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Ask about or update your application, what would you like to do, check your application status, change or update your contact information, add, change or cancel a representative.

Add a document to your application

Ask for urgent processing for your permanent resident card

Withdraw or cancel your application.

Schedule or change the date or time of your appointment, interview or test

Before you reach out to us, check your application status online . This is the fastest way to find outwhat stage your application is at.

If you have an application in process, you must tell us if you change your address.

There are different ways of changing your address, depending on your type of application:

• if you’re waiting on your initial permanent resident card
• for all other applications

You can likely update your address online, if you’re in Canada. If you’re outside of Canada, you’ll most likely need to get in touch with the visa office that serves your region .

A representative can be a citizenship or immigration consultant, lawyer, friend or family member, or someone else you know. You don’t need to have a representative to submit or update an application. Make sure you know the steps to add, change or remove a representative .

We only process permanent resident cards on an urgent basis for specific situations. To qualify, you must be travelling within the next 3 months because of:

• a job opportunity
• serious illness (your own or that of a family member)
• a death in the family
• work related to your current job

Before you reach out to us, make sure you’re eligible for urgent processing and find out what you should do .

You can ask to withdraw or cancel your application at any point. If we’ve already started processing your application, you may not get back all of the fees you paid. Find out which fees we may refund if you withdraw your application .

Our Help Centre answers many frequently asked questions about how to apply and what to do once you’ve submitted an application. Before you reach out to us, visit the Help Centre to see if we’ve already answered your question.

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Ottawa West Service Canada Centre and Passport Services

Health measures and other considerations to know before you visit, masks are encouraged.

Service Canada provides a mask-friendly environment. Clients and visitors should feel comfortable to wear a mask in our offices.

Don't visit if you:

• are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (even if mild);
• have tested positive on a PCR or rapid test, been presumed positive for COVID-19 in the past 5 days; or
• have been instructed by public health authorities or a health care provider to quarantine or isolate for any reason.

Limit the use of scented products

Service Canada promotes a scent reduced work environment and encourages the limited use of scented products in our offices.

Wait times may be long at this passport office

You can also apply in person at your local Service Canada Centre , or by mail. Your application will be processed within 20 business days, plus mail time.

Office Information

Estimated wait time - updated every business day at 9:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. (local time).

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Contact form for requesting emergency travel assistance

Canadians who require emergency assistance regarding travel outside Canada can contact the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre directly via this online form.

Please note that Global Affairs Canada does not deal with and will not reply to questions on Canadian visas or immigrating to Canada. Those enquiries must be addressed to  Citizenship and Immigration Canada .

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Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport

Who can apply.

An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport. It is usually only valid for one single or return journey.

You can travel through a maximum of 5 countries.

You can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you’re a British national
• you’re outside the UK
• you need to travel within 6 weeks
• your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
• you cannot renew or replace your UK passport from abroad before you travel
• you have had a valid UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006

If you have not had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006

If you have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006, you’ll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document.

You might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you have, or are eligible for, British nationality
• you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances may include if:

• your child was born unexpectedly
• you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country
• you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative

If you have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006, you cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews.

You’ll have to explain and provide evidence to show why your journey is urgent and essential. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

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Urgent refugee travel document during COVID

• Thread starter abcdtt
• Start date Apr 13, 2021

Hello Everyone I hope you are doing well I sent my application for the refugee travel document and then sent a webform informing IRCC that I need urgent process due to an emergency IRCC replied to me and informed me that they forwarded my request to the certificate of identity in Gatinieu. Then I received an epost connect message. When I opened it, they said to submit the application using epost connect. I informed them that I have already sent the application via mail and I gave them the tracking number and sent a new webform stating the same information. Now it has been almost a month and I have not received anything and even they did not deduct the application fee from my credit card. Did someone face something like that before ? What should I do ? Thanks  

Can someone who knows or has experience please respond since I am very confused and worried  

Full Member

abcdtt said: Can someone who knows or has experience please respond since I am very confused and worried Click to expand...

@cpasbirn Thanks for the reply I sent another webform today I hope for the best  

Star Member

Hero Member

cpasbirn said: Here is my experience, i sent the webform before mailing the application and they sent me the basic instructions through epost, i printed the message and sent it along with the application. 3 weeks later they sent me my new RTD. I’d suggest you fill the webform once again and explain them the situation or you can fax them at 8199539546 Click to expand...

