Service Canada Centre

I'm not one to write a review, but I had a really good experience coming to the Newmarket Service Canada location on Thursday, January 4th, 2024. I got there at 8: 10am and doors open at 8: 30am. People were already lined up when I got there and there was about 20 people ahead of me. We were lined up at the side of the building in the cold outside (it was -7 this morning feels like -16 with the windchill) Once the doors opened at 8: 30 the staff made sure to let everyone inside so that no one had to wait outside in the cold. I had to get my baby's passport done and they do accept the original birth certificate that has the parents names on them. Online it says you need the long-form but as long as you have the original birth certificate (the shiny paper one) they accept that as well. The process was pretty quick and I was out of the building by 9: 35am so I was only waiting for an hour. People who arrived around 9: 00am were told it was going to be at least a 2 hour wait. I suggest if you come to this location you get there at least 20 to 30 minutes before it opens to avoid such long wait times. Overall, staff was amazing, kind, and very organized!

Passport Renewal at Service Canada Centre in Newmarket, Yonge and Greenlane streets.
A very efficient service from the reception desk to the passport renewal desk. Just 10 minutes waiting time and overall 20 minutes to get my passport renewal application reviewed paid for. Fees was $160 for a 10 year renewal I printed the form at home filled it and got two people contact info as reference and had my passport photos taken at UPS store for $20 and submitted my old passport with my application and requested to have it returned by mail to me.
I find it safer for me to renew in person than by mail or online
There is enough free parking at the centre and the place is well maintained, clean and well organized.

If I could give ZERO stars, I would.the lady in triage has been rude. She puts you in a bad mood from the start.

Got to the building at 8am. Waiting outside until open at 830am. Was 2nd in line. Walked in, saw someone immediately. Had the necessary documents completed for a passport renewal and was out before 845. Super helpful and effective staff. Well done Service Canada in Newmarket.

40min wait time on Wednesday April 5,10: 30am.
Walk in open and mask is not mandatory.

This location closes early, especially on Friday. Came to get my passport renewed at 3: 28pm and was turned away by the security guard. Apparently they stop letting people in at 3pm, which is utterly ridiculous when it advertises they are open to 4pm.

Today is January, 2023. I had been waited for 4 hours in line before I could apply to renew the passport. I would advise people with children to set an appointment online and not to wait for so long. Why do they ask to wear a mask? It's illegal.

If I could give ZERO stars, I would. I have been to this location 3X on separate occasions. All 3X, the lady (“Karen”) in triage has been rude. She’s a miserable person. She puts you in a bad mood from the start. There’s a polite way to speak, which she is ignorant of. It is sad since our tax dollars pay for her salary. She does not care, as she basically cannot be fired, being a federal government employee. She needs a lesson in customer service. If she had the attitude she has in the private sector, she would be fired instantly. She should be grateful and happy to have her cozy and secure government job because she’s a miserable person. I cannot even chalk it up to her having a bad day because she is miserable at every encounter I have had with her throughout the past 1.5 years. Karen needs to be retrained IMMEDIATELY in customer care. Especially since we are all paying her salary through our taxes.

I would like to thank you the staff there, they were so helpful and kind. I visited the centre yesterday, the gentleman in the registered desk was so professional and willing to go behind the office to check my information. Thank you so much for his extra works.

I would recommend anyone to come to this centre and I am sure you would be satisfied with their service.

Waited in line for almost 2 hours, and that is just for the prescreening. One person working. Don’t understand why they can’t assign a number to people as they walk in and then call it in order which will let people SIT DOWN while waiting. Even meat shops do that! Seriously. There were elderly, people with babies, heavy bags/coats etc.while all staff were seated, even at the door. This isn’t exactly a speedy service so focus on what can be done to help. And screening is not 10-15 mins on avg per person.

There was no crowd and they were not allowing people to get in and security guard was acting like President

I wanted to leave this review to note the staff that were working today. They were always attentive to the large volume of people and tried to accommodate everyone despite clear signs of stress. They communicated with each other as well. Everything went smoothly and staff were very knowledgeable. Especially the security guard!

- Masks SHOULD NOT be a requirement when there’s no mandates. They don’t respect exemption.
-The female screener near the front door is cold and rude. Someone should remind her that our tax dollars pay for her salary.
- Couple of security also rude, should learn how to communicate.

Also Waited 4 hrs to be seen.

