Passport Canada Office

Kudos and well done to the Service Canada staff at the Orleans and Meadowlands locations!

I checked the helpful wait-time website and saw that Orleans was the fastest location with only a ~45 minute wait on a weekday afternoon.

There is a greeter at the door to make sure you’re in the right place and answer basic questions.

There was a ~10 minute wait for the first agent, who checks that you have all of your documents with you. Then you’re given a ticket number. They are purposely not sequential (different letters and numbers) so you can’t tell where you are in line or why certain people may get to go before you.

After a ~25 minute wait I saw an agent. I applied for the express passport renewal service because I had travel coming up. It took less than 10 minutes, so in under an hour total I was in and out – just like the wait-time estimator said. They quote a guaranteed pick-up time for either the normal or express deliveries. Picking up the express ones needs to be done at Meadowlands, which I was fine with. (And Orleans does not offer the urgent next day service)

Within 48 hours, I was able to check online that my passport was approved and would be ready for pick-up the following week at Meadowlands (7 business days since applying, just like they quoted).

Upon arriving at Meadowlands there is another greeter and a separate line for passport pick-ups. The lobby was full with people applying for passports but the line was moving well. There was only one other person waiting to pick-up their passport before me. Give them your reference number and ID, verify that your passport info is correct, and that’s it! In and out within 10 minutes.

Thank you and well done to everyone involved! The process was quick and very easy to understand.

There was a white man greeting who was older and under 5’5, I walked in and immediately he gave me attitude, was extremely dismissive, interrogated me and asked me to bring in my guarantor in front of 100+ people waiting when you don’t have to do that.he was friendly with everyone else so I’m not sure why I was targeted by this man. He embarrassed me in front of everyone by making a scene. I have terrible anxiety so I was shaking and crying after this and I wasn’t given any apology from this man. I work 7 days a week, I booked this day to come in and get my passport, and I left without one due to this incident.

The manager came and was very nice and respectful and helped. I understand it’s busy and it’s holidays, but treat people with decency.

Great location - free parking, lots of staff working, quick processing for non passport related issues. Submitted my CPP and OAS applications and was in at 2pm and out by 2: 35. Nice friendly service as well.

Firstly, we made the "mistake" of going on a Monday - busiest day of the week we found out - but the experience was completely positive. I brought my disabled adult son in to renew his passport, and he was treated with kindness, compassion, and respect from start to finish. I want to especially send props to Lasarus (sp?) and Brigitte for their professionalism and consideration in our dealings; they took a situation that could have been very stressful and put smiles on our faces. They are definitely assets to the entire process. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was so much impressed with this new passport office. It is so well run. Last time i was there before the pandemic and it was in that shabby mall. But this new place is so well run and so much space. I was there today to apply for passport and I spent there only 1 hour which I consider a success given amount of people there. Kudos to all the staff! That’s how every government office should look like

The staff was absolutely amazing to work with and got us looked after and on our way promptly. Thank you so much for the effort you folks put in for us.

My husband (93) and I (85) attended this location to renew our Passports. We arrived at 9: 45 and departed at 10: 15. From the time we entered the building, we waited approximately fifteen minutes before our Number was called. All the staff we met were courteous and friendly. This was a pleasant experience, not the long wait we anticipated.

Christian is an absolute champion. I came in very concerned and he helped me clear up.my.file and me laughing and smiling the whole time. Keep it up. Bro! You killing it!

I have had a positive experience with this Service Canada office. The staff was friendly and helpful. I didn't have an appointment and came in rush hour around lunch time. The overall wait time was about 1,5h, which is not bad.

Great service here and was able to do the urgent next biz service for 1 passport that we realized was less than 6 month period. Collected new passport on time!

I’ve never had such amazing service at passport Canada before. Ralph, Nina, and Kassandra were wonderful. Thanks again

They go on strike and dont notify people that have appointment. They still send appointment confirmation and when you go there oh well we are on strike and could take a week, 2 or a month. Unbelievable.

I went there about a month ago for a new passport application as a walk-in. Everything went smoothly. I reached around 7: 45am and there were around 10 people ahead of me in the queue. The staff is really helpful and informative. One of the staff members was going through the people waiting in the queue and verifying their documents to fasten the whole process. I reached one of the counters at 9 and was out the door by 9: 05. There is a separate queue for people with appointments.

I'd definitely recommend going early in the morning to reduce your wait time if you have a walk-in application. It gets quite busy but the service is great!

I had 4 teens who are travelling with me who needed passports. Figured it would be easier to take them all at once instead of trying to book adjacent appointments. We got there at 8: 15am Monday. 3 of the kids were done by 9: 45 the 4th had to run and get a photo retake but was done by 10: 10 (which included their 20 min photo retake detour). All staff super friendly and helpful, kids only needed me there since some had cash and they don't take cash otherwise the staff double checked everything.

