Canadian passport colors identify the holder’s status and the kind of travel the document is meant for. Canada issues navy blue passports to ordinary citizens, red passports to diplomats, green passports to other government officials on state business, and white covers for temporary passports and emergency travel documents. Two more colors go to non-citizens: grey certificates of identity and blue refugee travel documents. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada decides who qualifies for each.1Canada.ca. The Passport Program
Navy Blue: The Standard Citizen Passport
Almost every Canadian carries the navy blue passport. It’s the document used for personal travel, vacations, and private business abroad.2Canada.ca. Types of Passports and Other Travel Documents Adults 16 and older can choose between a five-year and a ten-year version; children under 16 can only get the five-year book.
The cover shows the Canadian coat of arms, and inside the personal information is laser-engraved on a polycarbonate data page rather than printed in ink.3Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Features of Canada’s New Passport If you hold Canadian citizenship and are traveling for any private reason, this is the passport you’ll be issued.
Red: The Diplomatic Passport
A red cover identifies the holder as a Canadian diplomat or a very senior government official. Red passports go to people such as the Governor General, the Prime Minister, ambassadors, high commissioners, and officers of diplomatic rank when they travel on behalf of Canada.4Canada.ca. About Official Passports The color signals to foreign border authorities that the bearer may hold immunities and privileges under international diplomatic conventions.5Canada.ca. Get a Special or Diplomatic Passport for an Adult
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship decides who qualifies. A red passport becomes invalid the moment the holder’s diplomatic duty ends, regardless of what the printed expiry date says. It cannot be used for a family vacation or private trip, which is why diplomatic passport holders typically carry a navy blue passport alongside it.
Green: The Special Passport
Green passports go to government officials who travel on state business but do not hold diplomatic rank. That includes Members of Parliament, senators, members of provincial cabinets, and federal employees traveling on official missions or to non-diplomatic posts abroad.4Canada.ca. About Official Passports
Like the red passport, a green special passport expires as soon as the holder’s official duty ends, even if the printed expiry date is still in the future.5Canada.ca. Get a Special or Diplomatic Passport for an Adult It cannot be used for personal travel. Green passport holders generally carry their navy blue passport too, and need to think about which one to present at the border depending on the reason for the trip.
White: Temporary Passports and Emergency Travel Documents
A white cover means the document is short-term and situational. There are two kinds, and the difference matters if you’re stuck abroad.
Temporary Passport
A temporary passport has a white cover and four visa pages, and can be valid for up to one year. It cannot be extended for any reason. You can only get one if you have a proven urgent need for a passport in fewer than 20 business days and have already applied and paid for a regular passport that hasn’t arrived yet.6Canada.ca. Canadian Temporary Passports Some countries won’t accept a temporary passport, so check with your destination’s embassy before you travel.
Emergency Travel Document
If you lose your passport while overseas, a Canadian consulate can issue an emergency travel document. It’s more limited than a temporary passport: it’s valid for a single trip, meaning a direct return to Canada, a return to your country of residence, or travel to a place where full passport services are available.7Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Pay Your Temporary Passport, Emergency Travel Document or Other Administrative Fees Consular staff verify your identity and citizenship before issuing it.
Grey and Blue: Documents for Non-Citizens
Canada also issues travel documents to certain people living in Canada who are not Canadian citizens and can’t get a passport from any country.
- A certificate of identity has a grey cover. It’s issued to permanent residents of Canada who are stateless or who face special circumstances preventing them from getting a passport from their country of citizenship.
- A refugee travel document has a blue cover with two black diagonal lines. It’s issued to people in Canada with protected person status.
Neither document can be used to travel to the holder’s country of citizenship. Because not every country recognizes these credentials, holders should contact the embassy of their destination before booking travel.2Canada.ca. Types of Passports and Other Travel Documents Applicants don’t pick between the grey and blue documents; the government decides which one to issue after reviewing the application.8Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Apply for a Travel Document for Non-Canadians
Why Some People Carry Two Passports
Because the red and green passports are tied to official duty and can’t be used for personal travel, the people who hold them usually also carry an ordinary navy blue passport for private trips. Which one they present at the border depends on why they’re traveling, not on which one is more convenient.