CANADA

Passport / Permanent Residence Photo Specification

Disclaimer: As required by Canadian government regulations, Pro Passport Photo is not able to alter the photo in any way .

Canada Passport / PR Card Photo Specification

Canadian Passport Photo Citizenship Photo Permanent Residence Photo

The same requirement applies for the following: Passport, Citizenship Card, Permanent Residence Card, International Driver’s Permit, Police Clearance Security License and Carte d’assurance maladie (RAMQ) photos.

  • The photos must be taken in person by a commercial
    photographer.
  • Photos must be taken within the last six (6) months.
  • The photo must measure 50 mm x 70 mm in size.
  • The length of the face on the photos from chin to crown of head
    (natural top of head) must be between 31 mm and 36 mm
  • The photos must be originals and not taken from an existing
    photo.
  • The photos must show a full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera (the image of the face and shoulders must be centered in the photo). The head must not be tilted to the side.

Photo requirements checklist:

The following requirements must be met

  1. The photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer.
  2. Photos must be taken within the last six (6) months.
  3. The photos must be taken against a plain white or light-coloured background with enough contrast between the background, facial features and clothing, so that the applicant’s features are clearly distinguishable against the background.
  4. Applicant must show a neutral facial expression (no smiling, mouth closed) and look straight at the camera.
  5. The photos must be clear, sharp and in focus.
  6. The photos must show a full head without any head covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, the head covering must not cast shadows on the face and the full face must be clearly visible.
  7. Glare and shadows are unacceptable. The lighting must be uniform to avoid glare or shadows across the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.
  8. Photos must represent natural skin tones.
  9. Eyes must be open and clearly visible. Photos with the red eye effect or red eye alterations are unacceptable.
  10. Prescription eyeglasses may be worn as long as the eyes are clearly visible and there is no reflection or glare on the eyeglasses.
  11. Sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses are unacceptable.
  12. The length of the face on the photos from chin to crown of head (natural top of head) must be between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches).
  13. The photos must measure 50 mm X 70 mm in size (2 inches wide X 23/4 inches long).
  14. The photos must show a full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera (the image of the face and shoulders must be centered in the photo). The head must not be tilted to the side.
  15. The two photos must be identical, unaltered and produced from a single negative or from a single electronic image file.
  16. Either black and white or colour photos are acceptable.
  17. The photos must be originals and not taken from an existing photo.
  18. Photos must be printed on plain, high quality photographic paper. Any other paper is unacceptable.
  19. The name of the photographer or studio, the complete address — street name and civic number (suite number, if applicable), town, postal code, and the date the photo was taken — must be provided directly on the back of one photo (see illustration below). This information should be stamped or handwritten by the photographer. Stick-on labels are unacceptable. Sufficient space must be allowed for the name of the applicant, the signature of the guarantor and the guarantor’s declaration.

Children

  1. Photos must show the child’s head and shoulders only. Parent’s or child’s hands must not appear in the photo.
  2. The Passport Program recognizes the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow some minor variations.
  3. For newborn babies, the photo may be taken while the child is sitting in a car seat, as long as a white blanket is placed over the seat behind the child’s head. There must be no shadows on the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.

Wheelchairs: Passport photos must be taken against a plain, uniform white or light-coloured background to ensure that the applicant’s facial features and edges of the face are clearly visible. As such, for someone who is in a wheelchair, we recommend that the photo be taken with a plain white blanket placed over the wheelchair behind the applicant’s head.

Headwear or nasal cannula: When required for medical reasons, headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a passport photo— provided that the eyes remain clearly visible. We recommend that you include a signed explanatory letter with your application. The Passport Program may also request that you submit a letter from your doctor.

Canada Passport Biometric Digital Photo Specification

The same requirement applies for the following: digital passport photo, digital permanent residence card photo, digital express entry photo.

