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Passport Canada
Category: Public Services & Government Public Services & Government [Edit]
74 Victoria StSte 300
Toronto, ON M5C 2A5
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(800) 567-6868
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm
15 reviews for Passport Canada
15 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren M.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, surprisingly fast service. Showed up foolishly close to lunch time. I had everything ready (completed forms, passport photos, etc).
Queued up for 5 mins just to take a number. An agent peruses your application and double-checks you have your photos and other requirements before handing you a number, thereby saving you the time of having to wait in line for no reason.
After taking a number I had to wait about 20-25 minutes. Process was easy, breezy once I approached a counter agent. He quickly reviewed my application and I paid. Took 5 minutes.
Current passport wait time is only 10 business days by mail if you go in person. Not bad! -
Review from Paul B.
Toronto, ON
5/1/2012
So, I went here thinking that it was going to be a headache and a long wait. For interest, I went there on a Tuesday at 10:30am. I got through the elevator and accidentally turned the wrong way for a second, which gave the lady who rushed the elevator on the way up a chance to sneak ahead of me. Luckily, this was the worst part of my trip.
There were only 2 people ahead of me to get a ticket, and the woman there processed me quickly. I then waited 25 minutes exactly to get to a window (there were about 3 or 4 windows occupied by seemingly unintelligent people, arguing about how they didn't have the required ID, even though it clearly tells you what to bring on the forms).
Once at the window I got a quiet but pleasant gentleman, who after a bit of chatting was a nice guy. He did the whole process in 5-10 minutes, reminded me that I could get a 48 page passport for only $5 more, and sent me on my way.
All in all, a very good experience! I'm not sure what this place would be like at a rush time, and as I left (11:10am) there was a line of about 10 people to get a ticket. Still, good staff and not a terrible wait. My guess is that 9:30-10:30am and 2-3pm are good times to go. -
Review from Randy G.
Toronto, ON
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've only been here the once, but my experience was so pleasant that I'm surprised I was dealing with a government agency. Really, it was awesome.
I got there about quarter to eight for my Simplified Renewal, and the line was already around two corners. A woman came around making sure everyone had whatever they needed to get their applications done - paperwork, documents, whatever. A couple people took great offence to the being asked if they had ID - come on folks, you're at a passport office, what did you expect?
From there, someone checked my paperwork, noted I forgot a signature, and gave me a number. They seem to use a few different ranges of numbers - I would guess renewals, new passports, or whatever other services they offer have different numbers, because each kind of service takes a different amount of time. I sat down for maybe 20 minutes until my number was called, handed over my paperwork, swiped my debit card and signed a receipt.
From a ridiculous line at quarter to 8, before they even opened... to out the door and on my way to work at 8:30.
Two weeks later, I'm back to pick it up. There was a total of one guy ahead of me, so it took a whopping 5 minutes to get my passport. This was around 4pm on a Thursday.
The people I encountered in both visits were generally helpful - some weren't the cheeriest people in the world, but nobody antagonized me either. Overall, a pretty pleasant experience.
Go early in the day and have your paperwork ready and checked, and you'll have smooth sailing here.Listed in: 30 Days of Yelp - November…
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Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
6/19/2011
My passport expired....exactly one year ago and I needed it renewed ASAP. My dad and I wanted to get there right at 8am, so we can get it done and over with early in the morning. We just got there 10 mins after opening and already there was a massive line. And that's only for screening. Basically at the screening, the person looks over your application to see if you got all the important parts signed and he checks if you have the two valid ids....and then you get a magically white slip of paper with a waiting number. You sit in the waiting area....and sit....and sit.....and sit....and sit.....50 minutes later, I get called! YES!
The process was overall fast if you got everything signed and properly done.
Go early in the morning and line up before the doors even open...you'll be proud and laughing at the crowd at the waiting room since you were in and out in 10 mins.
P.S I was jealous of those who were earlier than me....haha. -
Review from Kate M.
10/28/2010
Okay! Warning! Listen!
If your passport expires get that shit fixed ASAP! Don't wait until you have a trip! Like me...
My passport expired October 7th, and instead of going before or only shortly after, I went at the end of the month on the 28th. THE END OF THAT MONTH. I'm traveling November 12. You think that'd be enough time right? No.
They were all "We'll send it to you Nov 12" and I was all "That is too late guy!" Even if you're all "Yo I'll pick that up so it will be faster" they're all "Nope, still the 12th, UNLESS YOU PAY US MORE MORE MORE MONEY"
Needless to say I had to pay $30 extra so I can pick it up two days earlier.
As for waiting? It was a quick 15 min wait! I read some of a book! -
Review from Dejan M.
