Exactly when you should renew your passport will depend on a few things.
For one, it depends on where you’re going. In some cases, you’ll need to renew your passport even if it hasn’t expired yet, as some countries require that visitors have a passport that’s valid for three to six months beyond the date they expect to leave.
Another factor in when to renew your passport is how soon you’ll need it.
In June 2022, Canada was facing the peak of a passport backlog, with Canadians experiencing months-long passport wait times that often ended up derailing travel plans.
Currently, the service standard for non-urgent applications is around 10 business days if submitted in person at a passport office or about 20 days if submitted at a regular Service Canada Centre.
You’ll need to apply for a new passport if you don’t already have one, of course, but there are other reasons you may need to apply for a new one.
If you were under the age of 16 when your passport was issued, you’ll need to apply for an adult passport.
If you want to change your personal information, like your name, date of birth, place of birth or gender identifier, you’ll also be unable to renew your passport and will need to apply for a new one.
Depending on when you need your new passport, you may want to opt for visiting a passport office in person versus sending in the application by mail.
If your request is urgent (i.e. you need it by the end of the next business day), you’ll want to visit a passport office with urgent pick-up service. It’s worth noting that these are for walk-ins only and don’t take appointments.