Generally, the passport renewal process varies from country to country due to different conditions and requirements. In Canada, Iranians must apply for passport renewal through the Canada Bureau (via Dublin) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C.
This article outlines the steps to apply for a new passport for Iranians residing in Canada through the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C. You can obtain your new passport by following the steps below.
Note: Another method is to apply through the Canada Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For more information on applying through the Canada Bureau (via Dublin, Ireland), and the required steps and documents, read the complete process of applying for a new Iranian passport in Canada.
Iranian Passport Renewal Process in Canada Through the Interests Section
The general steps of this process through the Interests Section are as follows:
- Preparing the Necessary Documents: Valid residency document – birth certificate (including the first page, children’s details page, spouse’s details page, and explanations page) – national identity card – personal photo – military service exemption/completion card (for men).
- Registering the Request on the Mikhak System: All consular requests must first be registered on the Mikhak system and a tracking code obtained.
- Payment of Fees: The passport renewal fee varies depending on the applicant’s circumstances. If applying through the Interests Section, be sure to see the complete fee schedule from the fees section on the website of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran at (daftar.org/fees).
- Identity Verification: When submitting a new passport application in person at the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C., your identity verification will be done in person at that office.
Important Note: For all consular matters, printing and sending the application receipt from the Mikhak system along with the documents is mandatory. Failure to send the documents and printed tracking code of your requests correctly will cause delays in consular matters or the return of documents (without consular matters being done).
Step 1: Preparing the Required Documents
Preparing the initial documents is the first and most important step in the passport renewal process. Images of these documents must be provided once in the Mikhak system and then to the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C.
The required documents are:
- Birth Certificate: Image of the birth certificate pages (including the first page, children’s details page, spouse’s details page, and explanations page).
- New Photo: Provide a new and high-quality personal photo. Note that the photo must be recent and high-quality, without hats and glasses, and for women with Islamic hijab.
- Valid Residency Document: Your valid residency document according to Canadian immigration laws.
- National Identity Card
- For Men: Military service exemption/completion card or educational exemption.
- For Women: Women must upload an image of the consent letter if they have their husband’s permission to issue a passport.
Important Notes
- Be sure to read the complete list of required documents (which varies depending on the applicant’s circumstances and reason for the request).
- Carefully review all documents before submitting them.
- Ensure that the images meet the criteria outlined in this article.
Note: If the original birth certificate is in Iran, a relative must go to the service desk or one of the provincial offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the original birth certificate to complete the file.
Consent letters are not required for husbands and wives who have simultaneously applied for a passport with a change of residence to Canada. (The spouse should mention when sending the documents that they are applying for a passport at the same time as their husband).
Consent letters are not required for fathers and children who have applied for a passport simultaneously.
Step 2: Registering the Request on the Mikhak System
After preparing the documents, the next step is to register the request on the Mikhak online form. All consular requests (both in-person and remote) must first be registered on the Mikhak system and a tracking code obtained.
- Registration: Since the password is sent to your email when you enter the Mikhak system, the applicant’s email and telephone are required.
- Uploading Document Images: In the Mikhak system, based on the selection of various identity options and the reason for the request, different information and documents may be requested from the applicant. Upload the scanned images of the necessary documents for your registration with appropriate clarity. The applicant must be careful that the size of each photo is less than 300 kilobytes.
- Applicant Photo: Prepare a new personal photo and upload its file with a maximum size of 300 kilobytes to the Mikhak system. The photo must have been taken in the last month. The photo must also be high-quality, without hats and glasses, and for women with Islamic hijab. The photo background should be white (with a white border around the photo) and the look should be forward.
- Completing the Online Application Form: This form includes your personal information, as well as information about your previous passport. Be careful when filling it out. The most important items on this form are:
- Full name and date of birth
- National ID number and birth certificate number
- Address of residence and telephone number
- Reasons for passport renewal
- Other fields of the online form on the Mikhak system (see the complete guide to using the Mikhak system)
Important Notes on Completing the Mikhak Online Form
- On the Mikhak system, in the passport affairs section, select the new passport request with the name of the “Washington Office” and then upload and register the required documents.
- If the applicant is a married woman or a child under 18 years of age and does not have a confirmed permission form from the spouse or father, be sure to obtain the spouse’s permission before entering the Mikhak passport section and uploading documents. The necessary explanations in this regard are available in the consent letter section of this site.
- If you are unable to register your request on the Mikhak system, you can use the service provided by the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C. by sending a note along with $60 per request. In this case, you must follow the application process through this office.
- After completing the form, be sure to review the information once more. Making sure there are no errors on the form will prevent future problems. After creating a profile and final registration, it is not possible to edit identity information on the Mikhak system. Therefore, applicants who need to edit their personal information entered in this system can go to the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C. in person after receiving the system tracking code to edit their personal information in that representative office.
- Incomplete requests will not be processed, and the applicant must obtain a new tracking code.
- The passports of students who have an approved educational file in Mikhak and their current semester certificate of enrollment is approved, along with their families are free of charge. Student Passports are issued only with an iran residency location. To create an educational profile see the designated area within the website.
Step 3: Payment of Issuance Fee
The issuance fee varies depending on the applicant’s circumstances. Refer to the Interests Section website to see the fee schedule.
Important Notes
- Changing the place of residence in the passport (to the United States/Canada) is only possible with the applicant’s direct request and having its conditions.
- If requesting to change the place of residence, its fee must be added to the issuance fee.
- If the place of residence in the passport issued by this representative office is registered as “Islamic Republic of Iran,” you must obtain a permit to leave the country by going to the passport office of your city of residence upon your first entry into the country.
- Indicating a foreign place of residence in the passport is considered a permit for repeated departures from the country (except for eligible individuals).
- According to the Iranian Civil Law, the place of residence (indicated in the passport) of women and children under 18 years of age is subject to the place of residence (indicated in the passport) of the husband/father. If you need to change the place of residence in the passport (to the United States/Canada), a written request from the husband/father (consent letter) is required.
- If your birth certificate is not photo-bearing and you are over fifteen years old, you must apply to replace your birth certificate at the same time as you apply for passport renewal.
