Canadian passport photo size (50 × 70 mm)
Canadian passport photos are 50 mm wide and 70 mm high, with the head 31–36 mm from chin to crown. For online renewal, the digital photo must be 3:2 portrait, at least 1200 × 1800 pixels.
- 50 × 70 mm
- 1200 × 1800 px digital
- Plain white or light-coloured background
Canadian passport photo size (50 × 70 mm)
or drag it here. JPG, PNG or WebP from your phone or computer.
Requirements
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Canadian passport photo requirements
| Photo size | 50 × 70 mm |
|---|---|
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 591 × 827 px |
| Digital file | 1200 × 1800 px, JPEG |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 31–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| File size | 200 KB to 5 MB |
| Colour | Colour photo, sharp and evenly lit |
Official source: Government of Canada: passport photo requirements. Rules can change, so check it before you apply.
Canada is stricter than most countries about who takes the photo. Printed photos must be taken by a commercial photographer and printed on professional photo paper, with the studio's name, address and date on the back. Home-printed photos are refused.
Digital photos for online renewal must also come from a commercial photographer, saved straight from the camera. Photos changed with editing or AI tools, including background replacement, are not accepted.
Use the tool here to see how a correct photo is framed and to check proportions before your studio visit. For the photo you actually send, go to a photo studio.
How to take the photo
Find a plain, light wall
Stand about half a metre in front of it so your shadow falls behind you, not on the wall around your head.
Face the light
Daylight from a window in front of you works best. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under the eyes.
Have someone take it at eye level
The camera should be about 1.2 m (4 ft) away, level with your eyes. Leave space above your head and include your shoulders.
Crop it here
Add the photo above, check that the top of your head and your chin sit on the red lines, and download.
Tips for this document
- Ask the studio for the Canadian passport format specifically; it is larger than most countries' 35 × 45 mm.
- Bring a guarantor's details if this is a first passport. The guarantor signs the back of one photo.
Common reasons photos are rejected
- Correct
- Head too small
- Head too large
- Head tilted
- Shadow behind
- Busy background
Printing your photos
Download the print sheet and print it at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo counter or at home on photo paper. Choose actual size or 100% in the print settings; “fit to page” shrinks the photos and they will be the wrong size. Cut along the small corner marks so each photo measures exactly 50 × 70 mm.
Questions people ask
Can I take my own Canadian passport photo?
No. Canada requires photos taken by a commercial photographer, printed professionally, with the studio's details on the back.
What size is the Canadian digital passport photo?
A 3:2 portrait JPEG, between 1200 × 1800 and 3000 × 4500 pixels, 200 KB to 5 MB, with the head 45–50% of the image height.