Canada Passport Photo Requirements 2026
Canada uses a 35×45mm photo on a plain white background for its temporary-resident applications — visitor visas, study permits and work permits. Permanent residence and Express Entry are a separate process specified in pixels rather than millimetres, and the printed passport booklet is different again: a unique 50×70mm format requiring a certified photographer.
Printed passport booklet: requires a commercial photographer and a guarantor signature — not a self-serve tool. This maker covers the 35×45mm temporary-resident photo: visitor visas, study permits and work permits. Permanent residence, Express Entry and passport renewal each set their own requirements.
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Canada photo specifications
- Visa / PR / Permit size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Passport booklet size
- 50 × 70 mm (requires certified photographer)
- Head height
- 31–36 mm chin to crown
- Background
- Plain white or light-coloured, no shadows
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses
- Allowed if no glare and eyes fully visible (removing is safest)
- Digital (IRCC online)
- JPEG, 240 KB – 5 MB
- Recency
- Within the last 6 months
- Min DPI (print)
- 300 DPI
Source needs reviewcanada.ca
Report outdated informationWhat this photo covers (and what it doesn't)
A 35×45mm white-background photo satisfies IRCC requirements for Canadian visitor visas, study permits, work permits, PR card renewals, Express Entry applications, citizenship applications, and the IRCC online passport renewal portal. It does not cover the physical passport booklet, which IRCC requires to be produced by a commercial photographer who certifies the photo while a guarantor signs the back of the print.
Online IRCC portal photo upload
The IRCC online application portal accepts digital photos as JPEG files between 240 KB and 5 MB. Make the photo here, then if you need a smaller file, use the compress to KB tool to hit the portal limit while keeping the photo sharp. Always confirm the current file size cap on your specific IRCC application page before submitting, as digital limits can differ by application stream.
Canada photo for Indians in Canada
A Canadian immigration photo and an Indian passport-renewal photo are separate workflows. For the Indian renewal, follow the current Indian mission or service-provider instructions; the umbrella overseas ICAO guidance specifies a 630×810 px white-background photograph with 80–85% face coverage, but the local submission method may differ. Use the Canada maker for IRCC documents and consult the India maker only after confirming the Indian mission's requested format.
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Your photo is processed entirely in your browser. It is never uploaded to a server, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. Background removal, head detection, cropping and resizing all run locally. This is the right approach for biometric document photos.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
It depends which application you mean. The printed passport booklet is 50×70mm, unique to Canada. Temporary-resident applications — visitor visas, study permits and work permits — use 35×45mm on a white background. Permanent residence and Express Entry are a separate process with their own pixel-based upload requirements rather than a millimetre size, so check what your application asks for.
What is the background colour for a Canada passport photo?
A plain white or light-coloured, uniform background with no shadows, patterns or objects. The lighting must be even with no shadows falling on the face or background.
Can I use this maker for the Canadian passport booklet?
No. The printed Canadian passport booklet requires a certified commercial photographer and a guarantor signature on the back, which a self-serve tool cannot provide. This maker is for the 35×45mm temporary-resident photo used by visitor visas, study permits and work permits.
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, and IRCC asks for a professionally taken photo. 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.
Are glasses allowed in a Canadian passport photo?
Glasses are permitted only if there is no glare on the lenses and your eyes are fully visible and clearly readable. Removing them can reduce glare-related photo problems.
Can Indians in Canada use this for an Indian passport renewal?
Use the current instructions from the Indian mission or its service provider in Canada. Overseas passport applications follow a separate mission workflow; the umbrella ICAO guidance specifies a 630×810 px white-background photograph, but the local submission method must be confirmed.
How recent does a Canadian passport or visa photo need to be?
Photos must be recent (generally within 6 months) and reflect your current appearance. Significant changes in appearance (new glasses, major haircut, weight change) require a new photo.
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