Surrey Service Canada Centre - Passport Services

I went to the Surrey Service Canada Passport Service Center at Central City this morning (Thursday). I joined the waiting line outside the mall next to Boston Pizza at 7:03am and was the 20th person. The security guards let two families with babies enter the mall first and then the rest of us at 7:52, which was earlier than usual because of the cold weather. There were about 60 people in total by that time. We had a few minutes to go to the washroom or grab a coffee inside the mall after a briefing. I applied for my first Canadian passport, and just chose the regular service without a travel date. I finished my passport application at 9:25. The estimated delivery date is March 9.Things to keep in mind:1. Make sure your guarantor and references are eligible, and the guarantor has signed one of your passport photos. While I was waiting for an agent to review my application, I overheard a man who was distressed to learn that he needed to take his photos again and have a new guarantor.2. If you don't have a guarantor just like me, you will need to get a statutory declaration in lieu of the guarantor form in advance, and have it signed along with one of your passport photos by a public notary or other similar roles as specified on the CIC website. You may also ask the notary to photocopy and verify two pieces of your IDs, in case you switch to a mail application. You can only get the form by visiting a passport service office and ask a security guard to get it for you, or send an email to CIC. It is not available online, so please spare some time to obtain the form. For more details, please visit the gov website.3. Following part 2, the statutory declaration form actually requires you to provide two references that ARE NOT THE SAME references for your passport application. I didn't know this implied rule, so the agent asked me to provide the contact info of two more references on the spot. I barely fulfilled this requirement as I didn't know my other friends' addresses. I ended up including my family doctor and my supervisor in my original province as references as I could google their work addresses. So please have at least 4 references on hand.4. Service Canada may call guarantors (and references maybe), and the guarantors need to answer their questions. Many applications are on hold due to guarantors not reachable. Service Canada may use a public or private phone line in BC or Alberta.5. All applicants who are 16 years old or older do not need to apply or pick up in person if they choose the regular service (but they will need to give authorization to a rep), but must go to the center both to apply and to pick up for the urgent or express services. Minors do not need to show up for any of the three services, but parents can still bring them to the center.6. Teenagers who have turned 16 need a photo id to apply for an adult passport. If their child passport is not eligible due to the expiration date etc., they most likely need a health card or driver's licence. Student IDs are not accepted.7. An officer during briefing said the longest wait time yesterday was 4-5 hours, but some Service Canada locations that required 20 processing days for a regular service had a significantly shorter wait time.

I arrived at the building just before 8 am. and was able to leave before 10. When I got there I saw no queue, but people ahead of me were already in a waiting room(of course!). I'd say around 70 people before me. Overall, it wasn't too bad! I talked to three officers, and two of them were really, really nice! As long as you have everything ready, it'll work smoothly!

Went at 5:50am. There were only 6 people ahead me. Waited till 8am snd got the ticket number.Make sure go around 6am if you want to be in 1s group. Check the weather and dress accordingly otherwise you will be regretting later. They dont do SIN here. So better not to wait in line up for SIN. It’s mainly a passport office

I applied for my passport a week ago . I arrived 25 minutes before 8 am(waited outside the mall) Just few people ahead of me and the first group being served that day. It was very smooth and the staff were very nice and helpful. I was very happy about the whole process and totally understand the new steps that Service Canada needs to put up in order to serve us better. We all know what happened during covid the kudos to them for working hard and finding effective ways.

Arrived at 10am to drop off passport application; finished by 12pm. 55 people were ahead of me. Spent the first hour in the upstairs waiting room, and the second hour in the passport office. The staff were all very helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. Passport should be available to pick up in 10 business days. I really appreciate how much better it is now, compared to 2 years ago!!

Went on a Tuesday. Showed up at about 810. Was about 30 in line. They didn't start taking groups downstairs until about 845. I was in 3rd group to go down. The line inside the main office was the slowest, but once I got my number I was almost immediately called up to the counter. Passport application went quick and smooth.Time spent: arrived at 810, out by about 1030. Not terrible but not fun.Bonus: passport was delivered by mail a week early.

Went there at 6AM and had 17 people in front of me, if you want to be in the first group of 24 get there before 630 or 7am. By 800am there were almost 100s in the line up.Be patient and wear warm very warm, gloves , boots whatever you can you won’t regret trust me. Some staffs will come out and greet us by giving everyone a number. We were in the mall by 810am and waited in another room before escorted to the main office. The staffs are helpful and courteous except the short security guard a bit feisty. LolGood luck and stay warm. Oh yes bring a lawn chair too plus hot drinks but don’t drink too much liquids you know what I mean.Now I just have to wait 2 weeks for our passports.

May 23, 2023 (Tuesday after long weekend)All positive.Showed up at 7:05 am there were 9 people in line.They took us into the mall at just before 8:00 . There were about 50 people now in line.Took us to a waiting room . Gave brief review of what the rules were and what you should have with you. At 8:25 they took the first 25 to the office. I was out of there completed by 9:05. I paid the extra $20 to pick mine up and it will be ready in exactly 10 business days. By mail they say 3 weeks. Staff were polite and efficient.

We went to the Passport Office yesterday and asked someone if we could just drop our application off somewhere, the front line security person said yes

Takes longer than it should and seems like there's unnecessary steps, but the people were nice. I'm surprised there's no specialized equipment at the desks of the workers that would allow them to photocopy without leaving and walking away. I arrived at 8:40 and left at 11:20, so bring some water and food. Also the office is super cold, consider wearing a sweater.