Canada visa photo requirements

Canadian visitor visas use a smaller photo than Canadian passports: 35 × 45 mm, with the face measuring 31–36 mm from chin to crown. Here are the rules, checked against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Checked against canada.ca: Temporary Resident Visa photo specifications on 4 November 2026.

The rules at a glance

Photo size
At least 35 × 45 mm (1⅜ × 1¾ in)
Face height
31–36 mm, chin to crown (natural top of head)
Framing
Full front view of the head, face centred, top of the shoulders included
Background
Plain white or light-coloured
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Recency
Taken within the last 6 months

What gets photos rejected

  • Not the passport size

    Canadian passport photos are 50 × 70 mm and need a commercial photographer. Visa photos are 35 × 45 mm.

  • Face 31–36 mm

    Measured from the chin to the natural top of the head, not the top of the hair.

  • Include your shoulders

    The photo must show the full head with the face in the middle and the top of the shoulders.

  • No glare on glasses

    IRCC rejects photos with reflections on glasses or frames over the eyes. Taking them off is simplest.

  • Even light, no shadows

    Shadows on the face or the background and washed-out photos are common reasons for rejection.

How to take it at home

  1. Pick the right wall

    Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light wall with nothing on it. Step away from the wall so your shadow does not fall on it.

  2. Face the light

    Stand facing a window or soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. Avoid overhead light, which casts shadows under the eyes.

  3. Get someone to take it

    Ask someone to hold the phone at your eye level, about 1–1.5 m away. A selfie at arm's length makes the nose look bigger.

  4. Check your face

    Remove glasses (glare or tinted lenses lead to rejection), keep hair away from your eyes and look straight at the camera with a neutral face and your mouth closed.

  5. Size and check it

    Use our photo maker to crop it to 35 × 45 mm and check every rule. We never edit your face or background.

Questions

Can I take my Canada visa photo at home?

For online applications you upload a digital photo, and you can take it yourself if it meets every rule. If you apply on paper, check your application kit for anything that must be written on the back of the photo.

Is a Canada PR card photo the same?

No. Permanent resident card photos are 50 × 70 mm, like Canadian passport photos.

Official source: canada.ca: Temporary Resident Visa photo specifications (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). Rules can change, so check the official page before you apply.