find my passport after reporting it lost?

No. Once reported, the passport is permanently cancelled. You must use your new replacement passport and return the old one to the Passport Program.

What if my passport is stolen while I am travelling outside Canada?

Contact the nearest Government of Canada office abroad immediately. They can issue an emergency travel document or temporary passport if you need to travel urgently. You will still need to apply for a full replacement once you return home.