Canada Passport & PR Photo Requirements

Photo size and dimensions

Canadian passport, PR card, visa, and citizenship photos use a larger format than most countries:

• Size: 50×70 mm (width × height)
• Resolution: 600 DPI required for passport and PR; 300 DPI may be accepted for some visa types — check the application guide.
• Format: JPEG. Plain background, no borders.

This 50×70 mm size is specific to Canada — do not use 35×45 mm or 2×2 inch for Canadian passport or PR applications.

Head height and position

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) specifies exact head dimensions. Wrong head size is a leading cause of rejection.

• Head height: From the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head (including hair) must be between 31 mm and 36 mm in the 70 mm tall photo. The face must be centered.
• Face position: Face the camera directly. Both ears visible. No tilt. Shoulders can be visible but the focus is on the face.
• Eyes: Open, clearly visible, looking at the camera.

Glasses

Glasses are not allowed for Canadian passport and PR card photos. You must remove them. IRCC requires full visibility of the eyes without obstructions or glare. Contact lenses are allowed. Remove glasses before taking the photo to avoid rejection.

Background

Background must be plain white. No grey, no off-white, no patterns or shadows. This is strictly enforced for passport and PR. Some provincial driver's licence photos may allow light grey — check your province; for federal documents use white only.

Expression and appearance

• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed. No smile, no frown.
• Headwear: No hats or caps. Religious headwear is allowed only if the full face is visible from forehead to chin and both ears are visible; no shadows on the face.
• Recency: Photo must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect your current appearance.

Documents that use 50×70 mm

Same 50×70 mm (and 600 DPI for federal) requirements apply to: Canadian Passport, PR Card (Permanent Resident), Citizenship application, and most Canadian visa and work/study permit photos. Driver's licence may use the same size with province-specific rules (e.g. white or light grey).

Common mistakes that cause rejection

Avoid these — PixID checks for them automatically when you create your photo.

• Wrong size (e.g. 35×45 mm instead of 50×70 mm)
• Head too small or too large (outside 31–36 mm)
• Wearing glasses
• Non-white background (grey or off-white)
• Smiling or non-neutral expression
• Shadows on face or background
• Insufficient resolution (use 600 DPI for passport/PR)

Official source: cic.gc.ca. Always confirm latest requirements.