Canada Passport Photo Rules
Canada is the odd one out on size: its passport photo is 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, not the 2 x 2 inch square used by the United States. Here is the full rule set in one place, including the guarantor signature that must appear on the back of one photo, and why a home-printed photo will be rejected. Verified against canada.ca (see the Canadian passport photos page) as of snapshot 2026-09-24.
Size and head height
- Photo size — 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high).
- Head height — between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown (about 1¼ to 1⅜ inches).
- Background — plain and light-coloured, with no shadows around the ears, in the background or across the face or shoulders.
That 50 x 70 mm shape is unlike almost every other country, so do not cut a 2 x 2 inch US photo down — the proportions and head height will not match. Compare every country side by side on our photo size chart, and see the difference between the passport and the visa format on passport photo vs visa photo.
Who takes it, and where it is printed
- Taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio.
- Professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper.
- Not accepted: photos printed at home, or on heavyweight paper.
- Freshness — taken no more than 6 months before you submit the application.
Because the printing constraint is firm, the general tips in our passport photo printing guide are useful for understanding print quality, but for Canada the practical answer is simpler: go to a studio and have it printed there.
What not to wear or do
- Sunglasses or tinted eyeglasses — including prescription tinted lenses.
- Red-eye — neither the effect nor any red-eye correction is accepted.
- Hats and head coverings — unless worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons.
- Shadows — no shadows around the ears, in the background, or across the face or shoulders.
Expression and eyewear rules are close to the international norm, so our guides to expression, glasses and head coverings are worth a read before your studio appointment.
Editing is not allowed
You must not change the photo with photo-editing software, filters or AI tools. Canada states plainly that an application will be rejected if the photos have been altered in any way, and it gives examples of what counts as alteration: removing glare, removing red eye, removing scars or birthmarks, and changing the background. Leave the retouching to the retouching rules — which here means don't.
The signature on the back
- Your guarantor signs 1 of your photos.
- The back must also show, written or stamped by the photographer, the date the photo was taken and the name and complete address of the photo studio.
If your application is a first passport or a renewal, the surrounding paperwork is covered in our Canada visa document checklist for the visitor route, while the photo itself is handled on the Canada passport photo page and the visa-photo format on Canada visa photo.
Before you submit — quick check
- ✅ 50 x 70 mm, printed professionally (not at home, not heavyweight paper).
- ✅ Head 31–36 mm chin to crown; plain light background, no shadows.
- ✅ Taken within the last 6 months by a commercial photographer.
- ✅ No sunglasses, no tinted lenses, no red eye, no unapproved head covering.
- ✅ Guarantor signed 1 photo; studio date and address on the back.
- ✅ No edits of any kind.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
It must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high), which is taller than the 2 x 2 inch US format.
How big should my head be in the photo?
The head must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown, measured on the printed photo.
Can I take or print the photo at home?
No. Canada requires the photo to be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio and printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper. Go to a studio and have it printed professionally; photos printed at home or on heavyweight paper are not accepted.
How old can the photo be?
It must have been taken no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application.
Who signs the back of the photo?
Your guarantor signs 1 of your photos. The back must also carry, written or stamped by the photographer, the date the photo was taken and the name and complete address of the photo studio.
Can I edit the photo or fix red eye myself?
No. Editing with software, filters or AI tools is not allowed, and that includes removing glare, red eye, scars or birthmarks and changing the background. An application is rejected if the photos have been altered in any way.
Source: canada.ca, “Canadian passport photos” — as of snapshot 2026-09-24. Requirements change, so confirm the current rules on the canada.ca page before you submit.