Canada Passport Photo Requirements 2026 – Size, Background & Rules
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Canada Passport Photo Requirements 2026

Official specifications issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Use this guide to ensure your photo is accepted first time.

50 × 70 mm Plain white background 300 DPI Updated Jan 2026

📐 Canada Passport Photo Specifications

SpecificationRequired Value
Photo Size50 × 70 mm  2 × 2¾ inches
Digital Dimensions591 × 827 pixels minimum
Resolution300 DPI
File FormatJPEG
File SizeMax 4 MB (online)
BackgroundPlain white  No colour
Face CoverageFace height 31–36 mm
GlassesNot allowed
Photo RecencyWithin last 6 months
Photo dimensions50×70 mm (width×height)
Face height31–36 mm within photo
Head positionCentred, facing forward
ExpressionNeutral, mouth closed
HeadwearNot allowed (except religious)
Issuing AuthorityImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

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✅ Photo Rules — What Is Required

  • Photo taken Within last 6 months
  • Neutral facial expression, mouth closed
  • Both eyes open and clearly visible
  • Plain white background — no patterns or shadows
  • Face centred and occupying Face height 31–36 mm of the photo
  • Head upright, looking directly at the camera
  • Even lighting — no shadows on face
  • High quality, in focus — minimum 300 DPI
  • Not allowed
  • No headwear (except religious with documentation)
  • No digital filters, beauty effects, or editing
  • No shadows behind the head

🚫 Common Reasons for Photo Rejection

  • Photo older than 6 months
  • Wrong dimensions (must be 50×70 mm, not 51×51)
  • Non-white background
  • Glasses on the subject
  • Shadows on face or behind head
  • Smiling or teeth showing
  • Head tilted or turned
  • Hair covering eyes or face
  • Uniform or accessories
  • Digitally modified photo

📸 How to Take a Compliant Photo at Home

  • Stand against a plain white wall with even lighting from a window in front of you
  • Use your phone's rear camera on a tripod or rested surface — never a selfie camera
  • Keep the camera at eye level — not above or below
  • Ensure no shadows appear on your face or the background
  • Remove glasses before taking the photo
  • Wear dark clothing — it stands out from the white background
  • Do not use portrait mode, filters, or beauty correction
  • Do not take in a room with coloured walls behind you
  • Do not take in low light or with a light source behind you

Upload your photo — we crop it to the exact 50 × 70 mm size automatically.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

50×70 mm (591×827 pixels at 300 DPI). This is different from the 51×51 mm used by India and the USA.
No. IRCC does not allow glasses in passport or PR card photos.
A plain white background. The background must have no patterns, shadows, or textures.
Yes, the same 50×70 mm photo specifications apply to both Canadian passport and PR card applications.
Within the last 6 months and must be a true likeness of your current appearance.