@Jon0003 Thanks for responding I already sent the application about a month ago. After I sent the application, I sent a webform with the request of urgent process with the reasons and the mail tracking number. The thing is I sent the tracking number in another webform. And whenever I send a webform now, they say that the agent who responded to me before took the appropriate actions (she sent a request to the passport office with the mail tracking number). And that is it for 3 weeks no news until now. I am going to call the office again this week since by this week I will hit the one month margin also some notes : my application until now is not on the system and the fees were not deducted from my credit card  

Kaisa_18 said: Hi @cpasbirn Did you need to ask a guarantor to sign the application & one photo? And by sending did you mean sending it online through epost or physical mail? Thanks! Click to expand...

@cpasbirn @Jon0003 after what time did the passport office deduct the application fees from your credit card? Thanks  

abcdtt said: @cpasbirn @Jon0003 after what time did the passport office deduct the application fees from your credit card? Thanks Click to expand...

Hello! has anybody requested the urgent travel just explaining the reasons? with no supporting document?  

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Emergency Travel

This page is for noncitizens in the United States who need to travel outside of the United States because of an emergency and are seeking a travel document to authorize their return.  

If you are already outside the United States and need to return, but do not have your reentry permit, Green Card, or advance parole document because it was lost, stolen, or destroyed, see Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) page. 

If you are currently inside the United States and need to leave the United States because of an emergency, you should know what documents you will need to reenter the United States. You also should understand whether leaving the United States could negatively affect your immigration status or pending applications for immigration benefits.  

If you are returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad, you generally must have in your possession either:  

• A valid entry document, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or nonimmigrant visa; or  
• A valid and unexpired travel document, such as a reentry permit, refugee travel document, or advance parole document.  

You generally need to apply for and obtain a travel document before you leave the United States. You may request a travel document by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.  

For more information, see the Travel Documents page.

Expedited Processing of an Application for Travel Document

If you have a pressing or critical need to travel and must leave the United States by a certain date, we encourage you to submit a request to expedite your pending application at least 45 days before the date you intend to leave, if possible.  

You may ask us to expedite adjudication of your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , by calling the Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page.) If you have a USCIS online account and access to secure messaging, you may submit your request there by selecting “expedite” as your inquiry type. You will be asked to upload documents in your online account to support your request.  

You may ask USCIS to expedite the following types of travel documents:

• Advance parole documents for noncitizens in the United States seeking to return after temporary travel abroad (including advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents);
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) travel authorization documents;
• Reentry permits; and
• Refugee travel documents.

For more information, please visit the Expedite Requests page and the USCIS Policy Manual Expedite Requests guidance.  

Emergency Issuance of Travel Documents

If you are in the United States and have a pressing or critical need to travel outside the United States in less than 15 days, USCIS may issue an emergency travel document.  USCIS may issue an emergency travel document for an:

• Advance parole document; or
• TPS travel authorization document.  

Examples may include:

• A requestor who has a pressing or critical need to travel to obtain medical treatment in a limited amount of time.
• A requestor who has a pressing or critical need to travel due to the death or grave illness of a family member or close friend.
• A requestor who timely applied for a travel document and requested expedited processing, but their case remains pending, and they now must travel within 15 days for a pressing or critical professional, academic, or personal commitment.

To ask about emergency processing of a travel document, call the Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or request an appointment through My Appointment . If your situation qualifies for emergency processing, we will schedule an appointment for you with a local field office.

Required Documents

If you have an appointment with a USCIS field office for emergency issuance of a travel document, you should bring:

• A completed and signed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with any applicable filing fee (Note: Even if you already have a pending Form I-131, you still need to file a new Form 1-131, with fee, if applicable, during your local field office appointment.);
• Evidence to support eligibility for the travel document (see the form filing instructions);
• Evidence to demonstrate the pressing or critical need to travel (see the Expedite Requests page); and
• 2 passport-style photos.

Any documentation in a language other than English must include a full certified English translation. 

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When and how do I apply urgently for a citizenship certificate?

