Canada Visa Photo Size
Canada uses two photo sizes, and applicants mix them up all the time: the 50 × 70 mm passport photo is for Canadian citizens, while visitor visas, study permits and work permits use a 35 × 45 mm photo. Upload a portrait and the page crops it to the IRCC visa spec, ready to upload or print.
Passport Photo
or drop JPG, JPEG, JFIF … files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
Quality is lowered until the photo is at or just under this size; tiny files are padded up to the spec's minimum.
300 DPI is the print standard for passport photos; a 35×45 mm photo is then 413×531 px.
Place several copies on a 4×6 in (10×15 cm) photo print or an A4 page, ready for a photo kiosk or home printer.
How many photos on the sheet. A 4×6 in print fits 6 photos of 2×2 in or 6 of 35×45 mm; an A4 sheet fits more.
How to use this tool
- 1
Photograph against a plain wall
White or a light color, even light, no shadow. Look straight at the lens with a neutral face; clear glasses can stay if there is no glare.
- 2
Confirm the visa preset
The page opens on Canada visa — 35×45 mm, not the passport size, with a White Background. The Head-size guide shows the 31–36 mm band.
- 3
Upload or print
Download the JPG for an IRCC online application. For a paper application, set Print layout to 4×6 in sheet and cut two identical photos.
Canada visa photo size, print and digital
35 × 45 mm
Canada visa and permit
Head 31–36 mm, 420 × 540 px (IRCC digital minimum)
420 × 540 px
IRCC digital minimum
JPEG, color, same 7:9 shape
50 × 70 mm
Canadian passportCitizens only, different page
51 × 51 mm
US visaSquare, not accepted by IRCC
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the 35 × 45 mm spec for temporary resident visas, super visas, study permits and work permits; permanent residence and citizenship applications use the larger 50 × 70 mm photo instead. The head has to measure 31–36 mm from chin to crown, which is larger in proportion than many countries allow, so a crop made for another visa often leaves the face too small.
Rules beyond the size are short and strict. The face must be centered and square to the camera, eyes open, mouth closed, with no shadows, no tinted glasses and no head covering except for religious or medical reasons, and then the whole face must still show. Photos must be in color and taken within six months; altered or retouched images are refused.
From photo to biometrics appointment
Day 1
Take the photo
Plain light wall, daylight, camera at eye height.
Day 1
Crop to 35 × 45 mm
The visa preset sets the frame and the 31–36 mm head band.
Apply
Upload in the IRCC account
Attach the JPG where the form asks for a digital photo.
Letter
Biometrics instruction
IRCC sends a letter asking you to give fingerprints and a photo.
VAC
Visit the center
Bring the letter and passport; biometrics are reused for 10 years.
Why IRCC asks for a new photo
Other frequent causes are a background that is grey or textured, a shadow behind the ears, glare on glasses, and a file that was resized in an app that changed its proportions. Each one is fixable from the original shot. Compare Canada with other countries in passport photo requirements by country, or switch to the general visa photo tool.
Canada visa photo questions
Is the Canada visa photo the same as the Canadian passport photo?
No. A Canadian passport needs 50 × 70 mm with the face 31–36 mm tall, taken by a commercial photographer. Visas and permits for foreign nationals use 35 × 45 mm. If you are a citizen renewing a passport, go to Canadian passport photo requirements instead.
What pixel size does IRCC want for a digital visa photo?
At least 420 × 540 px, in color, as a JPEG, with the same proportions as the 35 × 45 mm print. This page exports 420 × 540 px for the 35 × 45 mm frame, which is exactly IRCC's stated minimum, so the file passes the size check as it comes out. IRCC states a maximum file size on the upload screen; check the current guidance there.
Do I write anything on the back of a Canada visa photo?
For paper applications IRCC asks for the person's name and date of birth on the back of each photo. Write lightly with a soft pen so the ink does not press through to the face.
Will I need a photo if I give biometrics at a visa application center?
Usually you still submit the photo with the application, and the center then takes your fingerprints and a separate digital photo. Most applicants aged 14 to 79 give biometrics, which stay valid for 10 years.
Can I smile in a photo for a Canadian study permit?
Keep a neutral expression with the mouth closed. IRCC uses the same photo rules for study permits, work permits and visitor visas, and an open-mouth smile can lead to a request for a new photo.
Do I need a visa photo for a Canadian eTA?
No. Travelers from visa-exempt countries flying to Canada apply for an eTA online with passport details only; no photo is uploaded.