A new Canadian passport design was unveiled today.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says it includes new artwork and state-of-the-art security features.
“The new passport is designed to keep Canadians’ identities safe and includes a polycarbonate data page—a technology similar to Canada’s driver’s licences. Passport holders’ personal information will now be laser engraved instead of being printed with ink, making the data page more durable and resistant to tampering and counterfeiting. Other features include a Kinegram over the main photo, a custom see-through window with a secondary image of the passport holder, a variable laser image, and a temperature-sensitive ink feature,” Fraser says.
It also contains images that celebrate the country’s heritage and identity with images of Canada throughout the four seasons.
The new cover design has an outline of a maple leaf.
(Photo: Courtesy of the Government of Canada)
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould says the current cost of the passport will not be affected, “The new passport will start rolling out later this summer, but until then, the current passport remains secure and reliable, so Canadians with valid passports will only need to renew them when they are getting close to their normal renewal date.”
This is the first upgrade to the Canadian passport since 2013.
Starting later this fall, Canadians will also be able to renew their passport, pay their fees, and upload their photograph online.
