Quick Reference: Canadian Passport Photo Specs
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 50mm × 70mm |
| Digital dimensions | Min 600 × 800 pixels (JPEG) |
| File format | JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg) |
| File size | 200KB–5MB |
| Face height | 31–36mm chin to crown (53–74% of photo height) |
| Background | White or light-coloured, plain |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Recency | Within 6 months (12 months for renewals) |
| Glasses | NOT allowed (since 2024) |
Digital Photo Requirements
If you're applying online for a passport renewal through IRCC's online renewal service, you'll need to upload a digital photo. Note that digital submission is currently available for renewals only. IRCC has specific technical requirements:
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: Minimum 600 × 800 pixels
- File format: JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg)
- File size: Between 200KB and 5MB
- Colour: Must be in full colour (not black and white)
- Aspect ratio: Portrait orientation (taller than wide), matching 50mm × 70mm proportions
Digital Submission: Renewals Only
Currently, IRCC only accepts digital photo uploads for adult passport renewals. New passport applications and child passports require printed photos submitted by mail or in person.
Composition Rules
Your photo must show your full face, centred in the frame, from the top of your hair to below your chin. Your face (from chin to crown) should measure 31–36mm, which is approximately 53–74% of the 70mm photo height. You should be looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
Do
- • Take photo against a plain white or light-coloured background
- • Face the camera directly
- • Keep both eyes open and visible
- • Ensure even lighting on your face
- • Use natural daylight when possible
Don't
- • Use filters or digitally enhance the photo
- • Have shadows on your face or background
- • Include other people or objects
- • Wear glasses of any kind
- • Use a photo older than 6 months
Printed Photo Requirements
If you're applying by mail or in person at a Service Canada centre or passport office, you'll need to submit printed photos. IRCC requires the following specifications:
Size Specifications
- Photo size: 50mm × 70mm
- Face height: 31–36mm from chin to crown (53–74% of photo height)
- Face position: Head centred, looking directly at the camera
- Quantity: 2 identical photos required
Print Quality Requirements
- Printed on high-quality photographic paper
- Must be a professional-quality print — not a home inkjet printout
- No creases, tears, smudges, or marks
- No borders or white edges around the photo
- Must not be cut from a larger photo — should be individually printed
Important: Guarantor Endorsement
One of your two photos must be signed on the back by your guarantor (someone who can verify your identity). The guarantor must write "I certify this to be a true likeness of [your name]", sign it, and print their name. The guarantor must be a Canadian citizen who has known you for at least 2 years.
Appearance Rules
These rules apply to both digital and printed photos. IRCC uses facial recognition technology to verify your identity, so following these rules precisely is critical to avoid rejection.
Face & Expression
- Neutral expression with mouth closed — no smiling, grinning, or exaggerated expressions
- Both eyes must be open and clearly visible
- Face the camera directly — head should not be tilted or turned
- No hair covering your eyes or face
- Nothing covering your face (masks, face paint, etc.)
- Your face (chin to crown) should measure 31–36mm (53–74% of photo height)
Background
- Plain white or light-coloured background
- No patterns, textures, or gradients
- No objects or other people visible
- No shadows on the background
- Ensure clear contrast between you and the background
Lighting
- Even, balanced lighting on your face
- No shadows on your face or on the background behind you
- No red-eye effect
- Natural daylight is usually best — face a window for even illumination
- Avoid overhead lighting that creates undereye shadows
Photo Editing & Digital Manipulation
No Digital Enhancement or Manipulation
IRCC strictly prohibits any digital enhancement or manipulation of passport photos. Photos processed with beauty filters, AI face-editing tools, background replacement apps, or any form of digital retouching will be rejected. IRCC uses automated screening to detect digitally altered images, and submitting a manipulated photo may delay your application.
Babies & Children: Special Rules
Taking passport photos of babies and young children is one of the most challenging parts of a child's passport application. Here's what IRCC requires:
Photo Requirements for Infants
- Same 50mm × 70mm size requirement as adults
- Baby's eyes must be open — this is strictly enforced
- No pacifiers, dummies, or bottles visible in the photo
- No other person visible — no hands, arms, or fingers supporting the baby
- Lay baby on a plain white sheet or blanket and photograph from above
Children Under 16
- Child passports are valid for 5 years (not 10 years like adults)
- Both parents or guardians must consent to the application
- Apply by mail or in person at a Service Canada centre or passport office
Rules That Still Apply to All Children
- Child must be the only person in the photo
- No toys, pacifiers, blankets, hats, or dummies
- Same background and quality requirements as adults
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
Tips for Baby Photos
- Time it right — take the photo after a feed and nap when your baby is calm and alert
- Use a white sheet — lay baby on a plain white sheet on a flat surface
- Natural light — position near a window but avoid direct sunlight that causes squinting
- Photograph from above — stand directly over the baby looking down
- Take many shots — babies are unpredictable, so take dozens of photos and pick the best one where the eyes are open
Glasses & Head Coverings
Glasses Are Not Allowed
Since 2024, IRCC does not allow glasses in Canadian passport photos. This includes prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses. Glasses cause glare, reflections, and can obscure facial features used by biometric matching systems. You must remove all eyewear before taking your photo.
