I'm considering doing the online passport renewal, but have one important question - I can't see from instructions whether they require you to return the old passport, and if so, will they cancel and return it to you. I have some reasons to keep it, and would like to - although in a pinch I guess I could scan it all.
Anyone had experience with this or seen an answer to this?
I'd be interested if anyone has experience they could share with this process. Now that they are offering a service guarantee of about a month, works fine for me.
Update: I got through to the call centre (passport office) as I couldn't even ask a question using the 'contact us' webpage. (Glitch of some sort)
Short form answer: you do retain the passport (if you wish). I'm going to try it and see. Apparently you do not need to send it by mail, they cancel through the system; it's possible they require applicant to do something more (the call centre was not aware of the exact details - possibly they ask you to partially deface it or cut a corner, don't know - will advise when I get there).
Only downside is that apparently they are still limiting the number of apps they accept this way (daily #). Annoyingly you have to go through several steps to find out they've filled their quota for the day (which happened quick, at least today). Not in a big rush so will try in coming days.
-It turns out they open the window for getting in the limited-quota twice a day (7 am and 7pm), so was able to apply.
-Yes, at the end of it, you get a notice that your passport has been cancelled (you cannot use it until new one arrives) and your instructed to cut the top outside corner of three pages.
-Doing this online was less tedious overall than doing by mail or going to passport office, and they say you'll get it in 20 business days.
Criteria are somewhat strict (straight renewal and other), but you don't need a guarantor, nor a printed photo. Fingers crossed, was reasonably smooth.
Applied online Monday (late), notified this morning that passport approved/application now closed. No complaints, we'll see how long it takes to get it.
Passport received / picked up from Canada Post. If you consider I applied very late evening Monday (i.e. actually Tuesday), it took exactly one week. Stupendous.
Wow thats awsome. I have a question regarding renewal but am in india though.
My questions are in the renewal application.
2. PP Adult Application form - All former surnames field - I don't have any other surname, can i just fill as N/A (read somewhere we cant use N/A, so want to confirm)
3. PP Adult Application form - Surname of Parent at birth - What should i fill here? Both parents separate by a comma or /..system is not accepting a / or , and so confusing.
4. PP Adult Application form - Current home address - My new address is different from the old one given in old pp, should it matter?
2. PP Adult Application form - All former surnames field - I don't have any other surname, can i just fill as N/A (read somewhere we cant use N/A, so want to confirm)
3. PP Adult Application form - Surname of Parent at birth - What should i fill here? Both parents separate by a comma or /..system is not accepting a / or , and so confusing.
4. PP Adult Application form - Current home address - My new address is different from the old one given in old pp, should it matter?
I have one more question. Today in Delhi consulate, they advised me to pay extra $45 and keep the current passport for travel till Aug 14, 2025. I was kind of surprised. I was under assumption, you cannot use your old passport once a new pp application is submitted. Please let me know your thoughts.
I have one more question. Today in Delhi consulate, they advised me to pay extra $45 and keep the current passport for travel till Aug 14, 2025. I was kind of surprised. I was under assumption, you cannot use your old passport once a new pp application is submitted. Please let me know your thoughts.
I don't know about the extra $45. When renewing abroad, they typically let you keep/use your existing passport until the new one arrives, because they know most countries require a foreigner in the country to have a valid passport (and visa if needed). And also emergency travel, I guess.
I think they'll require you to come in person to pick up the new one and they'll cancel it (physically cut some corners off) on the spot. (Note: there is a separate process to mark the old passport as cancelled in their systems - I do not know when exactly they do this, presumably when the new one is picked up).
