Service Canada continues to introduce a variety of new measures to improve passport service delivery and decrease wait times for Canadians as it works through unprecedented demands. The triage system introduced this summer in 17 of our 35 passport offices has made a significant impact in reducing lineups and redirecting Canadians to the appropriate means to access service. The average wait time at call centres has also improved, going from a peak of 108 minutes in April to 28 minutes last week.
Today, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, announced the designation of four additional passport pick-up locations across the country. Effective immediately, Canadians can now apply for and pick up their passport at the following Service Canada Centres:
- Sudbury, Ontario (Sudbury Service Canada Centre)
- Lethbridge, Alberta (Lethbridge Service Canada Centre)
- Kingston, Ontario (Kingston Service Canada Centre)
- Sherbrooke, Québec. (Sherbrooke Service Canada Centre)
In addition to the existing passport offices offering pick-up service, Canadians with proof of travel can now both apply and request in-person pick-up of their passport at a total of eight Service Canada Centres. Unlike the regular Service Canada Centres, these eight locations offer 10-day service, which means that Canadians can apply for a passport in one of those locations and the passport will be available in 10 business days, either by mail or in person pick-up. If Canadians need their passport in less than 10 business days, they will need to visit a passport office that offers Express or Urgent pick-up service.
The expansion of pick-up sites will allow many Canadians who need to pick up passports to do so closer to their homes. Service Canada is fully committed to providing passport services within 50km of the home of Canadians. Also, more scheduled outreach sites that will provide certain passport services will be added in the coming weeks across the country.