Not Allowed
- • Prescription glasses
- • Reading glasses
- • Sunglasses
- • Tinted or transition lenses
- • Blue-light blocking glasses
- • Any eyewear on top of head
Medical Exception
- • Only permitted with medical documentation
- • A medical certificate confirming glasses cannot be removed is required
- • Eyes must still be clearly visible
- • No glare or reflections on lenses
Religious Headwear
Religious head coverings are permitted in Canadian passport photos, including hijabs, turbans, and other religious headwear. However, you must meet these requirements:
- Your full face must be visible from chin to forehead, and both sides of the face
- The covering must not cast shadows on your face
- No face veil — the face cannot be obscured in any way
- The head covering must be worn for religious or medical reasons
Medical Headwear
Head coverings worn for medical reasons (such as for alopecia or post-surgery recovery) are also permitted with appropriate medical documentation. The same rules apply: your full face must be visible and the covering must not cast shadows.
Never Allowed
- • Hats (baseball caps, toques, fashion hats)
- • Headphones or earbuds
- • Hair accessories that obscure the face
- • Any non-religious, non-medical head covering
Common Reasons Photos Get Rejected
Photo problems are one of the most common causes of Canadian passport application delays. Here are the top rejection reasons:
Wearing glasses
The most common cause of rejection since the 2024 rule change — remove all eyewear before taking your photo
Incorrect face size
Face (chin to crown) must measure 31–36mm — too close or too far causes rejection
Shadows on face or background
Uneven lighting creating visible shadows anywhere in the photo
Wrong background
Background must be plain white or light-coloured — no colours, patterns, or objects
Blurry or out of focus
Photo must be sharp and clear with no motion blur
Wrong expression
Mouth open, smiling, eyes closed, or looking away from camera
Hair covering eyes or face
Both eyes and full face from chin to hairline must be completely visible
Digital enhancement detected
Beauty filters, background swaps, or any digital manipulation — strictly enforced
Wrong dimensions
Photo not 50×70mm (printed) or under 600×800 pixels / outside 200KB–5MB (digital)
Photo too old
Must be taken within 6 months (or 12 months for renewals) — must reflect current appearance
Red-eye
Red-eye in the photo or digitally corrected red-eye — both are rejected
Baby photos: eyes closed or pacifier visible
Baby’s eyes must be open, and no pacifiers, dummies, or hands in the frame
What Happens If Your Photo Is Rejected?
If your photo doesn't meet requirements, the outcome depends on how you applied:
- Online renewal: The system may reject your photo at the upload stage, allowing you to immediately submit a new one. If the photo passes the automated check but is later found non-compliant during manual review, you'll be contacted to provide a new photo.
- By mail: Your application will be returned with a request for new photos, adding 2–4 weeks to processing time.
- In person: You'll be asked to return with compliant photos before your application can be processed.
Where to Get Canadian Passport Photos
You have several options for getting your passport photo taken in Canada. Prices and availability vary:
| Location | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoppers Drug Mart / London Drugs | C$15–C$20 | Available at most locations; printed photos, some offer digital copies |
| Photo studios / photographers | C$15–C$25 | Professional quality; may offer digital copies for online renewals |
| Walmart / Costco | C$10–C$15 | Budget option; availability varies by location |
| Canada Post | C$15–C$18 | Available at select locations; can combine with mailing your application |
| EasyPassportPhoto Online — from your phone | CA$12.99 | Take from home, instant IRCC compliance check, digital for online renewal + printable, money-back guarantee |
Why Take Your Photo Online?
Online passport photo services like EasyPassportPhoto offer several advantages over traditional options:
- Convenient — take your photo from home, no driving or waiting in a queue
- Affordable — CA$12.99 compared to C$15–25 at pharmacies or studios
- Unlimited retakes — not happy with the first shot? Take as many as you need
- Compliance guaranteed — AI-powered checks ensure your photo meets all IRCC requirements before you submit
- Both formats — get a digital file for online renewals and a printable file for mail or in-person applications
- Ready for online renewal — upload your photo directly to IRCC's online system
Canadian Passport Fees (2025)
Canadian passport fees depend on whether you're an adult or child and the type of passport. Here are the current fees set by IRCC:
Standard Passport Fees
| Passport Type | Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (10-year) | C$160 | 10 years |
| Adult (5-year) | C$120 | 5 years |
| Child (under 16) | C$57 | 5 years |
Processing Times
| Application Method | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Online renewal | 10–20 business days |
| In person (Service Canada / passport office) | 10–20 business days |
| By mail | 20+ business days |
| Urgent / express pickup | 2–9 business days (additional fee) |
Note: Processing times may vary during peak travel season (spring/summer). IRCC recommends applying well in advance of planned travel. Urgent and express services are available for an additional fee at passport offices.
How to Apply
- Online (renewals only): The fastest way to renew an adult passport. Visit canada.ca/passport
- In person: Visit a Service Canada centre or passport office. Available for all application types including new passports and children.
- By mail: Send your application to the Passport Program. Slower processing but available nationwide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
This guide is based on official IRCC guidance. For the most up-to-date requirements, always check the official sources: