Page 1 | 2 The passport is an official document issued by the
Government of Canada to Canadian citizens for travel to a
foreign country. The first Canadian passports were issued in
1862; consult the Passport Office Web page History of passports
[www.ppt.gc.ca/pptc/hist.aspx?lang=eng] to learn more. The
Passport Office [www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng] is
responsible for issuing passports in Canada. It does not retain
expired passports or passport applications. Immigrants to Canada
keep passports issued to them in their home countries; they are
not required to surrender them to the Government of Canada.
Research at Library and Archives Canada The Government of Canada
did not keep copies of passport applications or passports issued
to individuals. Only a few samples, retained for historical
purposes, are held at Library and Archives Canada. These 169
files relate to passports issued between 1891 and 1920 and can
be found in the Consular Division series of the Department of
External Affairs fonds (RG 25 A5). A