The Citizenship Act includes a first-generation limit to citizenship by descent. This limit generally means someone isn't automatically a Canadian citizen if

• they were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, and
• their Canadian parent was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent

In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared that the first-generation limit for many individuals is unconstitutional .

However, the Court has suspended the declaration until December 19, 2024. This means that the current rules still apply until further notice.

• how the first-generation limit affects you
• what you can apply for (including urgent application, if applicable)

Check your next steps

• Canadian passport
• Canadian citizenship certificate
• permanent resident travel document

Learn more about the special measures .

In some cases , we may be able to process applications faster than our normal processing times .

You can apply urgently for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship) for reasons such as:

• nationality
• sexual orientation
• gender identity or expression, or
• membership in particular groups
• were born outside Canada, and
• have a Canadian parent
• to help with a case of statelessness
• to travel because of death or serious illness in the family, and you’re unable to get a passport in your other nationality
• to give up (renounce) foreign citizenship by a certain date
• apply for a job
• avoid losing a current job
• attend a school, college or university
• health care
• a social insurance number

Your request for urgent processing must include

• an explanation letter
• your plane ticket or itinerary, with proof of payment
• a letter from your employer
• a letter from your school
• a doctor’s note
• a death certificate

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify for urgent processing, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Dual Canadian citizens can apply for a citizenship certificate urgently . To qualify, you must

• also be a citizen of a visa-exempt country
• have proof of air travel to Canada within 6 months following the date of application
• have applied at the same time for a citizenship certificate and a Canadian passport

You can apply for urgent processing

• online, if you qualify , or

Answer a few questions to get instructions to apply urgently.

Have you already submitted your application for a citizenship certificate?

Do not submit a duplicate urgent application. For example, if you’ve already applied urgently on paper, do not apply online for the same request. If you do, we won’t process your online application.

How did you apply?

Where do you live?

• In Canada or the United States
• Outside Canada or the United States

How will you apply?

Are you eligible to apply online (opens in a new tab)   ?

You have to apply urgently on paper. Answer the following question to continue.

Urgent processing: Submitted paper application (from outside Canada and the United States)

Contact the Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission (opens in a new tab)   where you submitted your application.

You need to prepare

• a letter explaining why you need urgent processing
• documents to support your explanation

Urgent processing: Submitted paper application (from Canada or the United States)

Fill out the web form (opens in a new tab)   to explain why you need urgent processing.

• your full name, date of birth, email address and telephone numbers
• a message that starts with “Request for urgent processing”
• Make sure your documents are in the correct format .

Urgent processing: Submitted online application

Urgent processing: new online application.

We’ll ask you if you need urgent processing in the application.

Answer yes, and

• give an explanation of why you need urgent processing
• upload documents to support your explanation

Create an account or sign in

Urgent processing: New paper application

Complete the application package (opens in a new tab)   .

Include with your application

• Pay your application fee (opens in a new tab)   .
• Write  “Urgent – Citizenship Certificate (Proof)” in large, dark letters on the envelope.
• Find out where to submit your application (opens in a new tab)   .

Examples of supporting documents

• a plane ticket or itinerary, with proof of payment

File format requirements

Files must be

• in PDF, JPEG, TIFF, DOC, or DOCX format
• 2 MB or smaller

If you include multiple files, the total size must be 3.5 MB or smaller.

How to reduce file size (opens in a new tab)  

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You will not receive a reply. Telephone numbers and email addresses will be removed. Maximum 300 characters

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• Do I have to use the travel journal?
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• If I’m transferring through different countries at the airport, or by car or train, do I need to record it in my travel journal?
• How do I get more copies of the travel journal?
• My application has been returned, because it’s incomplete. Do I have to recalculate my physical presence (time lived in Canada)?
• Save time: send a complete application

Form and guide

• Application for citizenship certificate

Glossary term

• Proof of citizenship
• Certified photocopy
• Certified translations

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Contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Find out how to contact IRCC.

Canada Post services across Canada may be affected by ongoing delays in service from continued labour negotiations.

Our processes will be unaffected though you may experience delays in:

• sending applications mailed within or to Canada
• receiving mail from us

If you’re planning on traveling to Canada or submitting an application (including for a passport or other travel document), apply early.

Visit Canada Post for more information before sending any application by mail. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

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