I just applied for my first Canadian passport last week, and the tracking number is now showing in the system. Having been a U.S. citizen only until less than 2 weeks ago, the whole concept of needing a guarantor and references was kind of odd, but well, what can I do?
Luckily I know a lot of lawyers, one of whom is my guarantor. Does the Canadian government actually check with the guarantor and references? If so, by phone, or how? My guarantor says he has very hardcore spam filters on his phone, so if there is a number he can let through/answer, I’d love to be able to pass that along to him.
Sometimes, they do check. I’ve guaranteed a few passport applications and other documentation before, and the authorities have checked a couple of times. As I recall, it was by telephone.
But nowadays, it may be easier to check the guarantor’s credentials online. You can find me listed as a member of my Law Society (bar association) at the Society’s website. If I guarantee an application, they can find me there. No need for a phone call any more, in my case.
I have heard about references being contacted, but it’s not typical. Note that it’s only the first passport that requires a guarantor now, renewals just need the references.
Back in the old days, the guarantor was from a small list of professionals. Now you can use anyone with a Canadian passport.
Hopefully I interpreted the requirements correctly, but I am applying from the U.S. and went with using a friend who is not a Canadian passport holder, but is an attorney (I fixed him up with his wife and they have both known me for 25 years.) He is admitted to the Illinois Bar and that can be checked online. I do actually also know an attorney who is Canadian, but she isn’t local so that would have added more steps to the application process.
Maybe my application will be nice and boring and they won’t contact anyone…that would be nice.
Actually, you don’t need even that if you live outside Canada. My son living in Boston used his doctor as guarantor. Although that was in the days that you needed one even for a renewal as he had gotten his first passport while still in Montreal. I know that when I got my first Canadian passport, I just asked one of my colleagues who was never contacted.
I got my first passport back when they were issued through the Department of External Affairs. It was made much easier by the fact that my guarantor was the Director of Consular Services at the time.
As I understand, they are simply saying “yes, that is Bob Smith and I have known them as Bob Smith for X years.” they are not guarateeing your citizenship or other details. (i.e. you are not suddenly stealing an identity.)
Yes, I understand that- I am just hoping someone here can clarify how the reaching out to the guarantor might actually happen so he answers the request! I wish he had mentioned it before I sent off my application.
Don’t sweat it. Your guarantor is a lawyer, which is one of the professions allowed to guarantee a passport in the past, so no problem nowadays with that. Plus, he’s admitted to the Illinois bar, and that can be checked online, as you mentioned. Like I said, with being able to check online, there’s no need for anything like a phone call. You should be fine.
I have a very vague recollection that I got called once when I was acting as a guarantor. But it was so routine a call that I don’t remember who it was for.
It wasn’t for a passport, but I was a reference on a friend’s application for a Possession and Acquisition license. When they couldn’t contact me by phone, they sent me a letter asking me to call them.