10/28/2010
Came in at 9:10 on a Thursday morning and was out by 9:30. There was no line, and I had remembered to bring everything needed. I pre-filled the form, but apparently I made a few mistakes, which the clerk helped me correct on the spot. He even had Wite-Out. I needed the passport in a week, and he said that it will be ready then for me to pick up.
All in all, a positive experience and a reflection of how efficient this office can be when circumstances are in their favor. -
Review from Hana B.
8/20/2009 ROTD 9/26/2009
Taking the advice of many, today on the trip to the passport office I woke up early, got all my documents, my non-smiling photo, and was in lineup precisely at 7:45. There were already about 15 people ahead of me in the lineup at that point, and i thought *groan.. forget getting to work on time*. There was a lady who does a pre-check of applications, and hands everyone who had forms filled out a number. I gulped down my tea early as there are no drinks allowed once you are seated inside the office, as I found out from Kat F's review here. The rest of the process was fast and painless and I was in and out of there in 15 minutes tops!
The lady who processed my application was super friendly. Since I need to travel in exactly 2 weeks from today, she told me I could pay $30 extra to pick up my passport the day before i travel, or $10 to pick it up the morning of, since they were mailing out passports that day anyways. So i saved a good $20.
I was really surprised and happy that the service was exceptional and smooth, unlike a lot of other government services. I was at work, at my desk, half an hour early (I do work around the corner from the passport office though). -
Review from N.J. G.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2009
I went early (8:15) and was done by (8:45). As long as you have all your papers in order and go early, you should be in and out like I was.
I also picked up my passport at the same office once it was renewed. Again I went around the same time to avoid any lineups but I don't think that was necessary since there was no lineup at all an it took me less than 3 minutes to complete the transaction.
Great service, very organized. -
Review from Val G.
12/15/2009
I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Passport Canada today. I have a nightmarish memory of waiting in a 4 hour lineup of coughing people with a passportless friend just before winter break a few years ago.
Today I woke up late, took my time filling out and printing the Simplified Renewal Form and strolled to my local photo place for some slightly better than mediocre pp photos. By the time I made it to 74 Victoria St it was almost 3pm. Yeah, that's right 1.5hrs before close. I brought my current passport, which expires at the end of the month, my driver's license, the two photos and my completed forms.
The office is on the 3rd floor and there was a line of 8 people to get a number that took about 10mins. Technically, I did not qualify for the Simplified Renewal Form because I had a Replacement Passport that was only valid for 3 years. I had this pp because Passport Canada originally issued my last passport with the wrong birthdate.
They only have one job: to verify the information is accurate and print it and they failed. That time I had to make a second trip to PC just to tell them to fix their fuck up. They then fixed it by giving me a 'Replacement Passport' for people who've had it lost or stolen which is only good for 3 years and not the usual 5. I, of course, paid the same price as a 5 year pp but got screwed out of 2 and my time because of their error.
Needless to say I walked in there ready to give anyone who hassled me over this a pantload but was super surprised when the number assigning guy quickly verified with his boss that it was ok for me to go ahead with the Simplified Renewal Form since my non-conforming pp was entirely their fault.
I waited about 15mins after that to see an agent and was quickly processed. I can pick up my new passport in 8 days.
Moral: Whole thing took less than 30mins.
Total damage: $117 (inc. $30 for speedy processing)
Bonus: no one coughed on me. -
Review from Kat F.
3/31/2009 3 photos
If you live in Toronto and are getting a new passport or renewing an existing one, chances are you'll have to fight your way through this passport office someday soon. And it'll be unpleasant, so read this synopsis of what you're about to endure, go buy an interesting book or magazine(s) and bring a pillow.
Let's talk about the office hours. 8:30am-4:30pm. Sure, it's a government office so there isn't an expectation that the hours would be convenient. But did you know that if you show up at 4pm and take a number, and they can't get to you by 4:30pm, you're SOL? At 4:30 sharp the agents log off their computers and close up shop. I can understand that the staff would be eager to go home at the end of the day but what about the people that have been waiting HOURS to get their damn passports?? So to be safe, arrive by 3pm or don't bother going till the next day.
When I got my passport renewed in April last year I got to the office at 9:30am. Upon arrival I had to wait in a pre-line, which is essentially a dude who screens your application to make sure you wait in the right line and don't waste anyone's time if you don't have the proper forms and supporting documents and fees. A nice touch.
I was then informed that there was NO food or drink permitted in the massive waiting area so I would have to leave my drink on the meeting table with the 100 or so other discarded drinks. Under no circumstances was I to bring my beverage to my seat. Several security guards loomed over the waiting area to make sure no one was eating, drinking or photographing the place (I still managed to snap some pics - see photos).
