IRCC Photo Specifications for Immigration Applications

Welcome to the complete guide to Canadian immigration, citizenship and passport photo requirements. At KGraph Immigration, we have helped more than 10,000 clients successfully navigate the Canadian system, maintaining a 98% success rate and a 4.9 Google rating. One of the most common reasons for processing delays is submitting the wrong type of photograph.

Canada does not use a single universal photo specification for every application. The rules for permanent residence differ from the rules for citizenship, and both differ from passport and visitor visa requirements. This page breaks down the exact millimetre sizes, pixel dimensions, file sizes and rules you need to know for your specific application.

Core Photo Requirements by Application Type

The most important differences depend on what you are applying for. The dimensions below are width by height unless expressly stated otherwise. (Canada)

Permanent Residence and PR Card Photos

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) maintains consolidated rules for permanent resident photos. These apply to applications submitted through the Permanent Residence Portal, applications for a new, renewed or replacement PR card, and paper applications where the program still accepts printed photos. (Canada)

1Online PR or PR Card Application

You must submit one digital photo in the Permanent Residence Portal. A commercial photographer or professional studio must take it. IRCC accepts either an original professional digital photograph or a scan of a professionally printed photograph. IRCC does not accept a phone or camera photograph taken of a paper print. You may use a scanner application on a phone, tablet or computer to scan the professional print. (Canada)

The digital photo must meet these specifications:

• Minimum dimensions: 715 pixels wide by 1000 pixels high
• Maximum dimensions: 2000 pixels wide by 2800 pixels high
• Maximum file size: 4 MB
• Format: .jpeg or .jpg (We advise applicants to use JPG or JPEG unless the actual upload field expressly accepts PNG)
• Colour or black and white is acceptable
• The photograph must have been taken no more than 12 months before the application

IRCC gives a pixel range for digital photos, not a required measurement in millimetres. The 50 mm by 70 mm measurement applies expressly to printed PR photos. Do not worry about millimetre sizes for the digital file itself; the portal validates pixels and file size. (Canada)

2Background and Image Quality

Your digital photo must have a plain, untextured white background with a clear difference between you and the background. It needs clear, sharp focus, uniform lighting, natural skin tones, and no shadows, glare or flash reflections.

Do not use digital alterations. IRCC treats changes to colour, brightness, contrast, sharpness, background, clothing or facial appearance as alterations. Cutting and pasting yourself against a new white background is also considered an alteration. (Canada)

3Expression, Glasses and Head Coverings

You must have a neutral expression, keep your mouth closed, keep your eyes open, and look directly at the camera. Have your face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera. Avoid smiling, frowning or tilting your head.

Glasses are allowed when your eyes are clearly visible, there is no glare on the lenses, and the glasses do not obstruct your eyes. Sunglasses and tinted prescription lenses should not be used.

A head covering is allowed when it is worn daily for religious or medical reasons. Your full face, including the area around your ears, as well as your shoulders and background, must remain visible. The covering must not cast shadows or distort the image. Hair should be kept away from your face so the edges of your face are visible. (Canada)

4Photographer Information for Online Applications

The portal has separate fields for the front and the back of the photo.

For an original digital photograph, the supporting document uploaded as the back must include your name, your date of birth, the date the photo was taken, the photographer or studio name, the complete studio address, and confirmation from the studio, such as a receipt.

For a scanned professional print, the scanned back must show your name, your date of birth, the date the photo was taken, the studio name, and the complete studio address. No applicant signature or guarantor signature is required. (Canada)

5Printed PR and PR Card Photographs

If you are submitting a paper application, you must provide two identical photos. The exact photo size must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with a head height of 31 mm to 36 mm measured from chin to crown. Photos must be no more than 12 months old. Colour or black and white is acceptable. They must be professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper. Home printed or heavyweight paper photos are not accepted. The background must be plain, untextured and white. (Canada)

On the back of one photograph, include the name and date of birth of the person shown, the photographer or studio name, the complete studio address, and the date the photograph was taken. The photographer may stamp or handwrite the information. Stick on labels are not accepted. A guarantor signature is not required. (Canada)

6PR Card Fees

There is no separate IRCC photo fee. The commercial photographer's charge is a private business charge and IRCC does not set an official amount. For the PR card itself, there is no separate fee for your first PR card when the address and photo are supplied within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. A renewal or replacement PR card application costs CAN$50 per person. (Canada)

Express Entry Digital Photographs

At the Express Entry permanent residence application stage, IRCC states that a personalized document checklist is generated after you complete the online application. A digital identity photo is required only if the personalized checklist includes it. (Canada)

The current public Express Entry application page does not publish one specific pixel dimension, head size or file format table. You should follow the requirements displayed in your personalized digital photo upload field. After approval, the photograph uploaded in the PR Confirmation Portal for the first PR card is a separate step and uses the current 715 by 1000 to 2000 by 2800 pixel, maximum 4 MB standard. (Canada)

Canadian Citizenship Photographs

IRCC expressly warns that citizenship photo specifications are different from Canadian passport specifications.

