When a baby is born shortly before an application deadline and the birth certificate (needed to then apply for a passport) is still weeks away, the online form's mandatory "identity documents" field can block submission.
What group members advised:- A passport application should still be pursued once the birth certificate is available, since most application types eventually require identity document details to process fully.
- If you're applying while inland (already in Canada), a passport stamp may not be strictly necessary, but some form of identity documentation is still generally expected for processing.
- Where the passport/birth certificate truly isn't available yet, submit a detailed Letter of Explanation in place of the missing documents, along with proof that you've already applied for the birth certificate, to show the gap is temporary and being actively resolved.
Because exact form requirements can vary by application type, it's worth double-checking with IRCC or a regulated consultant on whether the hospital health card is an acceptable interim substitute for your specific application.