Canadian passport photo requirements
| Requirement | Canadian rule (in-person or mail applications) |
|---|---|
| Size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in) |
| Head height | 31–36 mm (1¼ to 1 7/16 in), chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured, in clear contrast with your face |
| Number of photos | 2 identical photos |
| Age of photo | Taken no more than 6 months before you apply |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera |
| Glasses | Allowed if your eyes are clearly visible with no glare; no tinted lenses |
| Who takes it | A commercial photographer or photo studio, in person |
| Back of the photo | Studio name and address and the date taken; guarantor details where required |
| Editing | None: no filters, retouching, background or brightness changes |
These figures come from the passport photo guidance on Canada.ca. Check the current version there before you book your photos.
Can you make a Canadian passport photo at home?
Not for the passport itself. Canada’s rules say passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio and professionally printed. Home-printed photos aren’t accepted, and neither are photos that have been altered in any way, including cropping, brightness or contrast changes.
So, unlike US passport photos or a UK online application, there’s no do-it-yourself route. This preset is still useful in two ways:
- Rehearse before the studio. Take a test shot at home, line it up with the 31–36 mm guide and see how your hairstyle, glasses and clothing look. Glare on glasses, or a light top that blends into a white background, is easier to sort out before your session.
- Check the result. If your photographer gives you a digital copy, open it here to see whether your head falls inside the guide. Submit the studio’s own prints or file, not a version you have re-saved or re-printed.
Applying for a visa, permit or other immigration document rather than a passport? Those follow separate photo specifications from IRCC, so check the instructions for that application.
Online renewal: digital photo rules
If you’re eligible to renew online, you’ll need a digital photo (again taken by a commercial photographer, not a selfie or a scan of a printed photo). The published specifications at the time of writing include a JPG file in portrait orientation (3:2 ratio), at least 1,200 × 1,800 pixels, between 200 KB and 5 MB, with your head taking up 45–50% of the photo’s height. You’ll also need the studio’s name and address and the date the photo was taken.
A useful tip from the official guidance: ask the photographer for both a digital file and printed copies, so you can switch to a paper application if online renewal doesn’t work out.
Common reasons Canadian passport photos are returned
- Missing details on the back: the studio stamp, the date, or the guarantor’s statement and signature.
- Glare on glasses, or tinted lenses of any kind.
- Shadows on the face or background, or uneven lighting.
- Light clothing that blends into a white background.
- A head size outside 31–36 mm, or a head tilted to one side.
- Any editing, including brightness, contrast or background changes.
- Photos older than 6 months.