Canada PR Card Photo Requirements
A Canadian permanent resident (PR) card photo is 50 mm wide by 70 mm high with a head 31–36 mm from chin to crown — the same frame as the Canadian passport photo, but with one big difference: the back is written by your photographer and nobody signs it. You need 2 identical photos. Verified against canada.ca (see the permanent resident photos page) as of snapshot 2026-09-22.
The official specification
| How many | 2 identical photos with the application |
| Photo size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 in × 2¾ in) |
| Head size | Chin to crown (not including hair): 31–36 mm, head centred |
| Recency | Taken no more than 12 months before you apply |
| Background | Plain, untextured and white |
| Printed by | A commercial photographer or studio, on plain high-quality photo paper (home prints on heavyweight paper are not accepted) |
| Colour | Colour or black and white |
| Signature on the back | Not required — you do not sign it and no guarantor signs it |
What goes on the back — and what does not
The back of 1 of the two photos must carry three things, written or stamped by the photographer:
- your name and date of birth;
- the name and complete address of the photography studio;
- the date the photo was taken.
canada.ca states the photographer may use a stamp or write this by hand, and that stick-on labels are not accepted. Crucially, it also states plainly that you do not need to sign the back of the photo or have it signed by a guarantor. That is the opposite of the Canadian passport photo, where a guarantor signs 1 photo — see our guide to passport photo vs visa photo and the Canada passport photo page for the contrasting rule.
Facial expression and appearance
- Expression — neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera.
- Posture — face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera.
- Lighting — uniform, with no shadows, glare or flash reflections.
- Contrast — a clear difference between your face and the white background.
- Clothing — avoid white clothing or white religious head coverings, which can blend into the background.
- Glasses — eyes clearly visible, no glare on the lenses.
- Hair — off your face so the edges are visible.
- Head covering — allowed if worn daily for religious or medical reasons, but your face (including around the ears), background and shoulders must stay clearly visible and free of shadows.
- Originality — an original photo, not taken from an existing photo or altered in any way.
Two points worth planning for: canada.ca recommends removing facial jewellery (especially around the mouth and eyes) and avoiding turtlenecks, bulky jackets or tops that cover the neck. Backgrounds and headwear both have dedicated guides — see passport photo backgrounds and head coverings.
Children and babies
Child photos follow the same rules as adults, plus a few extra requirements:
- show the child's head and shoulders only;
- not show the parent's or child's hands;
- avoid hair accessories.
For newborns, the photo may be taken while the baby sits in a car seat, but a white blanket must be placed over the seat behind the child's head, and there must be no shadows on the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.
Medical considerations
- Wheelchair — take the photo against a plain white background; canada.ca recommends placing a plain white blanket over the wheelchair behind your head so your face edges stay visible.
- Headwear or nasal cannula — allowed for medical reasons, but your eyes must remain clearly visible. Include a signed explanation with the application; a doctor's letter may be requested.
Getting the print right
Because the photo must be taken by a commercial photographer or studio and printed on plain high-quality photo paper, this is not a job for a home printer. The general workflow still helps — see our passport photo printing guide for how professional prints are made, and compare the PR format against other countries on the photo size chart. If you are also preparing visitor documents, the Canada visa document checklist and the Canada visa photo page cover the visitor stream.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canada PR card photo?
50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches by 2¾ inches), with the head from chin to crown measuring 31 to 36 mm.
How many photos do I need for a PR card?
2 identical photos must be sent with your application.
Does my PR card photo need a guarantor signature?
No. You do not sign the back of the photo and you do not need it signed by a guarantor. Only the photographer writes on it.
What must the photographer write on the back?
The back of 1 photo must include your name and date of birth, the name and complete address of the photography studio, and the date the photo was taken, written or stamped by hand. Stick-on labels are not accepted.
How old can the photo be?
It must have been taken no more than 12 months before you apply.
What background colour does a PR card photo need?
A plain, untextured white background. Avoid white clothing or white religious head coverings, as they can blend into it.
Source: canada.ca, “Permanent resident photos” — as of snapshot 2026-09-22. Requirements change, so confirm the current rules on the canada.ca page before you apply.