Toronto’s passport offices have recently been inundated with travelers trying to get their documents in order. They are now starting to prioritize applications by immediate travel dates to combat these extremely long lineups.
According to Service Canada’s passport wait time list, offices across the city are implementing new sorting measures to “provide a more intensive, customer-specific approach.”
To help manage queues and speed up delivery of passports, some dedicated passport sites in the greater #Toronto area have launched a new sorting approach based on travel plans.
More: pic.twitter.com/9qTArmSZ26
— Canadian Passport (@PassportCan) June 29, 2022
Staff are prioritizing customers with “urgent travel needs within the next 24 to 48 hours”, who will then be registered and told to return to the office.
#passportcanada @PassportCan Office on Yonge Street in Toronto. Today’s Priority Friday, July 15, 2022:. For new passports or renewals: Give priority to those traveling by JULY 22. (If you’re traveling later, there’s no guarantee you’ll be entertained in person, no matter how early you line up!). pic.twitter.com/U4Yp7HWJAJ
— Jimmy JimJim (@technophone) July 15, 2022
Those with travel dates further in the future will be directed to locations that have shorter wait times.
People currently fall into one of three groups; travel within 24-48 hours, travel within 3-19 days and travel after 20 days.
For those who have holidays of up to two days, a ticket with an estimated waiting time will be issued after their arrival at the office. They will then have to wait until their ticket is called – usually more than three hours.
Holiday dates over 48 hours in the future will be routed to other offices with appointments.
But don’t think you can just pretend you have an upcoming vacation to get around the lines; proof of travel is required.
In case you don’t already know, Service Canada is currently projecting a six hour wait time at the 4900 Yonge Street office in North York and a four hour wait time at the 74 Victoria Street location.
Once you’ve dealt with those horrible passport wait times, you’ll be a pro when you eventually arrive at Pearson — where the lines aren’t much better.
Add Comment