Government form guide
Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor
If you cannot find an eligible guarantor for a Canadian passport or other Canadian travel document application, the Passport Program may authorize an official statutory declaration process. The form is government-controlled and must be requested through the official channel.
When this declaration may apply
The ordinary passport process asks for a qualifying guarantor who meets the current program rules and has known the applicant for the required period. If you cannot identify one, Canada.ca directs applicants to contact the Passport Program to request a Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor. It is not simply an optional alternative when an eligible guarantor is available.
The precise form and supporting requirements depend on the application type and where you apply. Adult passport, child passport, refugee travel document and certificate of identity processes are not interchangeable. Start with the official instructions for your application, then follow the directions supplied with the declaration.
How to prepare
- Check guarantor eligibility first. Review the current Passport Program rules carefully. Do not assume a person is ineligible because of their job title, location or relationship without checking the published criteria.
- Request the official declaration. Use the contact route listed on Canada.ca. Ask which version applies to your passport or travel document application and whether extra references are required.
- Complete it accurately. Match names, dates and addresses to your application and identity records. Do not sign a section that must be declared before an authorized official.
- Gather the full package. Bring the declaration, the related application, photographs and original identity or supporting documents required by the instructions. Requirements can include people or information beyond the standard application.
- Attend before signing. The signing official must be able to identify you and administer the declaration. Sign only when instructed.
- Submit as directed. A commissioned declaration is one component of the application. Send the correct original and supporting material to the Passport Program through the authorized channel.
At the commissioning appointment
Bring the unsigned official form and valid, original government-issued identification. The commissioner or notary will review identity, confirm that you understand the declaration and ask you to swear or affirm that its contents are true. The official witnesses your signature and completes the jurat or declaration section; they do not act as your guarantor and cannot approve the passport application.
Contact the office before attending if a name differs across your documents, an applicant cannot communicate in English, accommodation is needed, or someone will sign by mark. Those circumstances may require extra identity evidence, an interpreter or a different process. Never alter the official’s completed section after the appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download the form from this page?
No. Obtain the current controlled form from the Passport Program using the contact instructions on Canada.ca.
Can a notary decide whether I qualify to use it?
No. The Passport Program determines its requirements. A notary or commissioner can take the declaration when authorized to do so.
Should I sign before my appointment?
No. Leave the declarant’s signature blank until the authorized official asks you to sign.
Need a commissioner or notary?
Bring the unsigned document, valid identification and the receiving organization’s instructions. Eligibility for online commissioning depends on the document and recipient.
