Where can you renew a Canadian passport? What do you need? Have to be w/in 6 mo?

[Canonite]

Hi guys,

I'm sure I can renew my Canadian passport in Seoul, but where else can I do it? Busan?

Also...what documentation do I need? I'll take all my picture ID (citizenship card, driver's licence, etc)...hope that's enough.

And finally...I seem to recall that you have can only renew it within 6 months of its expiry. However...I also have a Hungarian passport that expires six months AND TWO DAYS before my Canadian one. Therefore, I have to make two separate trips...is there any way to renew it, say, 7 months before it expires, so I can make one trip for both passports?

Thanks,
Tamas

[Jozigirl]

You usually have to renew it at the consulate,  so if there is a Canadian consulate in Busan, you should be able to do it there.

As for the Hungarian passport, contact the consulate or embassy.  Usually you have to renew passports within 6 months of expiration BUT in some cases, you can renew them early and you'll either lose the remaining time on the current passport or they'll add it to your new passport.  When I renew my British passport, I could renew it up to 9 months before the expiration date and they simply added the remaining months of validity on my old passport to the new one.  My passport is currently valid for 10 years and 7 months.

Usually, you need 2 photos, the application form and the application fee plus, possibly, proof of residency.  Have a look on the embassies' websites as most embassies list this information.

[Canonite]

Thanks, yeah, I think I got most of it figured out, there is a consulate in Busan (if anyone is interested it's here:)

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/contact/offices_bureaux-eng.asp?id=153002

Now the only question that remains...is can I renew it more than 6 months in advance...the Hungarian one is pretty clear-cut, it expires next month, so I'll have to go up to Seoul likely (doubt they have a consulate anywhere else in Korea) and do it there...

so basically the only question I have now is...can I renew my Canadian passport more than 6 months before it expires...if I can...then I'm good to go!

[Yu_Bumsuk]

There is an 'honorary' consulate in Busan way out of the way that can provide no actual consular services whatsoever. I found this out the hard way when I had to get something done - I can't for the life of me remember what - a few years ago. It may have been my passport renewal.

Otherwise Seoul, before noon, with docs and cash all ready (and it's expensive).

[Canonite]

Before noon???? Seriously? Why? (thanks for the info!)

[Yu_Bumsuk]

Before noon???? Seriously? Why? (thanks for the info!)

No wait, that was because the next day was Canada Day or some other holiday or something. Now I'm confusing myself. Just phone and ask.

[Canonite]

Before noon???? Seriously? Why? (thanks for the info!)

No wait, that was because the next day was Canada Day or some other holiday or something. Now I'm confusing myself. Just phone and ask.

Oh good...I sent them an email, but I'm so used to not calling anywhere in Korea (I don't speak Korean) that calling the Embassy in Seoul never occured to me hahaha...eff's sake I can be dense sometimes ;)

I hope they're open past noon...somewhere there's a picture of me in front of the embassy in Seoul, I think it has the hours on it, I'll check it haha

[Canonite]

So, apparently, 12 months or less is okay...which is awesome for meeeeee.

Oh, and the Busan office (I'm putting this in here for the benefit of anyone who might search for this in the future) deals with non-urgent passport requests as well, their number is 051-204-5581.

Dang...if it wasn't for my stupid Hungarian passport, I could have handled this all in Busan!

[sweetkat]

Here is the official response when I emailed the consulate. I renewed my Canadian passport in November.

Thank you for the question. For your passport renewal, a completed application form is required, which has to be submitted with the following documents;
 
·         your current passport,
·         birth certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate,
·         2 photos, and
·         the passport fee.
 
For more details, you can refer to the embassy website for passport renewal at:
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/korea-coree/consular_services_consulaires/passport-passeport.aspx?lang=eng and http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/korea-coree/consular_services_consulaires/renewal-renouvellement.aspx?lang=eng.
 
You can download the application form and complete it before coming to the embassy in Seoul or to the Consulate in Busan. However, we also have application packages at both offices if you would prefer that.
 
To complete your application, you are required to have a guarantor. Your guarantor must live in Korea and have known you for more than two years. The current list of eligible guarantors is:
·         Dentist
·         Judge
·         Practising lawyer
·         Magistrate
·         Mayor
·         Medical doctor
·         Notary public
·         Police officer
·         Signing officer of a bank
 
Please note that your guarantor does not need to be your doctor, for example, only a doctor who has known you for the required length of time and can confirm your identity. Please ensure that your guarantor signs your completed passport application as well as the back of one of your passport photos.
 
More information about guarantors is available at the following link: http://www.pptc.gc.ca/cdn/section2.aspx?lang=eng&region=international.
To have your passport in a married name, you will have to provide IDs showing your married name.
 
The passport process takes 15 working days from the time we receive a completed application. You can come to the Embassy anytime between 8:30~11:45 am Monday to Friday and speak to one of the consular staff if you require help with your application or if you would like to submit your application in person.
 
You can also mail your application to the Embassy but we do not accept cash via mail. If you choose to mail your application please include a certified check or a post office money order (woo-pyeon-tong-sang-hwan, 우편통상환). I hope this answers your questions but don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information.
 
Consular section

[Canonite]

Thanks...I've only been in Korea for 11 months...what do I do about the guarantor?? This is ridiculous...

[sunrise]

There was another poster (different thread) who complained bitterly about renewing his Canadian passport at the Canadian Consulate in Busan. His summary: a big, costly headache.

You can try doing the "Simplified Renewal Application Process" - no guarantor needed - and you have plenty of time left before your passport expires. However, your passport must be mailed from within Canada (or the US). Info and .pdf form to download and fill out here: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/ren.aspx.

**Be sure to check the box that indicates you would like your old passport returned. This is important no matter what method you use to renew your passport, because your (old) passport has your E2 visa stamp...you just never know how K immi will react when it comes time to extend/transfer your ARC card and you try to explain that this is a renewed passport...

"Simplified Renewal Application Process" --
1) Mail your passport (+ other required docs) back to a family member in Canada.
2) He/She should take all the required docs out of the envelope and re-stuff them into a new envelope with his/her return address in Canada.
3) Then mail the new envelope to the nearest Passport Canada office for processing.
4) Once completed, the family member will mail your new passport (+ old passport) to you in Korea.

[Canonite]

Well, I don't need is SUPER fast, travelling in August, but would be nice to have it beforehand...I was afraid I'd have to send it back...grrr...I thought you weren't allowed to renew less than 6 months before it expired (it's 12...I swear it used to be 6, but maybe I'm wrong)...I just came back from Canada...sigh

[Fanwarrior]

You can use the in lieu of guarantor form at the embassy. It's an extra $75 but you don't need to mail it from within Canada. That would be ludicrous for travellers all over the world.  Many people have reported using that form because they either haven't been here long enough or never thought ahead to go to the same doctor for 2 years.

I found it pretty trivial to go to the same doctor for 2 years since I've stayed around the same area.

I just renewed mine about 3-4 weeks ago.
The consular hours in Seoul are until 11:30, but that's only for people living in Seoul really. If you are coming from outside of Seoul they'll let you make afternoon appointments, but you need to call ahead. They realize it's hard for people outside Seoul to get here by 11:30. Live in Seoul? Screw you, take time off work.

The price is $100 + exchange, but they seem to be pretty gentle on the exchange, I processed a couple things while I was there, so I can't tell you what they exactly charged me for the passport.

You can also pay online with a Canadian credit card and print out a payment receipt. If you do that, I believe you can actually mail everything in.