Thank you So much for all the help we got from Lazaros I definitely recommend this place great service nice staff.

Amazing work and very helpful staff. Although getting to the place is bit tricky. You see banner all over the building but the actual office is same in service Canada’s office on the very left corner. A request to everyone, please book your appointment prior to visit and you won’t regret ever going there. Everyone is super helpful and very polite. They will get the job done for sure.

I know people have a negative view of service Canada and the situation with some of their wait times etc. I went to get my passport renewed and yes it was a bit of a wait, but there are alot of people to get through and having your documents with you makes the actual interactions short. They are not working at a snails pace they are hustling and I feel bad people have this point of view. I went at about 10am and left at 1230pm, so it does take time, but they were alot of people there to serve so what could be done. All 15 cubicles were open and I have a guaranteed date to receive it in 2 weeks without any express fees etc.so I feel this is not to bad.

Edit: just received my passport in the mail, a week later!

Craziness seems to have settled down - in and out in under an hour on Feb. 21,2023

I wouldn’t worry about getting there for 8: 30am when it opens - the line was the longest right when I arrived and by 9: 30am was almost empty.

The only negative was a frankly bizarre experience with the front-of-line agent. She told me that I couldn’t use the Renewal Form or receive a 10-year passport after I lost mine. This goes against the online guidance, and when I saw the official processing agent, he processed my 10-year application with the Renewal Form, no issues. Do your research, and when in doubt, stay in line so you can talk to a processing agent.

Also, if you go in-person they are guaranteeing a two-week turnaround time without a travel date - mail-in can still take multiple months.

All in all, I’d recommend giving yourself half a day and going in to make sure you have everything in order, and take advantage of faster delivery. I’m sure this changes day-to-day, but overall they seem to have returned to somewhat ‘normal’

I received excellent customer service today at the Passport Office at the Meadowlands Drive East location. Everyone was really friendly and helpful while I filed an application on behalf of my daughter. I really appreciated it.

I had an exemplary experience at this Service Canada Centre. All the Employees were very respectful, and my Agent was compassionate & knowledgeable helping me fill out corrective Forms for my Pension. I have been ill, and it meant a lot to have such a positive outcome. Thank you all so very much!

Extremely slow and inefficient, expect 2-4 hours. In a Czech village you'd be in an out in 30 minutes. Shameful.

Great experience today! I was in a complete rush and the security guard Latin assisted me with printing my travel documents next door to be fully prepared. Veronique was very professional and proactive with my passport renewal and Abi was empathetic considering the tight deadline of my arrival with no appointment. Life savers!

The staff are continually busy and they do a good job, but the resource is just not enough for the demand - expect to wait several hours.

Lines moved quickly and lots of helpful staff. Ethan was great and made the process very quick and stress free!

Everyone works hard and is respectful
A big thank you to everyone who works here we came here at 7: 00am but the line was so long we waited until 8: 30 the staff got to work very quickly and the reviewers were sorted by priority

There is a special respect and appreciation for the elderly and children, who are the first to go

My advice to everyone who reads my comment is not to believe everything that is written in the comments

I was very apprehensive about coming here due to the negative comments about the place, but it was quite dark

Finally, thanks to everyone who works here
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I checked for reviews here several time before going. So I am here to share my experience.

Got there 6: 30, we were about 3 present, we waited till 7: 30am then the door was opened. Got in line and I was first on the queue. There was a separate line for moms with baby and elderly. It was fast and seamless. There are adequate staff, I finished in less than 15mins. The most important thing is to have all your documents ready. There would be a staff to check your papers before 8: 30, incase you need to get anything else done.

Pathetic you don’t respond to emails (send 5) phones don’t work and still waiting for a passport that was applied for in June.

I applied for my daughter's passport 5 months ago.and the status they gave me today is that the papers i submitted have been scanned.tell me in what part of the world are we to wait 5 months for a passport to be printed? They ask you to provide proof of travel.how? Im waiting for the passport to buy the tickets.we cant get an itinerary without a passport! Pathetic.

Came in to apply for a new passport. Wait times are a bit long, but the staff did a great job at staying efficient and keeping the line moving. Kanishk did a great job at processing through my applications, things to lookout for while waiting for my new passport to arrive. 10/10

This institution is an absolute joke. We applied for passport for a new born 6 months ago! Sixxx months!

We have been on the phone more than half a dozen times perhaps several hours in total. The last one where we were told we would get some sort of call from some messiah in a throne somewhere that's going to process it for us. It didn't happen and we called again today to find out that said messiah us going to charge us another sum of money to "expedite" the process!

