If your passport is stolen in Canada, your legal temporary resident status remains valid in the government system. However, you must urgently report the theft to the local police, obtain a replacement passport from your embassy, and notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) via the Web Form. Replacing a stolen physical study or work permit costs exactly $30 CAD.
Realizing that your passport and Canadian visa documents have been lost or stolen is a terrifying experience. 😐 Whether your bag was taken at a bustling café in Toronto, or you simply misplaced your travel wallet while hiking in British Columbia, panic is a natural first reaction. Many newcomers mistakenly believe that losing their physical passport means they have immediately lost their legal right to remain in Canada. Fortunately, this is not true.
In Canada, your legal status-whether as a worker, student, or visitor-is securely recorded in the federal database managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Your physical passport and the foil sticker (visa) inside it are simply travel documents used to cross the border. While your status inside the country is safe, you must take immediate, systematic steps to report the theft. Doing this correctly ensures you are protected against identity theft and prevents any false allegations of overstaying your welcome by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Regardless of whether you are living in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, or Montreal, the process for reporting a stolen passport to the federal government is identical nationwide. You must coordinate with local municipal police, your home country’s diplomatic mission, and the Canadian federal government. Moving swiftly through these steps is highly recommended.
Step 1: File a Report with the Local Police
The very first action you must take is filing a formal police report. You can usually do this by calling the non-emergency line of your local police department (for example, the Toronto Police Service or the RCMP in smaller municipalities). Provide them with all the details of where and when the theft occurred. The police will give you a file number. This number is absolutely crucial, as IRCC and your home embassy will demand it as proof that the document was genuinely stolen, rather than illegally sold.
Step 2: Contact Your Home Country’s Embassy
IRCC cannot issue you a new passport; only the government of your home country can do that. You must immediately contact your embassy or consulate in Canada to report the passport as stolen. This cancels the passport globally, protecting you from identity thieves trying to cross international borders in your name. You will then need to follow your embassy’s specific procedures to apply for a replacement passport, which often involves providing your Canadian police report number.
Step 3: Notify IRCC via the Web Form
Once your passport is officially reported stolen, you must inform the Canadian government. Use the official IRCC Web Form online to send a secure message to the federal immigration department. Upload a copy of your police report and explain the situation clearly. This creates an official paper trail in your IRCC file, showing that you are acting transparently and responsibly. It ensures that if the stolen document is used fraudulently at a border, CBSA knows it was not you.
Step 4: Apply for a Replacement Permit (If Applicable)
If your physical Study Permit, Work Permit, or Visitor Record was folded inside your stolen passport, you need to replace it. You must submit an application for a “Verification of Status (VOS) or Replacement of an Immigration Document” (Form IMM 5009). You will mail this application, along with a copy of your police report and the government fee receipt, to the IRCC Operations Support Centre in Ottawa. They will mail a new, secure paper permit to your Canadian address.
Step 5: Apply for a New TRV Before Travelling
If you only hold a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)-the sticker in your passport-IRCC will not simply print a new one and mail it to you. A TRV can only be issued when you submit a new application. If you plan to stay inside Canada until your authorized stay expires, you do not need a new TRV. However, if you plan to leave Canada for a holiday and return, you must apply for a brand new TRV and have it stamped into your newly issued replacement passport before you attempt to re-enter the country.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Recovering from a stolen passport involves several unexpected expenses. While notifying the Canadian government is free, obtaining the replacement documents is not. Below is an estimate of the costs you may face in CAD as of May 2026.
| Local Police Report | $0 CAD (Generally free to file) |
| IRCC Replacement Document (IMM 5009) | $30 CAD (For a lost study/work permit) |
| New Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) | $100 CAD (If you need to travel and return) |
| New Passport from Your Embassy | $150 – $350+ CAD (Varies heavily by country) |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Patience is essential, as replacing government documents is notoriously slow. Filing a police report is usually completed on the same day. However, obtaining a replacement passport from your embassy can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks, depending on your home country’s efficiency. Once you submit the IMM 5009 application to IRCC to replace a stolen work or study permit, current processing times are roughly 4 to 6 weeks. If you also need to apply for a new TRV, expect an additional 2 to 4 weeks of processing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I continue working if my work permit was stolen?
Yes, absolutely. Your authorization to work in Canada is tied to your electronic profile in the IRCC system, not the physical piece of paper. As long as your work permit has not expired, you can legally continue working while you wait for the replacement document to arrive in the mail.
Can I fly domestically within Canada without my passport?
Generally, yes. To board a domestic flight within Canada, Transport Canada requires valid government-issued photo identification. If your passport is stolen, you can use a Canadian provincial driver’s licence or a provincial photo ID card to board a flight from Toronto to Vancouver, for example.
Does a stolen passport cancel my eTA?
Yes. An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is digitally linked to the specific passport number you used when you applied. When you get your brand new replacement passport from your embassy, you must apply and pay for a new eTA ($7 CAD) before you can fly back into Canada.
Do I need a lawyer to report a stolen passport?
Typically, no. Reporting a stolen document and applying for a replacement permit is a straightforward administrative process that most people handle themselves. However, if your status has expired during the crisis, or if CBSA has flagged your file, hiring a Canadian immigration lawyer is highly recommended.
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