New Adult Passport Application Question 

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You need 2 references for a passport or other travel document application.
Your references must

• be 18 years of age or older
• have known you for at least
  • 2 years for passport applications
  • 6 months for certificate of identity and refugee travel document applications
• agree to you using their name and contact information for your application

To avoid delays, make sure your references are available if or when we need to contact them.

• For example, they’re not travelling outside the country.
• If they’re in a different time zone, it may take longer to contact them, which could delay your application.

We may ask for additional references at any time.

Your references cannot be

• your guarantor
• a family member, such as a
  • spouse or common-law partner
    • Whether you’re the opposite or same sex, you’re considered common-law partners if you’ve lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 1 year, but you aren’t legally married.
      • A boyfriend or girlfriend can be a reference if you’re not in a common-law relationship.
      • If your marriage or common-law relationship has ended, your former spouse or partner can serve as a reference.
  • parent, step-parent, foster parent, or a parent’s spouse or common-law partner
  • mother-in-law or father-in-law
  • child (biological, adopted, foster, or stepchild), or your child’s spouse or common-law partner
  • son-in-law or daughter-in-law
  • sibling (brother, half-brother or stepbrother, or sister, half-sister or stepsister), or your sibling’s spouse or common-law partner
  • brother-in-law or sister-in-law
  • grandparent (biological, adopted, step or foster grandparent), or your grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner
  • grandmother-in-law or grandfather-in-law
  • grandchild (biological, adopted, step or foster grandchild), or your grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner
  • grandson-in-law or granddaughter-in-law
  • anyone else who’s related to you or your spouse or common-law partner by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, adoption or guardianship and lives at the same address as you
    • For example, if your aunt, uncle or cousin lives with you, they cannot be a reference.