Did you ask for an express service? less than a month really pushing it.
Depends on country. Did mine in the UK last month and it was lickedy-split quick despite the recent industrial action in Canada. I usually travel on UK passport but it expires next year and wanted a new Canadian one if that renewal process takes longer.
A family member under the age of 18 did so in a European jurisdiction this Spring and it took over 3 months because the local embassy was incredibly rigid. I had got a guarantor’s signature last summer when I met a family member face to face on a trip back to Vancouver Island and then signed other parts of application months later. Was a no go. It had to be chronological, which meant costly couriers. I felt like writing a complaint letter but I guess you don’t want to piss off Embassy folk. 
In Taiwan I haven’t seen an option for express service. My passport is still valid but it expires in November. I need to travel suddenly because my mother died and I need to attend the funeral.
Another option is to just travel back to Canada, but I’m worried that they’ll give me a hard time because I have less than six months on my passport
Condolences.
They wont in Canada as you have a right of entry as a citizen. It is a policy for people traveling abroad. You are returning home for an unexpected event.
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So much time of our lives in Taiwan is spent on obtaining forms and applications and signatures and guarantors and chops and postage and translations and photos and more forms and more applications and fees, it’s a wonder anyone here has any time for work, not to mention living life.
But be aware that it might take “some” time to get a new passport in Canada.
It’s passport renewal time! As a Canadian, I’ve looked over the CTOT-specific guidelines to prepare for another round of fun-and-games. For the photo part, aside from the strict and specific guidelines (no digital alteration!), the site provides a list of photo studios in located in different cities in Taiwan.
Here’s my question to my fellow Canadians: is that list of photo studios provided as a helpful list for Canadians abroad—or are those businesses the ONLY photo studios whose photo are accepted?
Any clarification from fellow Canadians in Taiwan would be appreciated. Thanks!
@lostinasia @kk @sticky-tape @navillus @Marco @MikeN1 @TT
Guy
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Last time I had passport photos taken, I just chose one place that looked decent and went ahead with it. They said they could do passport photos when I first asked. Went fine. I have never been aware of a list of places that one must choose from, so I don’t imagine it’s that kind of situation .
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Thank you sir. 
Guy
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They don’t look markedly different from the UK requirements. When I did it, I just went to the nearest place I could find around Gongguan (below) and showed them the official requirements. The guy just made a note of them and did what was required. I’d be surprised if you have to choose from a list of specific places.
My spending app says it cost NT$550/NT$400 for the physical photos plus a mini CD (I’ve done it twice, I might have paid for faster service or something the first time). I think I also got him to e-mail me digital versions so I wouldn’t have to mess around with the CD.
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中央聯合辦公大樓南棟
No. 5, Xuzhou Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
In-between NTUH and Legislative Yuan.
On first floor (NE side of building if you know your directions) you’ll see a few lady volunteers at the photo kiosk for passport photos.
Tell them which country.
Price is cheap.
They are quite helpful as they’ll make sure you look ‘proper’ for the photo.
Cost should be just over NT$100 for 4 photos, plus I think QR code for digital copy.
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That’s cheap.
Not sure about the QR code part though. 
Guy
Is that an automated booth or an actual studio with a human photographer?
I don’t know how much the automated booths have evolved in the last 15 years or so, but I’ve definitely been happier with the results from human photographers since living in Asia (where these kinds of places are cheap and just pop up around anywhere one might need passport/official photos).
I don’t know anything. I was wondering if we’d have to go to a real country to get a new passport
Automative with live human helpers.
The booths are for all those government departments that need photos.
We did a passport photo. It’s not rocket science, relatively, lol
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I dunno man the Canadian specs for photos look pretty . . . specific. I wouldn’t trust a machine for this particular purpose.
On the other hand, I now know why the price is that cheap. 
Guy
I only do mine in Canada.