Canada Passport Photo Online
Create an official 50×70mm photo checked against published Canada government regulations. Includes automatic background replacement, an instant compliance check, and a 4×6 inch print sheet — free preview, $2.99 to unlock.
Canada expects a commercial photographer
IRCC's photo requirements instruct applicants to have the photo taken by a commercial photographer or photo studio, and the digital-renewal rules state the digital photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer. Photos printed at home or on heavyweight paper are not accepted. This tool still checks your own photo against the 50×70mm size, the 31–36mm face height, the background, and the expression rules before you pay for a studio sitting — but the official route for a Canadian passport runs through a photographer.
Official Canada Passport Dimensions & Proportion
The government requires exact facial placement within the frame. Our alignment tool automatically measures your head height to ensure it falls strictly within the 44% to 51% allowable zone.
- • Target size: 50 × 70 mm (1.97″ × 2.76″)
- • Head height: 44% – 51% of total height
- • Resolution: At least 591×827 px @ 300 DPI
- • Background: Pure White (#ffffff)
Official Do's & Don'ts for Canada Passport
Follow these core criteria when snapping your photo with your smartphone:
Completely neutral expression. No smirk, tilt, or teeth visible.
Clear glasses may be worn if eyes are clearly visible with no glare; sunglasses and tinted lenses, including prescription tints, are never accepted.
Dark apparel to provide strong contrast against pure white backdrop.
Bright, shadowless illumination on face and white background.
Source: Government of Canada — Passport photo requirements ↗
Top Reasons Canada Passport Photos Get Rejected
Government agencies reject thousands of passport and visa applications every week for these common mistakes:
- ✕Wrong dimensions — Canada's 50×70mm is taller than US 51×51mm and unlike the EU 35×45mm
- ✕Sunglasses or tinted lenses — not accepted, including prescription tinted lenses even when the eyes are clearly visible
- ✕Photos printed at home or on heavyweight paper — IRCC accepts professional photographic prints only
- ✕Any alteration — brightness, contrast, colour or sharpness corrections, background changes, or AI tools are all treated as altered photos
- ✕Smiling or frowning — the required expression is neutral with the mouth closed
- ✕Face measuring outside 31–36mm, or shadows on the face, ears, or background
Source: Government of Canada — Passport photo requirements ↗
Official requirements
- •50mm wide × 70mm high (2 inches × 2¾ inches)
- •Head (chin to crown) must measure 31–36mm (44%–51% of photo height)
- •Taken no more than 6 months before you submit
- •Neutral expression: eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning
- •Face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera, not tilted
- •Plain white or light-coloured background with a clear difference between face and background
- •2 identical photos, professionally printed on photographic paper; one carries the photographer's date stamp and guarantor declaration
Official Authority Source: Government of Canada — Passport photo requirements ↗
Size specifications table
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimeters | 50 mm | 70 mm |
| Inches | 1.97″ | 2.76″ |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 591 px | 827 px (minimum) |
How to Print Your Canada Passport Photo for $0.35 at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart
In-store passport photo desks charge up to $17.99 for two cut prints. Here is how you can use your IdPhoto Studio download to print for pennies:
- Unlock and download your print-ready 4×6 inch sheet containing multiple copies.
- Save the image to your phone or USB thumb drive.
- Visit any CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Boots, or local photo kiosk and select "4×6 Photo Print" (approx. $0.35–$0.50).
- Do not select the $16.99–$17.99 passport photo menu item — the 4×6 print paper is identical.
- Once printed, use scissors or a craft knife to trim along the clean outline guides.
Need detailed kiosk screen instructions? Read our step-by-step CVS & Walgreens photo print guide →
What our checker verifies
Every photo is checked against these parameters before you pay:
- • Resolution of at least 591×827px
- • Exact aspect ratio of 50:70 (±2%)
- • Head height between 44% and 51% of the photo
- • Eye line between 35% and 60% from the top
- • Full head and hair inside the frame boundary
- • The top of your head inside the frame — measured from your photo
- • Plain, shadowless background with correct color tone
These are the rules we can measure. Whether the authority accepts the photo is their decision — and if they reject a photo you bought from us, we refund it.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Canadian passport photos taller than US and European photos?
Passport Canada mandates a 50mm wide by 70mm tall (2 inches by 2 3/4 inches) format, while leaving space on the back of one photo for the photographer's date stamp and guarantor signature. The face itself must be between 31mm and 36mm from chin to crown.
Can I smile in a Canadian passport photo?
No. IRCC's photo requirements define a neutral expression as eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning. Unlike the current US rule, which permits a smile with a closed mouth, Canada requires a fully neutral expression.
Can I photograph my newborn for a Canadian passport?
IRCC allows newborns a range of facial expressions. You may take the photo with your baby sitting in a car seat covered with a white blanket behind the head — as long as there are no shadows around the ears, in the background, or on the face, and no other person or hands appear in the photo.
Source: Government of Canada — Passport photo requirements ↗
Other documents and specifications
Ready to create your Canada Passport photo?
Upload any smartphone portrait. Preview your compliance report for free — pay only when your photo passes.
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