Canada Passport Photo Size: Exact Dimensions & Rules

Get your Canada passport photo size wrong and your application gets rejected — adding weeks to the process. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enforces strict dimensional and quality requirements that trip up thousands of applicants every year.

This guide covers every specification you need: exact dimensions in millimeters, inches, and pixels, framing rules, background requirements, and the most common rejection reasons.

Canada Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Exact Dimensions: MM, Inches, and Pixels

The official Canada passport photo size is 50 mm wide × 70 mm tall. In inches, that is 2 × 2.75 inches — taller than the square 2×2 format used by the United States.

For digital submissions, pixel dimensions depend on your scan or camera resolution:

300 DPI is the minimum acceptable resolution for printed passport photos. If you are submitting digitally through IRCC's online portal, aim for at least 600×600 pixels on the shorter side. The portal accepts JPEG files between 50 KB and 5 MB.

Not sure what resolution your image is? Use our DPI checker to verify before submitting.

IRCC Face Position and Framing Rules

IRCC specifies precise framing measurements. Getting these wrong is the single most common reason for rejection.

Face height: The distance from chin to crown of head must measure 31 mm to 36 mm in the printed photo. That translates to roughly 62–72% of the total frame height.

Head position:

• Face the camera directly — no tilting, no turning
• Both ears should be visible (hair can partially cover ears)
• Head centered horizontally in the frame
• Natural head position, not tilted forward or backward

Crown clearance: Leave approximately 5–10 mm of space between the top of the head and the top edge of the photo. Too much space pushes the face too low. Too little space crops the head.

Shoulder line: Shoulders should be visible at the bottom of the frame. The photo should capture from approximately mid-chest upward.

Expression: Neutral expression with mouth closed. No smiling, squinting, or raised eyebrows. Eyes open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera lens.

Background Requirements

IRCC requires a plain white or light grey background with no patterns, shadows, or other objects visible. The background must be uniform — no gradients, no visible texture.

If your photo has a colored or cluttered background, you can change the image background to white using Pixotter's background removal tool before resizing to the correct dimensions.

Lighting: Even lighting on the face with no harsh shadows. The background should appear consistent from edge to edge. Side lighting that casts a shadow on the background wall is a common rejection trigger.

Common Rejection Reasons

IRCC processing centers reject passport photos for these issues most frequently:

1. Wrong dimensions. The photo is not 50×70 mm, or the face height falls outside the 31–36 mm range. This is the easiest problem to fix — resize your photo to 590×826 pixels at 300 DPI.

2. Shadows on background. Even faint shadows behind the head or shoulders trigger rejection. Photograph against a large white surface with the subject standing 30–50 cm away from the wall.

3. Glasses visible. Since the 2024 IRCC policy update, glasses are not permitted in Canadian passport photos — not even clear prescription lenses. Remove them before taking the photo.

4. Red-eye or glare. Camera flash reflecting in the eyes. Use indirect lighting or a diffused flash.

5. Photo older than 6 months. IRCC requires the photo to represent your current appearance. Significant changes in hair, weight, or facial features since the photo was taken can cause rejection.

6. Digital manipulation. IRCC prohibits retouching that alters your natural appearance. Basic adjustments to brightness and contrast are acceptable. Skin smoothing, blemish removal, or feature alteration are not.

7. Incorrect file format or size. Digital submissions must be JPEG format, between 50 KB and 5 MB. Other formats (PNG, HEIC, WebP) are rejected by the upload portal.

How to Take a Canadian Passport Photo at Home

You do not need to visit a photo studio. A smartphone with a decent camera produces acceptable results if you follow these steps:

Setup:

• Find a plain white wall or hang a white sheet
• Position yourself 30–50 cm in front of the background
• Use natural daylight from a window facing you, or two lamps placed at 45-degree angles
• Mount the phone at eye level (stack books or use a tripod)
• Set the camera to its highest resolution

Taking the shot:

• Remove glasses, hats, and head coverings (religious head coverings are permitted if worn daily)
• Face the camera directly with a neutral expression
• Have someone else take the photo, or use a timer — arm-length selfies distort facial proportions

Processing:

1. Crop the image to a 5:7 aspect ratio with proper framing (face height 62–72% of frame)
2. Remove the background if it is not perfectly white
3. Resize to 590×826 pixels at 300 DPI for print, or 1180×1652 pixels for high-quality digital submission
4. Save as JPEG and verify the file is between 50 KB and 5 MB

Digital vs Print Submissions

Canada accepts passport photos in both formats depending on your application method.

Online applications (digital): Submit through the IRCC portal. JPEG format, 50 KB–5 MB, minimum 420×540 pixels. The 600 DPI version (1180×1652 pixels) gives you the best quality margin.

Mail or in-person applications (print): Two identical prints at exactly 50×70 mm. One photo must have the photographer's stamp, name, address, and date on the back. If you take the photo yourself, you are considered the photographer — print your name and home address on the back.

Which to choose: Online applications process faster (typically 10 business days vs 20 for mail). Digital submission also eliminates print quality as a rejection variable.

Passport Photo vs Citizenship Photo vs Visa Photos

Canadian document photos share similarities but have key differences:

Canadian passport and citizenship photos use identical specifications. PR card photos follow the same standard. The main practical difference: citizenship ceremony photos require a specific declaration printed on the back that is not required for passport photos.

If you are applying for visas to other countries alongside your Canadian passport renewal, prepare each photo separately — do not assume one size fits all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Canada passport photo size in pixels?

At 300 DPI (the minimum print resolution), the Canada passport photo size is 590 × 826 pixels. At 600 DPI, it is 1180 × 1652 pixels. For digital portal submissions, IRCC requires a minimum of 420 × 540 pixels, but submitting at higher resolution avoids quality-related rejections.

Can I take my own Canadian passport photo?

Yes. IRCC accepts self-taken photos if they meet all technical specifications. Use a tripod or have someone else press the shutter — handheld selfies produce barrel distortion that can cause rejection. You must still write your name, address, and the date on the back of printed photos.

Are glasses allowed in Canadian passport photos?

No. As of the 2024 IRCC policy update, glasses are not permitted in Canadian passport photos. This includes clear prescription lenses, tinted lenses, and sunglasses. The only exception is if you cannot remove glasses for medical reasons, in which case you need a signed letter from your doctor.

What background color is required for a Canadian passport photo?

IRCC accepts plain white or light grey backgrounds. The background must be uniform with no patterns, shadows, or objects. If your photo has a different background, use a background removal tool to replace it with white before submitting.

How recent does a Canadian passport photo need to be?

The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must accurately represent your current appearance. If you have significantly changed your hairstyle, hair color, weight, or had facial surgery since the photo was taken, take a new one.

What file format does the IRCC online portal accept?

The IRCC portal accepts JPEG (.jpg) files only, between 50 KB and 5 MB in size. PNG, HEIC, WebP, and other formats are rejected. If your photo is in another format, convert it to JPEG and verify the file size falls within the accepted range before uploading.

Can I smile in my Canadian passport photo?

No. IRCC requires a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed. Even a slight smile can trigger rejection during automated photo validation. Keep your face relaxed, eyes open, and look directly at the camera lens.