Starting today, the federal government has implemented a fresh initiative called the “30 days or free” policy concerning passport issuance. Under this policy, if the processing of an application exceeds 30 business days, applicants will receive a complete refund of the passport or travel document fee. The government emphasizes the importance of compensating applicants if its service standards are not met. Typically, the processing time for passports falls within a service standard ranging from 10 to 20 business days.
It is important to note that the 30-day guarantee does not encompass mailing time, and the countdown commences upon the government’s receipt of a comprehensive application. Certain applications, such as urgent and express services, are exempt from this standard.