  • The frame size must be at least 1200 x 1600 pixels.
  • The size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 709 to 823 pixels.
  • The file may be submitted in JPEG format.
  • The image must be in color(24 bits per pixel) in RGB color space.
  • The photos must be taken in person by a commercial
    photographer.
  • Photos must be taken within the last six (6) months.
  • The photos must be originals and not taken from an existing
    photo.
  • The photos must show a full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera (the image of the face and shoulders must be centered in the photo). The head must not be tilted to the side.
Canadian Passport Photo Citizenship Photo Permanent Residence Digital Photo

Photo requirements checklist:

The following requirements must be met

  1. The photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer.
  2. Photos must be taken within the last six (6) months.
  3. The photos must be taken against a plain white or light-coloured background with enough contrast between the background, facial features and clothing, so that the applicant’s features are clearly distinguishable against the background.
  4. Applicant must show a neutral facial expression (no smiling, mouth closed) and look straight at the camera.
  5. The photos must be clear, sharp and in focus.
  6. The photos must show a full head without any head covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, the head covering must not cast shadows on the face and the full face must be clearly visible.
  7. Glare and shadows are unacceptable. The lighting must be uniform to avoid glare or shadows across the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.
  8. Photos must represent natural skin tones.
  9. Eyes must be open and clearly visible. Photos with the red eye effect or red eye alterations are unacceptable.
  10. Prescription eyeglasses may be worn as long as the eyes are clearly visible and there is no reflection or glare on the eyeglasses.
  11. Sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses are unacceptable.
  12. The length of the face on the photos from chin to crown of head (natural top of head) must be between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches).
  13. The photos must measure 50 mm X 70 mm in size (2 inches wide X 23/4 inches long).
  14. The photos must show a full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera (the image of the face and shoulders must be centered in the photo). The head must not be tilted to the side.
  15. The two photos must be identical, unaltered and produced from a single negative or from a single electronic image file.
  16. Either black and white or colour photos are acceptable.
  17. The photos must be originals and not taken from an existing photo.
  18. Photos must be printed on plain, high quality photographic paper. Any other paper is unacceptable.
  19. The name of the photographer or studio, the complete address — street name and civic number (suite number, if applicable), town, postal code, and the date the photo was taken — must be provided directly on the back of one photo (see illustration below). This information should be stamped or handwritten by the photographer. Stick-on labels are unacceptable. Sufficient space must be allowed for the name of the applicant, the signature of the guarantor and the guarantor’s declaration.

Children

  1. Photos must show the child’s head and shoulders only. Parent’s or child’s hands must not appear in the photo.
  2. The Passport Program recognizes the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow some minor variations.
  3. For newborn babies, the photo may be taken while the child is sitting in a car seat, as long as a white blanket is placed over the seat behind the child’s head. There must be no shadows on the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.

Wheelchairs: Passport photos must be taken against a plain, uniform white or light-coloured background to ensure that the applicant’s facial features and edges of the face are clearly visible. As such, for someone who is in a wheelchair, we recommend that the photo be taken with a plain white blanket placed over the wheelchair behind the applicant’s head.

Headwear or nasal cannula: When required for medical reasons, headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a passport photo— provided that the eyes remain clearly visible. We recommend that you include a signed explanatory letter with your application. The Passport Program may also request that you submit a letter from your doctor.

FAQ

You could find a Pro Passport Photo location near you by using our store locator.

Applicant must show a neutral facial expression (no smiling,
mouth closed) and look straight at the camera.

You can not wear a hat, and if you must wear a head covering for religious beliefs or medical reasons, make sure your full facial features are not obscured

There is no instruction on Passport Canada’s Passport Photo Specifications that indicates you could or could not.

You may wear non-tinted prescription glasses as long as your eyes are clearly visible. Make sure that the frame
does not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses are not acceptable.

Make sure the baby is awake and dressed in dark color top, to find a baby photo location, please use our store locator, and choose Baby Photos under the Category option.

The Passport Program recognizes the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow some minor
variations.

Please contact Passport Canada’s website for the details.

To find a location near you