“Passportunity”: People Offering to Stand in Passport Renewal Lines for Money

As passport renewal wait times remain lengthy, and line ups of hours or even days confront those who want to speed up the process by applying in person, some entrepreneurial Canadians have found a new business: offering to keep your spot in line for cash.

Daily Hive found ads across Facebook, Kijiji, and other online marketplaces for the new service. For $40/hour, one Vancouver-based Facebook Marketplace seller “guarantees” buyers a place in the first 10 spots as soon as the local passport office opens, so you can “sleep worry-free” while your spot-holder braves the line up for you “rain or shine” and even overnight. On Kijiji for Mississauga, Ontario, it’ll cost you only $20/hour.

Passport-seekers are also posting ads on online marketplaces, looking for line place holders. “Willing to pay $20 an hour for someone to wait in line at the Victoria Street passport office,” reads a listing on Kijiji - Toronto. “Starting at 3 am – 8 am ($100 total) until I’m able to arrive.”