Canada Passport Photo Requirements
The official size, head height and rules for a Canada passport photo, checked against the official source linked below.
The photo tool is not available for this document. Canada counts any cropping around the head and shoulders as alteration, does not accept photos printed at home, and asks you to go to a commercial photographer or photo studio. This tool cannot make a compliant Canadian passport photo, so it is switched off on this page.
Canada passport photo requirements
| Printed size | 50 × 70 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 31–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Editing | Not allowed by the official source |
Rules from the official source
- 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in).
- Face 31–36 mm (1¼ to 1⁷⁄₁₆ in) from chin to crown (top of head).
- Taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio, no more than 6 months before you apply.
- Professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper; photos printed at home are not accepted.
- Not altered or edited in any way, including cropping around the head and shoulders, filters and AI tools.
- Neutral expression: eyes open and clearly visible, looking at the camera, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning.
- Face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera, against a plain white or light-coloured background.
- Uniform lighting with no shadows, glare or flash reflections.
- Clear glasses are accepted if the eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare; sunglasses and tinted lenses are not.
- Two identical photos; the back of one must carry the studio details and, for most applications, the guarantor’s signature.
Common mistakes that lead to rejection
- Printing the photo at home or at a drugstore photo kiosk instead of a commercial photographer or studio — Canada rejects any passport photo that was not taken and printed professionally.
- Cropping, resizing or editing the photo yourself after the studio printed it, including with a phone app — any change counts as alteration.
- Using a photo older than 6 months, even if your appearance has not changed.
- Submitting only one photo, or two photos that are not identical.
- Missing the guarantor’s signature and wording on the back of one photo (most adult renewals do not need this).
- Using the Canada visitor visa (TRV) photo format (35 × 45 mm) instead of the passport format (50 × 70 mm) — they are not interchangeable.
- For online renewals, uploading a re-photographed copy of the printed photo instead of the digital file saved directly from the camera.
- Smiling, raised eyebrows or an open mouth.
- Shadows on the face, glare on glasses, or a tilted head.
Editing and retouching
Not allowed by the official source. The source says: An altered photo is any photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means, including: making technical corrections or enhancements, such as changes to: colour, brightness, contrast, sharpness, cropping around the head and shoulders
Source.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
Canada asks for photos 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in), with the face 31–36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white or light-coloured background.
What are the rules for a Canada passport photo?
The photo must be 50 × 70 mm, face 31–36 mm from chin to crown, plain white or light-coloured background, neutral expression with eyes open and mouth closed, taken within the last 6 months by a commercial photographer or photo studio, professionally printed (not printed at home), and not altered or edited in any way, including cropping. Two identical copies are required, with studio details and (for most applications) a guarantor's signature on the back of one.
Can I make my own Canadian passport photo?
No. Canada asks for photos taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio and professionally printed. It does not accept photos printed at home, and counts any editing, including cropping around the head and shoulders, as alteration. That is why the photo tool is switched off on this page.
What goes on the back of the photo?
On one of the two photos, the photographer writes or stamps the date and the studio name and address, and for most applications your guarantor writes "I certify this to be a true likeness of" followed by your name, and signs. Adult renewals do not need a guarantor.
What about online passport renewals?
Online renewals need a digital photo from the photographer: JPEG, 3:2 portrait, at least 1200 × 1800 px and at most 3000 × 4500 px, 200 KB to 5 MB, with the chin-to-crown measurement 45–50% of the photo height, saved directly from the camera.
Is the Canadian visa photo the same?
No. The visitor visa photo has its own size. See our Canada visa photo page.
Official source
Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html. Last verified by us: . Rules can change, so always check the official page before you apply.
PhotoID Ready is independent and not affiliated with any government agency. Whether a photo is accepted is always decided by the issuing authority.
Related photo tools
- Canada visitor visa (TRV) photo
- United States passport photo
- United Kingdom passport photo
- India passport photo