Service Canada announced that it has resumed all services at its Service Canada Centres and Passport offices following the end of the public service labour disruption. However, the agency acknowledges a backlog due to the labour disruption that resulted in a 27,900 passport application shortfall, representing an 81% decrease in domestic passport applications than predicted for the period.
While Service Canada expects to recover quickly, it anticipates an increase in application volumes during the recovery period, resulting in longer lineups at Passport offices, Service Canada Centres, and higher call volumes through the Passport call centre. To manage the lineups at Passport offices and Service Canada Centres, the agency will prioritize clients with more urgent passport needs, including those who need to travel soon.
For clients who submitted an application during the labour disruption, Service Canada says they will process it and there is no need to reapply. Clients who applied before the labour disruption and whose application is currently being processed can contact the Passport Call Centre or visit a Passport Office to request prioritization if they have an imminent need.
Canadians can monitor the processing of their applications in real-time using the online passport status checker. The government’s service delivery standard is 10 business days for in-person passport applications received at a specialized passport office or at a Service Canada Centre offering 10-day service, and 20 business days for applications dropped off at a regular Service Canada Centre or received by mail.
Service Canada encourages Canadians to use the most convenient service options that best suit their needs based on the urgency of their situations. This includes a network of over 300 Service Canada Centres that provide 20-day service for passport applications, 13 Service Canada Centres offering 10-day pick-up service for passports, and 36 specialized passport offices offering 10-day pick-up service.
Overall, Service Canada is working to minimize the impact of the labour disruption on passport services, and is prioritizing the needs of Canadians with urgent travel requirements. It is important for Canadians applying for passports during this time to be aware of the backlog and potential wait times, and to choose the service option that best suits their needs.