Canada Passport Photo Online
Prepare a Canadian passport photo from a picture you already have — 50 x 70 mm with a 31-36mm head height if printed, or a 1200x1800 to 3000x4500px digital JPG (200KB-5MB) with your head framed at 45-50% of the image height if uploaded online. The photo must be an original, unaltered image.
Official requirements
Verified — last checked 2026-08-11
These figures were directly confirmed against the official source below.
Digital photo requirements
| Minimum pixel size | 1200 × 1800 px (max 3000 × 4500 px) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 45%–50% of total image height |
| File size | 200KB to 5MB |
| Format | jpg |
Printed photo requirements
| Photo size | 50 × 70 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 31–36 mm |
| Paper / printing | Two prints are typically required for in-person/mail applications; IRCC guidance has historically required a commercial photographer to stamp the back with studio name, address, and date — confirm current requirement on canada.ca. The photo must be an original, unaltered image. |
Other requirements
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured background |
|---|---|
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, facing the camera directly. |
| Glasses | Glasses are not recommended; if worn, eyes must be clearly visible with no glare, reflections, or tinted lenses. |
| Head coverings | Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, and the full face from chin to forehead must be visible. |
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Canada.ca: Passport photos, last verified 2026-08-11.
Common mistakes
- Wearing white clothing that blends into the background
- Background with shadows or colour that is not plain/light
- Head height outside the printed 31-36mm range or digital 45-50% of image height
- Editing, filtering, or retouching the photo — only an original, unaltered image is accepted
- Missing photographer stamp on printed copies, if still required
How to take a good photo
- Use a plain white or light background with even, shadow-free lighting
- Avoid white clothing that could blend into the background
- Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, mouth closed
- Submit an unaltered, unedited original photo — no filters or retouching
- Confirm current IRCC guidance on photographer/print requirements before submitting
How Vekyo works for a Canada passport
Upload a recent photo, and Vekyo detects your face, then checks it against the Canada passport specification above — including its plain white or light-coloured background background requirement — before letting you crop and position it to match, entirely in your browser. Vekyo only crops, rotates for straightening, and resizes your photo; it never changes your facial features, skin tone, or facial structure, and never generates or beautifies a face. Backgrounds are never automatically replaced — if yours doesn't look plain and evenly lit enough for this document, you'll see a warning instead of a silent pass.
Frequently asked questions
Related pages
Prepared according to the published requirements — not a guarantee of acceptance and not government approved. Always verify the latest requirements with the official authority before submitting your photo.