Guarantors and references are a security measures to confirm the identity of the person applying for a passport. The guarantor and/or reference may be contacted while process your application.
References
You need two references for your passport renewal. Your references must:
- have known you for at least:
- two years for passport applications
- six months for Certificate of Identity or Refugee Travel Document applications
- not be your guarantor
- not be a family member
- be 18 years of age or older
- agree to you using their name and contact information for your application
The following family members can’t be a reference for your application
- spouse or common-law partner
- two people, opposite or same-sex, are common-law partners if they have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least one year, but aren’t legally married
- if a marriage or common-law relationship has ended, the former spouse or partner can serve as a reference
- parent, step-parent, foster parent or a parent’s spouse or common-law partner
- mother-in-law or father-in-law
- child (biological, adopted, step or foster child) or your child’s spouse or common-law partner
- son-in-law or daughter-in-law
- sibling (brother, sister, step or half-brother, or step or half-sister), or your sibling’s spouse or common-law partner
- brother-in-law or sister-in-law
- grandparent (biological, adopted, step or foster grandparent) or your grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner
- grandmother-in-law or grandfather-in-law
- grandchild (biological, adopted, step or foster grandchild) or your grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner
- grandson-in-law or granddaughter-in-law
Important note: Any person not listed and related to you or your spouse or common-law partner by blood, marriage, common-law relationship, adoption or guardianship can be your reference. However, they can’t be living at the same address as you.