Online Citizenship Grant Application

Submit one colour digital photo (preferred) or one digital black and white photo. A commercial photographer or studio must take it. IRCC prefers the original digital file from the photographer. If the photographer cannot provide a digital file, you may scan or photograph the professional printed photo, although IRCC says the original professional digital file is safer. (Canada)

The composition must correspond to 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with a face height of 31 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown. The digital file must be JPG or JPEG with minimal compression, saved directly from the camera without alteration. It must be at least 420 pixels wide by 540 pixels high, approximately 240 kB, and a maximum of 4 MB.

The photo must be no more than 6 months old, use a plain white or light coloured background, be clear and sharp, and show natural skin tones. You must show the face and shoulders straight on, with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed. (Canada)

Paper Citizenship Grant Application

Submit two identical colour printed photos. They must be exactly 50 mm wide by 70 mm high with a face height of 31 mm to 36 mm. They must be taken within the previous 6 months, professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper against a plain white or light coloured background. (Canada)

The printed photo must include the applicant's first and last name, the photographer or studio name, the complete studio address, and the date the photo was taken. Always check the current document checklist (CIT 0007) for exact instructions on whether this goes on one or both photos.

Canadian Passport Photographs

Paper or In Person Application

For a new adult passport, child passport, and paper or in person renewal, submit two identical and unaltered printed photos. They must be exactly 50 mm wide by 70 mm high with a face height of 31 mm to 36 mm. They must be taken no more than 6 months before applying. They must be professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper against a plain white or light coloured background. (Canada)

On the back of one printed photo, the photographer must write or stamp the date the photograph was taken, the photographer or studio name, and the complete studio address. For a new adult passport or child passport, the guarantor must write: "I certify this to be a true likeness of the applicant" and then sign the same photo. An adult using the simplified renewal process does not need a guarantor. (Canada)

Online Adult Passport Renewal

Only an eligible adult passport renewal submitted online uses the digital passport photo specifications. The digital photograph must be taken in person by a commercial photographer, be no more than 6 months old, and be the original camera file. It must be JPG or JPEG, have a 3:2 portrait aspect ratio, be at least 1200 pixels wide by 1800 pixels high, and be no larger than 3000 pixels wide by 4500 pixels high. The file must be between 200 KB and 5 MB. The chin to crown measurement must equal 45% to 50% of the total image height. (Canada)

During upload, the applicant must provide the photographer or studio name, photographer or studio address, and the date taken.

Visitor Visa, Study Permit and Work Permit Photos

The generic temporary resident visa photo specification requires two photos with a frame measuring at least 35 mm wide by 45 mm high and a head height of 31 mm to 36 mm. They must have a plain white or light coloured background and a neutral expression. (Canada)

For a paper study permit application outside Canada, write the applicant's name and date of birth on the back of both photos. If biometric fingerprints and a biometric photograph are required, paper photos do not need to be included. (Canada) The same applies to paper work permit applications outside Canada. (Canada)

For online applications, IRCC generates a personalized document checklist. Upload a digital photograph only when the checklist requires it and follow the specifications displayed in that upload slot. There is no universal digital standard published for all online temporary resident applications.

One confirmed exception is International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits. The IEC digital standard requires a final composition of at least 35 mm by 45 mm, a head height of 31 mm to 36 mm, and at least 420 by 540 pixels. The file should be JPEG or JPEG2000, ideally approximately 240 kB and not less than 60 kB. (Canada)

Biometrics Photograph versus Application Photograph

A biometric photograph is taken at the biometric collection appointment and is not the same as the professional photograph uploaded or mailed with an application. The biometrics fee (currently CAN$85 for an individual) covers the collection of fingerprints and the biometric photo. It does not pay for a commercial photographer to prepare an application or passport photograph. (Canada)

Questions People Actually Ask

Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.