What size is a Canadian passport photo?
A Canadian passport photo is 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with the face 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white or light-coloured background, taken in the last 6 months. For online renewal the photo is a JPEG from 1200 x 1800 to 3000 x 4500 pixels, 200 KB to 5 MB. FixDoks makes both.
Canada Passport Photo at a glance
| Printed size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high |
|---|---|
| Head height | 31 to 36 mm, chin to crown |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free to use, no watermark |
| Download | First download free, then ₹49 for 2 months of unlimited downloads (US$3 outside India) |
| Files at once | 1 free, up to 30 with a plan |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use Canada Passport Photo
- Take a photo against a plain wall in even light, facing the camera, or pick a recent one.
- Click Select your photo. The size for this document is already chosen.
- Move and zoom the frame so the head fits the dashed oval. Use Make background white if the wall is not plain.
- Click Create passport photo and download the photo or the print sheet.
Why a home print will not work
Canada says its passport photo requirements differ from those of other countries and that it will refuse an application if the photos do not meet them. For an application in person or by mail, you must submit 2 identical, unaltered photos taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio and professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper. Photos printed at home or on heavyweight paper are not accepted. The photos may be in colour or in black and white, and must be taken no more than 6 months before you submit the application.
What goes on the back
On the back of one photo, the photographer must write or stamp the date the photo was taken and the name and complete address of the studio. Your guarantor then writes "I certify this to be a true likeness of" followed by your name, and signs. You do not need a guarantor when renewing an adult passport.
No editing of any kind
Canada rejects altered photos. That includes colour, brightness, contrast or sharpness changes, cropping around the head and shoulders, pasting your image against a white background, removing red-eye, scars or birthmarks, changing hair colour, and using filters or AI tools.
Online renewal has its own rules
Online renewal needs a digital photo, but it still has to be taken in person by a commercial photographer, no more than 6 months before you apply, and it cannot be a scan of a printed photo. When you upload it you must enter the studio or photographer name, the address and the date the photo was taken. The file must be JPEG or JPG, with a 3:2 aspect ratio in portrait orientation, at least 1,200 pixels wide by 1,800 pixels high and no more than 3,000 by 4,500 pixels, between 200 KB and 5 MB, saved directly from the camera original, with the chin-to-crown measurement between 45% and 50% of the photo height. IRCC suggests asking the photographer for both a digital and a printed copy.
Expression, glasses and head coverings
Keep a neutral expression: eyes open, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning. Glasses are accepted if your eyes are clearly visible with no glare, but tinted lenses are not, even prescription ones. Hats and head coverings are accepted only if worn daily for religious or medical reasons, with your full face visible and no shadows.
Source: Government of Canada: Passport photo requirements, checked October 2026.
Canada Passport Photo requirements at a glance
| Printed size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high |
|---|---|
| Head height | 31 to 36 mm, chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Taken | Within the last 6 months |
| Online renewal | JPEG, 1200 × 1800 to 3000 × 4500 px, 200 KB to 5 MB |
| Expression | Neutral, no smile |
Rules checked on the official website in September 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm on the official page before you apply. Source: Government of Canada: Passport photos.
The back of the photo
Canada is unusual: for paper applications, the photographer must write the date the photo was taken and the studio's name and full address on the back, and your guarantor signs one photo to certify it is a true likeness. A home print cannot meet the photographer rule, so use this tool to prepare and check the crop, or for online renewal, where you upload the file.
Online renewal
Choose Canada passport, online renewal in the size menu. The tool makes a 1200 × 1800 pixel JPEG between 200 KB and 5 MB, the size the renewal service asks for.
Glasses and head coverings
Plain glasses are acceptable if there is no glare; tinted glasses are not. Religious or medical head coverings are allowed if your full face is visible. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
How this tool helps
The tool crops your photo to the exact size above at 300 DPI, so a print comes out at the right physical size, and it can fill a 4 × 6 inch sheet with copies and cut lines for a photo shop. For online applications it makes a file with the exact pixel size and file size the form asks for. It cannot judge whether your expression, lighting or pose meets the rules, so check the photo against the list before you submit it.
FixDoks is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government. You submit your application yourself on the official website.