Sharing an announcement from the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver regarding passport applications and issuance. Below is the copied content of the email.
○ Starting March 24, 2025, a new passport design with enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures will be introduced.
○ Since all passports will be produced in Japan, the time required for issuance will be longer than before.
○ The consular outreach service and remote passport issuance by mail for residents in distant areas will be discontinued.
1. Changes in Passport Specifications and the Increase in Processing Time from Application to Issuance
From March 24, 2025, in order to strengthen anti-counterfeiting measures, the issuance of a new passport with a plastic substrate on the identification page, called the "2025 Passport," will begin.
Currently, passports are issued within five business days as a standard at consular offices abroad. However, after March 24, 2025, passports will no longer be created at overseas consular offices. Instead, they will be produced in Japan and shipped to the consular offices, requiring at least two weeks for delivery.
Since the time from application to issuance will be significantly extended compared to the current process, we encourage you to check the expiration date of your current passport and consider applying for renewal early. (You can apply for a renewal if your passport is valid for less than one year.)
While we will inform you of the estimated issuance time at the time of application, we will contact you again once your passport is ready for pickup. For paper applications at the consular window, you will be contacted by phone. For online applications via the ORR net system, an email will be sent to the registered email address.
2. Discontinuation of Immediate Passport Issuance Services via Consular Outreach for Remote Residents and the End of Same-Day Passport Issuance for Paper Applications
Until now, we have provided a service for residents in remote areas who wish to apply for a passport by mailing their completed application form in advance to the consulate. On the day of the consular outreach service, the passport would be handed over, or, alternatively, it could be collected on a pre-scheduled visit to the consulate. (See the related page below.)
However, due to the centralization of passport production in Japan, these services will no longer be feasible. From March 24, 2025, the issuance of passports during consular outreach services or on pre-scheduled consulate visit days will be discontinued.
Therefore, remote residents are encouraged to use the online passport application service. As long as you apply online with sufficient time, it will still be possible to receive your passport during a consular outreach service or on the scheduled day of your consulate visit.
For instructions on how to use the online application, please refer to the following link:
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