Are these people serious? 6 months later they want us to pay another fee to EXPEDITE THE PROCESS?

The govt of canada needs to seriously start paying back tax payers for this type of fraudulent jokes on it'd citizens.

Submitted 2 applications by mail in May for a trip late August- received 1/2 passports by mail August 1st. The 2nd one did not come. Called passport Canada to get status update. Would not be mailed in time for the trip. Transferred file to this location. Said would be contacted a few days before departure.

Nerves set it so went into the office 48 hours before trip and was seen right away. I arrived at 5: 30am and I was out and helped by 7: 45am.was told to come back 3pm the following day to pick up passport.

As long as you follow rules, you will be helped. Bring proof of travel etc.

Thank you to this passport office, you made it happen

No point in going early. I got here at 5am, they started sorting ppl at 7: 30am. Ppl traveling within the next 48 hours kept getting pushed up to the front even though they came at 10-11am, their priority queue kept getting bigger. No one from the other line will go in unless the priority queue is completed. They need to close the priority queue at 9 am, if you arrive after that, they should not be considered a priority. Also, only half the staff is working here, they’re really trying hard, but their priority system just sucks.

Basically if your paying $110 ur moved to the front of the line. If ur paying $50, you may or may not get in.
No point in going there and waiting unless you’re traveling within 48hrs.

I went to this location on Wednesday. To check in on a current passport application that was thought to be completed. However, it never was. They went out of their way to complete the request, even though it meant staying late to do so. They try really hard here and you can see they are doing their absolute best with the current situation.

Situation passeport juillet 2022

Je suis partie de Montréal à 3 am pour arriver au bureau d'Ottawa vers 5: 30. À ce moment j'étais environ 40e dans la file. Dès 7;00, les employés commencent. Ils nous font rentrer et établissent les files. Un triage est fait dans les files selon les départs. J'avais déjà fait la demande en mai, mais je n'avais pas reçu. Avec un billet d'avion du jour même, j'ai eu mon passeport prêt à 13: 00. Bien organisé, bons employés, une recette gagnante dans les circonstances.

It took me two hours to come here to get my passport, it took them 2 seconds to tell me I need to provide proof of travel or they won't process my request in person. In my opinion that should be information provided online. What a waste of time.

If there was a zero I would give it to them. Service atrocious. Do not return emails and cannot get through by phone to talk. Wife and I are on our 6th or 7th renewal. We have been waiting 16 weeks since interview. They still doing normal business hours while clients wait months for a simple passport renewal that could be done in at the interview desk if they had any imagination. Unbelievable!

Its not worth even a single star. I reached 7 am but they did only took 3-4 person after 12.30 pm. They should say just no in the morning rather than wasting 9 hours and just return them.

The Staff was very polite and accommodating. This location is handling the high passport demand pretty well.

This passport office has one sign outside saying serving travel as of Sept 22 today July 18th, and inside they say, travel as of September 23. Everyone in this Passport office is making up things as they go. No consistency. All based on how they feel like treating you.

This location is very organized and has plenty of professional staff on hand to work the various queues. I arrived at 5: 20am to queue up the "Walk In" group and was third in line. As others have said, line up at the RBC side as they let you queue up inside at 7: 00 am. Staff will organize people into different queues. (Urgent, Appointment, WalkIn and Transfer)

After the initial rush of urgent and appointment, Walk In was being serviced approx 4-5 people at a time as slots permit, expect an hour or more before that queue starts moving. I was back to my vehicle approximately at 10: 00am.

If you arrive in-between staff scans, be sure to check the front board on travel cut-date, if travel after date, go home as they won't service you. If you have appointment, transfer or urgent (travel 2 days) be sure to walk up to the front, do not stay in the "Walk In" queue.

If you have applied elsewhere, be sure to get in Transfer line (Doors, RHS) and fill out the form to release staff to look up your file. They will provide status, you would not expect anything additional by getting in the office.

