Passport Canada, ROCA

Many thanks to Passport Canada, and to other officials, for helping me to get my passport. The new quick application is very smooth.

Words of warning:

Do not write anywhere in your passport (not pencil, not ink, not crayon). Do not staple, fold, spindle or otherwise mutilate your passport. Take these as the first rules and all other rules as subordinate...
You are asked to sign your passport in ink – in the indicated position only. You are asked to fill in a contact address – in the indicated position only. I made the mistake of continuing my contact information onto Page 5. DO NOT DO THIS. Do not erase the contact address to fill in a new one.

Passport Canada imprinted observations are allowed. Border control and immigration/visa agencies of sovereign nations imprints are allowed. [Note these imprints and attachments are not scribbles in the 21^st century. There are international stamp, note and visa formats – Who knew?]

It has been suggested that one should only sign the passport, and leave off any and all other writing/markings/imprints/attachments. Put your contact information on a slip of paper and affix it with a paperclip (or sticky note) over Page 4. There you can include multiple contacts, at home and abroad. You can also place important numbers like consulate and travel related contacts telephones/websites.

Update, augment and replace the contacts slip as needed. When you renew your passport, simply remove the contacts slip and place it in your new passport when you receive it.

For keeping someone abreast of your travel in case of travel emergency (earthquakes, epidemics, military actions, tsunamis, avalanches, reactor fallout…), consider registering with ROCA (Registry of Canadians Abroad).

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration

https://www.voyage2.gc.ca/minroca/std/termsandconditions-en.htm