Consulate General of India

Toronto, Canada

click here for FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

The Consulate provides services for issuance and renewal of passports for people staying in its Consular jurisdiction.

A. Steps to seek clarifications regarding passport application process:

• All applicants are requested to go through the Frequently Asked Questions listed at the top of this webpage, where all possible queries have been answered.
• If your query has not been answered in the FAQs, then the applicant should contact BLS International Services ( BLS Website, Phone: +1-416 307 2237) for clarification. The applicant is requested to note down the name of the BLS employee who is assisting for future reference. BLS will also check and advise the applicant during the process of form submission.
• In an event there is a case where BLS International Services can not sort out a query, the matter will be escalated to the Consulate wherein BLS will be notified of the required course of action. In all these cases, assesment as provided by BLS to the applicant will be final. If the question is still unanswered then a query may be raised on SAMPARK portal (SAMPARK). Email queries will not be responded to.
• The Consulate grants no approval for any service. All applications are to be submitted at BLS centers and will be accepted only on the basis of documentation submitted. The documents required in any case can be seen on the website and FAQs: https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/general-info-passport/. BLS will further check the documents when they are submitted to them. If you are instructed by any agency staff to seek Consulate's pre-approval, you are requested to note the contact details and share it along with the communication with us, so that the matter can be inquired into.

B. IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR RAISING QUERY ON SAMPARK PORTAL:

• Applicants should make sure that they have gone through the website and FAQs before raising a query. 
• Consulate does not correspond over phone.

Any query on the below mentioned subjects will not be considered or replied to: 

• Correspondence regarding status of an application before the expiry of the normal processing time. Note that processing time starts with arrival of application in Consulate, it does not include postal delays. Applicants are advised to check the status on BLS website at this link.
• Requests for relaxation of any guidelines. 
• Requests for expediting the processing of an application.

Applicants are asked to refrain from making such queries so that the Consulate can aim their resources at helping the cases which are stuck beyond the normal timeline.

C. Classification of emergency cases:

• Only cases related to death/critical illness of an immediate family member (parent, child or sibling. Indirect family members are not included in this criteria) are considered emergency cases. Such applicants are required to apply for appointment on SAMPARK portal (SAMPARK). Please make sure that all the documents listed are uploaded properly.
• Cases related to requirement of passport for travel or submission of permit applications with Canadian authorites will not be considered emergency cases. Applicants can renew passport up to an year before expiry and the Consulate expects them to renew the passport at least 6 months before expiry date.
• Applicants are asked to refrain from booking travel tickets before getting valid passports. Any request for passport renewal due to upcoming travel plans will be rejected.

**We expect applicants to renew the passport at least 6 months before expiry date. Any delay on part of applicant in renewal of passport will not be considered grounds for an emergency in any scenario.

**In cases deemed emergency, the Consulate only provides appointment at BLS centers on an urgent basis to save on processing time. Classification of a case as an emergency case does not mean that the passport will be issued faster than the normal processing time.

D. FEE (with effect from April 1, 2021) :

NOTE:

1. BLS service charges extra ($ 7.40).
2. Fee structure is subject to change without notice.
3. The Consulate can ask for additional documents from the applicant, if needed, for verification during the process of issuing the passport.
4. The applicant should ensure that the name of the police station as mentioned in passport application is the same one, under whose jurisdiction the applicant’s Indian address falls.
5. All signatures in the application form should be signed with ballpoint pen of blue or black ink and should exactly fit in the prescribed signature box. Those who cannot affix their signature like infants, minors or illiterates they should put their thumb impression in place of signature (male should use left thumb impression and female should use right thumb impression).
6. It is an offence under the Passport Act 1967 to furnish false information in the application. Passport facilities would be denied on grounds of suppression of material information, submission of incorrect particulars, willful damage/loss of passport or for unauthorized change/tampering. The passport can be impounded or revoked for violation of one or more of the provisions of the Passport Act.
7. After submission of application no further changes are permitted.
8. The Consulate shall not be responsible for errors in passports due to incorrect details filled by applicant in the application forms.
9. Fee once paid/submitted will not be refundable. For further changes/resubmission fresh fee will have to be borne by the applicant.
10. Consulate grants no pre-approval for any passport case. Applications are accepted by BLS only on the basis of documentation.
11. In the cases of Minor's passport renewal in India, the parents/guardians may get the Annexure D or Annexure C (as applicable), attested from the Consulate for a fee of C$ 16.

E. PROCESSING TIME:

*This time does not include postage/shipping delays. The time period starts from the date the application is received at the Consulate, not from the date of submission at BLS center.

click here for FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Click here for checklist for Passport application