Official requirements
| Print size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in); two identical, unaltered prints |
|---|---|
| Digital size | Our export is 591 × 827 px at 300 DPI for the 50 × 70 mm proportions |
| Face height | 31–36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown — 44–51% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured, uniform, in clear contrast with the face, no shadows |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera |
| Glasses | Allowed only if your eyes stay completely visible — no glare, reflections or frames over the eyes; tinted and transition lenses are not allowed. Removing them is safest |
| Head coverings | Only if worn daily for religious or medical reasons, and the face must stay fully visible |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Paper applications | Photos must be taken by a commercial photographer, who stamps or writes their name, address and the date on the back of one print; a guarantor signs the back of one photo |
How to take a compliant Canada Passport photo at home
- Use a plain wall in the required background colour if you can — replacing a background digitally is a fallback, not the first choice, and a couple of authorities (Australia, and Canada for digital uploads) require an unaltered photo.
- Stand roughly half a metre in front of the wall so your shadow does not fall on it, and face a window or another even light source so both sides of your face are lit the same.
- Have someone else take the photo from about 1.5 metres away, holding the phone at your eye level. Arm’s-length selfies widen the face and tilt it, and are a quiet cause of rejections.
- Shoot head and shoulders with clear space on every side of your head. The maker scales and centres you; a tight original crop leaves it nothing to work with.
- Look straight at the lens, keep your head level, close your mouth unless your spec allows a natural smile, and take several shots — then use the sharpest one with no shadow on the face or the wall.
Then open the passport photo maker with the Canada Passport preset selected, drag your photo until the top of your head sits between the dashed crown lines, your chin rests on the lower line and your eyes fall inside the shaded band, and download the photo at exactly 591 × 827 pixels — or a print sheet with the copies laid out at 50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ in) each.
Common reasons Canada Passport photos are rejected
- The US 2 × 2 inch size — at 51 × 51 mm it is too short for Canada’s 50 × 70 mm frame, and Canada says so explicitly.
- Head outside the 31–36 mm band, or a head-and-shoulders crop that fills the frame like other countries want.
- A grey or off-white background with weak contrast — Canada enforces a plain, light background strictly.
- Smiling or a non-neutral expression.
- Shadows on the face or background, or white clothing that blends into the background.
- For paper applications: home-printed photos. Canada requires a commercial photographer and does not accept prints made at home.
Be clear about what this tool can and cannot do for Canada: it produces a correctly sized, correctly composed photo file and print layout. For a paper passport application you still need a commercial photographer’s stamp and a guarantor’s signature on the back of the prints — take the file to a photo lab, or have the lab take the photo. Digital photos for online renewal must be original, unedited camera files, so skip background replacement for that route.
Canadian visa and PR photos have historically used related but not identical specs; this preset follows the passport specification, which the PR card shares.
Open the maker with the Canada Passport preset
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ inches), with the face measuring 31–36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white or light-coloured background. It is taller and narrower than the US photo.
Can I print Canadian passport photos at home?
For a paper passport application, no — IRCC requires photos taken by a commercial photographer, with the photographer’s details and the date on the back of one print, and one photo signed by your guarantor. Use this maker to get the composition right and to prepare files where a digital photo is accepted.
Can I wear glasses in a Canadian passport photo?
Only with your eyes fully visible: no glare, no reflections, and frames must not cover any part of your eyes. Tinted or transition lenses are not acceptable. Most applicants find it simpler to remove them.
Is the Canadian visa photo the same size?
No — Canadian temporary-resident visa photos use 35 × 45 mm, while the passport and PR card use 50 × 70 mm. This preset is the passport size; for a visa, use the Schengen preset’s dimensions and check the visa office instructions.