Mask are available and mandatory in the office

Have your travel proof, it is verified several times

There is also a queue on LHS front doors for pick-up service (after application, express pickup)

Free parking
Tim's across the street

I was there one week ago. I arrived at 6 a.m. And there was about 15 people ahead of me. The line is at the doors closer to the Tim Hortons and many people had their own chairs with them. Staff arrived just before 7 a.m. And by that time, the line was around the building. Doors opened at 7 a.m. And the staff spoke loudly and clearly. They instructed us that if we needed to have proof of travel in order to be in line and be travelling in 45 days or less. If you were travelling in 45+ days, you will not be seen that day. They divided us into 4 four lines - (1) Emergency, (2) Appointments, (3) Walk-ins and (4) Transfers. I was considered a transfer since I had originally mailed in my application at the end of May. The people in the Walk-in line were informed that it was not a guarantee that they would be seen that and that it would depend on how the other lines go (But during my time there, many Walk-ins did make it in). The line for Transfer went pretty quick because they got you to fill in a sheet with your information then a staff would get an update on your application - most people were provided an update as to when their passport would be ready. There had been a problem with my passport so they had me re-do my application since it was only a renewal. There is a place to take photos for your passport but it does not open until 8: 30 a.m. For the people in the Emergency line, I've seen some be told that their passport would be ready by the end of the day or the next day. The quickest line was the Appointment line (almost no waiting). Overall the staff was very helpful and very hands on. They frequently went through the line to make sure everyone was in their correct line and had proof of travel, etc. The staff was very clear in their instructions and they were very courteous and patient. I was out of there by 10 a.m. With a date for my passport pickup.

Tips and Early Info: Be there by 5: 30 - 6: 00 am to avoid long wait. The Mall door opens at 7: 00 am. It's only one que only till 7 am. Later Service Canada's personnel will inform and announce to everyone regarding which personnel have to be in Urgent, Priority, Walk-in, etc. Que and then they split everyone accordingly.

Service Canada: They will start taking people only at 8: 30 am thats what there official starting time. But they are present at site since 7 am and helping and guiding people in a very professional and friendly manner. Big Round of Applause and Thanks for all your efforts.

Suggestion: please go one time in advance to Service Canada and discuss your case and take thier advice before finalizing your actual visiting day. That helps alot!

Poor signage so I'll give a head's up for future visitors: if you've booked an appointment, which I had online, you have to go in from the parking lot and go alllll the way down the line (beside the line through the mall,) to the actual service canada and there you'll see the signed line area for "appointments". I was the only person in that line, so I think it pays to make a booking online. I got in at my time, and was then informed that **because we had no flights booked, they aren't renewing my son's passport at this time**. That's understandable; but would have been better if that was clearer on the website.proof of flights booked is necessary to expedite passport renewal.the lady was nice and looked over our paperwork to make sure it was good; advised us to book another appointment if/when we have a flight booked. Fair enough; the line was so long, they are really backed up.

Very, very long wait time if you don't have an appointment or if your not traveling within 2 days.

I submitted my passport at the beginning of April and I've received nothing. No one answers the phones and I have yet to receive an email back. I get hung up on right away and even though they have a 3 business day wait on the forums, it's been a month and it's complete silence. So unbelievably frustrating

Horrible experience. The security officer and staff at the door were very rude and unorganized. I got a call to pick up my passport after 3 so I go and they tell me I have to wait in the transfer line, when the people infront of me also had a call and got to go in and get their passport? !

Went in for a status update on an application I gave in person at a service Canada centre May 11. What an incredible experience. Those workers should be praised. It was well organized. They were patient and kind. People who are giving 0 stars is because they didn’t follow thru on instructions on the website. Everything is very clear. I understand the passport situation isn’t the best at the moment but they’re doing everything they can to help. Thank you to all the staff.

Aug 4th update:
Got passport by mail as I was told when I went into the office back in July!

Very long delays due to the backlog, but I was able to get my passport on time. They definitely need a better way of managing applications!

Staff are nice and helpful, however if you plans to apply or renew a passport you better be there by 4-5 am otherwise you're not getting in.

Je me suis déplacé de Montréal à Ottawa pour le passeport. Une équipe très très efficace! Ils ont servi plus de 300 personnes en une journée. Le service était beaucoup mieux par rapport au bureau de Laval ou celui de Saint-Laurent.

A special shout-out to Dan and all the staff at this location! They are highly professional and incredibly calm and courteous despite the heavy workload and some "stressed" people they have to deal with. I got my passport at 8h30 pm tonight and, when I left, they were still working to deliver all the passports for this weekend travellers.
Hats off guys!

Commissionaires and staff are very friendly and helpful, they know their stuff and despite the surge in applications.

A wonderful experience here. I got here at 5am and doors opened at 7: 30. After sorting everyone by urgent travels and non urgent, the office opened at 8: 30. I got everything done by 9: 45am. The staff here were all so great! They are working hard and fast to get everyone through.

A couple of tips for anyone wants to apply for a passport this summer.
1. The office will open at 7am and the lineup started earlier than that. The officer will answer questions and sort out lines. They are very helpful.
2. Come with approve of travel, and application form, photos. If you don't have approval of travel you will be asked to mail in.
3. Come 2 business days before you travel dates will give you a shorter line.
4. Prepare some waiting. So prepare the things could help you.