Canada visa photo rules explained
IRCC sets photograph specifications for the Temporary Resident Visa. The printed photo is 35x45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) at 300 DPI, and the head should measure 31-36 mm from chin to crown.
- Background: plain white or light-coloured.
- Frame size: 35x45 mm is a minimum frame size.
- Glasses: allowed. Non-tinted prescription glasses are fine if your eyes are clearly visible.
- Head covering: religious reasons only, with the face fully visible.
- Copies: two printed photos.
Taking the photo at home with a phone
Choose a spot facing a plain, light wall and soft window light. Light that comes from the front avoids shadows under the chin and behind the ears. Have someone take the picture from eye level, from roughly one to two metres away, so the face is not distorted by a close lens.
Look straight ahead with a relaxed, neutral face and a closed mouth. If you wear glasses, tilt them slightly down or clean the lenses so there is no glare over your eyes. Frame yourself with some space around the head, because the tool crops it afterwards.
What the tool does
Upload the picture here. It is processed in your browser, never uploaded, then cropped to the 35x45 mm format, given a plain background and checked for head size and position.
Why Canada visa photos get rejected
- The head is smaller or larger than 31-36 mm.
- The background has shadows, texture or a strong colour.
- Tinted lenses, or reflections that hide the eyes.
- A head covering that is not religious, or one that covers part of the face.
- Printing at a different size, so the final photo is smaller than the 35x45 mm minimum frame.
- Only one copy sent when two are required.
Printing and submitting
This is a printed-photo submission. Print two copies at 300 DPI on photo paper and check the size with a ruler. Most applicants now give biometrics, and the photo is taken at the visa application centre, so printed photos are mainly used for paper applications.
If you are unsure which route applies to you, follow the instructions on your IRCC application. If an authority rejects the photo made here, you get a full refund.
A few practical checks before you print
Because 35x45 mm is a minimum frame size, never shrink the file when you print it. Choose the actual size or 100% scale in the print dialog, and measure the finished photo. Keep the two copies identical, and write nothing on the front of the photo. If you wear non-tinted prescription glasses, check the preview for reflections across the lenses before you pay.