Canada Passport Photo Requirements 2026
A printed Canadian passport booklet takes a 50×70mm photo. For visitor visas, study permits and work permits, IRCC asks for two identical photos, at least 35×45mm, against a plain white or light-coloured background.
Not for the passport booklet: its photo needs a photographer's certification and a guarantor signature, which a self-serve tool cannot provide. Permanent residence, Express Entry and passport renewal each set their own requirements.
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A clear, front-facing photo works best
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Canada photo specifications
- Visitor visa and permit size
- At least 35 × 45 mm
- Chin to crown
- 31–36 mm
- Background
- Plain white or light-coloured
- Face
- Neutral look, lips together
- Glasses
- Non-tinted prescription glasses, eyes clearly visible
- Age of the photos
- No older than six months
Confirm on the official source before you submitcanada.ca
Report outdated informationApplying online
IRCC's photo specification is written for printed photos. It says a digital photo must not be altered in any way, so take yours against a plain white or light wall instead of relying on a replaced background. It gives no file-size limit either: follow the size your online application shows, and if it states one, our KB compressor can bring the file under it.
Your photo stays with you
The tool above works inside your browser tab. The photo you add for your IRCC application, or your child's, is not sent to us or kept anywhere once you close the page.
Frequently asked questions
What photo do I need for Express Entry or PR?
Not the 35×45mm print on this page. Permanent residence and Express Entry use a digital photograph specified in pixels rather than millimetres. Open the photo requirements inside your own PR application and work to those figures.
Can I upload a digital photo for Canada's online passport renewal?
Passport renewal is run by the passport programme rather than the temporary-resident stream this page covers, and its photo rules are set by that application. Read the requirements shown in the renewal service before preparing anything, rather than assuming the 35×45mm visitor figure applies.