Canadian passport photos differ from both the US and the European standards. At 50×70 mm they are taller than most, and the head size rules are strict. Above all, Canada only accepts passport photos taken by a commercial photographer. These are the rules as canada.ca states them (checked 14 October 2026).
Who takes the photo
canada.ca says passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio. Photos printed at home or on heavyweight paper are not accepted. The photo must also be original: no changes with photo editing software, filters or AI tools.
For a first adult passport and for a child's passport, the photographer writes or stamps the date the photo was taken and the studio's name and complete address on the back. Your guarantor then writes "I certify this to be a true likeness of" followed by your name on one photo, and signs it. Adults renewing do not need a guarantor.
Size requirements
Printed Canadian passport photos are 50 mm wide by 70 mm tall (2 by 2¾ inches), larger than the common 35×45 mm format. You submit 2 identical photos, taken no more than 6 months before you apply.
- Width: 50 mm
- Height: 70 mm
- 2 identical photos per application
- Taken no more than 6 months before you apply
- Printed by the studio: home prints are not accepted
Background and framing
The background must be plain white or light-coloured, and for a child's photo it must contrast clearly with the face. The photo shows a full front view of your face and the top of your shoulders, with your face centred.
Head size rules
From chin to crown, the head must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm in the printed photo, which is 44–51% of the photo height: a smaller share than most countries ask for.
- Face height (chin to crown): 31–36 mm
- Face occupies 44–51% of total photo height
- Head centred, looking directly at the camera
- Neutral expression with mouth closed
Online renewal photos
Renewing online takes a digital photo, but it still has to come from a commercial photographer: the original file, not a scan of a printed photo. It must be a .jpeg or .jpg in a 3:2 portrait shape, from 1,200×1,800 to 3,000×4,500 pixels, between 200 KB and 5 MB, with the head 45–50% of the photo's height. When you upload it, you enter the studio's or photographer's name and address and the date the photo was taken.
Expression and appearance
- Neutral expression, no smiling
- Mouth closed
- Eyes open, looking directly at the camera
- No glasses (recommended to remove them)
- No hats or head coverings except for religious reasons
What CropPass can do for Canada
CropPass can make the digital photo for an International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit application, which asks for a photo of yourself and names no photographer: a JPEG of at least 420×540 pixels, with your head 31–36 mm tall in a 35×45 mm frame. Visitor visa and study permit photos use the same frame and head size, but IRCC does not publish upload limits for them, so check what your application asks for. Permanent residence, PR card and citizenship photos, like passport photos, must come from a commercial photographer or studio.
Frequently asked questions
How recent must a Canadian passport photo be?
Taken no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application. The same limit applies to printed photos and to the digital photo for online renewal.
Can I take my own Canadian passport photo?
No. Canadian passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio, also for online renewal, and must not be edited. A photo you take yourself, including one cropped and resized with CropPass, will be refused. Go to a photo studio, pharmacy or photo shop that takes Canadian passport photos.