Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

The website of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa indicates that, in order to obtain an Afghan passport from within Canada, an applicant must provide the following information:

• A completed application form;
• Two recent passport-size photos;
• Proof of residency status in Canada, such as a permanent resident card, a landed immigrant document, or a document proving Canadian citizenship;
• A document to verify current address, including driver's license, utility bills, municipal documents, etc.;
• Processing fee;
• If applicable, a prepaid courier or registered self-addressed return envelope, or an additional charge of C$20 to return the passport by mail; and
• Original documents verifying Afghan identity, such as a Tazkira, the previous passport (if in possession of one), marriage certificate (if endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul), and educational or professional documents issued by the competent authorities in Afghanistan (Afghanistan n.d.).

According to the website of the Afghan Embassy in Ottawa, if the applicant is not in possession of any of these identity documents, he or she must provide two "Identity Guarantee Forms duly completed and signed by two Afghan nationals of an established social or professional background" (ibid.). Additional information on the Identity Guarantee Form could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. A copy of the Identity Guarantee Form is attached to this Response.

The website further indicates that the Embassy in Ottawa can only issue ordinary passports; applications must be made at the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul for diplomatic, service, student, and other types of passports (ibid.). The same source states that ordinary Afghan passports "will normally be issued within two weeks," but that a "fast-track processing service is available for exceptional cases," in which ordinary passports are issued within five days for an additional fee of C$30 (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Afghanistan. N.d. Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa. "Passport Information." [Accessed 11 Jan. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Afghanistan – Ministy of Foreign Affairs.

Attachment

Afghanistan. N.d. Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa. "Identity Guarantee Form." [Accessed 22 Jan. 2016]