Authoritarian Karen's work here. Wont service you unless you wear a mask then they lie to you and tell you to come back when without a mask at a time when they are closed. Extremely rude. They also have "security" staff that doesn't speak English and tries to physically place a mask on your face. Disgusting people. Reflection of the current liberal party. They will not let me travel due to a mask requirement. I'm not a clown, I don't dress up as a clown just because some power tripping Karen and her foreign security henchmen say so. Shame on these awful people with no purpose in life, that's why they work for the federal government.

Arrived there at 8: 00 AM, there were around 6 ppl already there. The office was very nice and professional.

I like the staffs very friendly and the service is fast but one of the security she so mean to us she yell me and my husband told us to stand behind the line but she didn’t tell others white peoples (sorry for saying that) because we are Asian and I keep looking other peoples still standing passed the line but she said anything she only said to us. I think she being racist.

Masks were lifted a while ago, but they are still required inside the facility. Wake up Canada, you are behind the world with your Stone Age requirements.

Very good location and highly recommended. Arrived here at 7: 30 and got 2nd number in the line.

The place has 8 booths for staff and literally all seem to be on break! Only one had client at a time and others seem to be socializing while people kept on being added in the wait area,! Amazing how irresponsiblly they work while people are scrambling to get passports renewed and other tasks.

I drove here from Scarborough based on the better reviews then other offices. I must say I was pretty happy, and expected to wait longer. I arrived at 8am on a Monday and left by 9am. The employee helping me was nice too. I'd do the drive again to this office.

Went today to get new passport for my two kids. Got there at 8: 08am there was 16 people lined up outside. They open at 8: 30am and I was inside in about an hour. I left at 9: 35am. Not bad at all considering the videos I have seen with many locations of Boxing Day lines. Btw there is no waiting inside nbd. Great seamless experience at this location! The person who processed my applications was fantastic! Thanks Again

I arrived around 8: 10AM and there were about 40 people ahead of me already. Most of the waiting time was outside, luckily it was a lovely day. Security spoke to each individual to make sure what they are there for and if they provide the service they needed (I had to renew my passport and apply for my sons passport). I made it inside the building around 10: 40 AM. Once inside, someone will ask what you are there for and confirm by looking through your documents to make sure you have everything. Masks are required. There are chairs spaced out 2meters from eachother (about 7-8 chairs). Out of the 8 or 9 booths, there were about 4 open. I believe more booths opened layer on, not sure. I left the building around 11: 30. About 3.5 hours overall. The lady who helped me was super nice and there were no issues other than the waiting time. Just make sure you have all your documents before standing in line.

I came here to apply for a new passport because of a name change but with no immediate travel plans until early July. I arrived around 7: 15 and was 11th in line. Once the centre opened at 8: 30, it was pretty easy to get in and out, I was done by 9: 15. Make sure you have all your documents and you fill in all the correct information. I have heard in the line and witnessed a lady that got turned away (while at the desk) or had to come back because something was wrong on the form or picture or their travel plans wasn’t considered urgent. Seems like they are also trying to process those with immediate travel plans but a bit pass the 25 days that Passport Offices are only processing. The lady that helped me out was super nice and friendly as well as the security guards. I would say out of 9-10 booths, there were 4 with a service agent working. Bring a fold up chair if you plan on coming before the centre opens lol Good luck!

I got here this morning at 7: 15, and was the third person in line. Lots more people began arriving after 7: 30-8. Highly recommend bringing a foldable lawn chair and blanket if waiting in the cold.
Minutes to opening time (8: 30), security went around and asked for the service you were there for and if you have the documents. Once inside, very friendly staff and efficient office. Was in and out within 25 mins for children’s passport application. Keep in mind, its not a passport office, so they are not able to rush passport applications/renewals. Its a service canada office but can process and send off your application if you prefer in person. Passport will arrive in about 25-30 days. It was worth the drive up north from the GTA.

We came at 7: 40am on a Wednesday morning, already 9 people in line. Door opened at 8: 30am and my husband got in within 10mins for a SIN application and came out at 8: 55am. There were 6 counters open, and the lady at counter 6 was every friendly and efficient!

I arrived at 7: 40am and was 14th in line. I was in and out by 9: 40am getting my daughter's passport renewed. The SC greeter was thorough and pleasant. I dealt with SC employee at kiosk #2 and she was awesome.great personality and very efficient. Despite the wait it was a positive experience.

Very clean facility, organized and great service. I was there few days ago for a Passport Renewal application, I was in and out in about 10-15 minutes. Highly recommended.

Kind staff, great services, and good location. Came here to apply for my passport and in just 10 minutes it was done. The staff is kind & friendly and get the job done very quickly. Very happy with the service.

Had no problems here. Printed everything we needed to. My wife got her passport ordered. Staff were good to us. Bright clean office with no long lines.