After waiting for about half an hour, three of the five open wickets closed so that the staff members could go on their sanctioned break. Even though there were about 70 or 80 people waiting at this point. It was a maddening sight to say the least.
When I was finally seen at about 11am my visit to the wicket was quick and painless. It was a no-nonsense transaction with a simple exchange of documents and payment. Luckily my non-smiling photo met the Passport Office's exacting requirements and my application was approved. Two weeks later (way sooner than I expected) my passport was ready for pickup! -
Review from Richie S.
1/18/2010
Went here as it was close to the office and I didn't want to deal with the C&I office in Miss.
I know many say "Get there before the office opens" and I'm here to tell you don't bother. I've played that game and there is always a line.
This is a 15 min. walk from my office, so I sauntered over around 11 a.m. I had filled out all my forms online the night before and printed them off. I THEN realized I hadn't procured the signature from a Notary Public (FYI - there is one around the corner - Yeah! They cost $50 - Boo. Plus, the admin. person here was too surly for a person so young).
Back at the Passport Office, I ask my questions, get a # and wait 5 minutes before I'm called, 10 minutes to process and I'm back in my office by 12:15.
Nice work -
Review from Noel D.
4/16/2010
Finally got around to getting my passport the other day... It's hard to review something like Passport Canada because the process of sitting around in a Goverment building waiting for them to call your number is never going to be an enjoyable experience.
Got there on a Thursday at 3:30pm (an hour before they closed). I was B12 and the first B that came up was something like 6 or 7. They went pretty fast but it was about 20 minutes between B10 and my number. They have a sign that says "no cell phones" so I didn't know if I was allowed to play games on my phone or not. I just sat and stared at things... Not terribly exciting. Baby started crying which is always unbearable. I would say 30 minutes total waiting time.
The fellow who helped me was courteous but also meant business. Once you get up to the counter and have all your shit together then the process takes mere minutes. I got a 48 hour rush on mine because I am going to Buffalo next week. Looking forward to finally picking up my passport and being done with this office. Simple renewals can apparently be done at Dufferin Mall. -
Review from Lindsey S.
Toronto, ON
6/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
So I have to travel for biz, and I let my passport lapse a few years ago - ekkk I never do that. So before I could fly to our US office, I was off to Passport Canada for them to hook a sister up.
I went on a Monday - and tried to be there for 8am when they open, well I arrived at 8:09 and there was already a line. Not a bad line, but a line!
I have to say - I was very impressed at how organized and fast they were in processing all the people there. It was MUCH better then the one in Mississauga where I got my original passport - that location had a line out the door and it was FEBRUARY.
As with any government service, you need to take a number and go through many steps, but this process was quick and was a very well oiled machine. The first person I encountered was the document checker - to ensure that I brought everything I needed. From there you are given a number and sent to wait.
The waiting room is very drab, but I would rather have that then think that my $87 passport fee was going to improve the decor of the waiting area. This office is complete with a security guard - a 65 year old little lady, but she is still a presence and helps move the process along by calling out the flashing numbers of slow people.
The gentleman that processed my documents was very friendly and very quick. We even had a few jokes - not what I was expecting for a passport office.
Getting there at 8:09am - I looked at my phone, mainly because I still couldn't believe the line - I was in and out and back to my office (Church and Bloor and yes I walked) by 9:30am. Not bad I think!
Positives:
*Open early
*Building accommodates a long line - no outside waiting
*Efficient number system
*Interact Payment
*Clear information as to what you need
*A variety of passport services
Cons:
*Decor
*The odd crabby and out right rude employee (I didn't have this)
*No use of cell phones - even in the waiting room
*Cost of passport
*Wait time to get your passport - 2 to 3 weeks inc delivery
*only passport office in the city other then canada post
Over all I would say that this was a great experience. -
Review from Erin B.
12/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've gotta say that my experience with this passport office was actually a relief. I went at about 900 on a cold, very rainy November morning (sing it, Axl) and was in and out in 18 minutes (yes, I actually timed that). I had my form completed before I went in, but had to change something at the window (who knew you can't use your bf as a reference? It's not in the written rules, but it's true); the fellow serving me corrected me politely and waited patiently for me to make the change. As good an experience as I could hope for at a bleak, chair filled government office.
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Review from Nicole B.
Updated - 6/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I received my passport in the mail yesterday, making it 3 business days from the date I applied. I wish I could give half a star for that. As happy as I am to receive it sooner it doesn't completely take away from the waiting process.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/12/2010
It's almost guaranteed in a government building waiting for an ID, you will experience one (or all)… Read more »
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