Guarantor Changes

From Passport Canada:
"Improvements to passport services for Canadians abroad"

As of December 9, 2013, Canadian passport applicants outside Canada seeking a guarantor will now have the option of choosing:

• an adult with a valid or recently expired Canadian passport (less than a year); or
• a member of an expanded list of a variety of occupations listed below.

These changes will make it easier to find an acceptable guarantor. Canadians outside Canada will have more options, including selecting a guarantor from a new list that will include occupations found around the world. If you prefer to choose a guarantor from the list of occupations below, they do not need to be Canadian citizens.

The new list consists of the following occupations:

• Medical doctor
• Dean/head of university or college
• Dentist
• Judge
• Lawyer/notary
• Notary public
• Pharmacist
• Police officer
• Signing officer of a bank or trust company or of a financial institution that offers a full range of banking services (cash withdrawals, deposits, savings)
• Veterinarian

Applicants may use previous versions of application forms and the current guarantor list until February 10, 2014.

^ I still do not understand why the Canadian Government (and other governments like the UK) make it's citizens constantly prove they are who they say they are. I understand the need the first time, but once you get a birth certificate, a SIN (Social Insurance Number) or a Driver's License, etc why do you still need to find a guarantor? It seems like a big waste of time and an archaic rule. Some places (like Passport Canada) are changing the process of who you can use as a guarantor (especially when you renew) but they are still keeping the need for a guarantor. ^

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20131209.aspx?lang=eng