Passport Photo Photographer Details — What You Must Declare on an Upload
Some portals do not just want an image; they want to know who took it. For a Canadian digital photo upload you must supply the studio or photographer’s name, their address, and the date the photo was taken — and the digital file has strict ratio, pixel and size limits too. This guide covers the declaration and the specs. Verified against canada.ca, September 2026 (official pages retrieved via Wayback snapshot).
The 15-second answer
- Declare the source: studio/photographer name, address and the date the photo was taken.
- Commercial photographer: the digital photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer, no more than 6 months before you submit.
- Not a scan: the file must NOT be a scanned copy of a printed photo.
- Ratio and size: 3:2 portrait, at least 1800×1200 px, no larger than 4500×3000 px, 200 KB–5 MB.
- Paper route: 2 identical unaltered photos, with your guarantor signing one.
You must name the photographer
This is the requirement that catches people out. When you upload the photo, “you must provide: the studio or photographer’s name / the studio or photographer’s address / the date the photo was taken.” A photo with no traceable source is not a valid upload. Practical upshot: keep the details your photographer gives you, and take the photo at a commercial studio rather than improvising.
Taken by a commercial photographer, recently, and not a scan
The digital photo must “be taken in person by a commercial photographer”, “be no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application”, and “NOT be a scanned copy of a printed passport photo.” The guidance also suggests asking for both copies up front: “we recommend you ask for both the digital copy of your photo and a printed (physical) copy when you get your photo taken.”
The digital specs
The uploaded file must:
- be in .jpeg or .jpg format;
- be saved directly from the original file captured by the camera;
- have a 3:2 aspect ratio with the camera oriented in portrait mode;
- be at least 1800 pixels high by 1200 pixels wide;
- be no larger than 4500 pixels high by 3000 pixels wide;
- be between 200 KB and 5 MB in size.
The paper route: two photos, one signed
If you submit on paper, “you must submit 2 identical and unaltered photos with each passport application”, and you “get your guarantor to sign 1 of your photos” — one of the two, not both. Printing at home is ruled out: “we don’t accept photos that you print at home or photos that are printed on heavy weight paper.” The paper rules are covered in the printing guide.
Mind the metadata
This is about declaring the photographer, which is different from the metadata inside the file. For the tags a camera writes — and why they matter — see the image metadata guide. For who should take the photo in the first place, the app vs professional comparison is the place to start.
60-second digital check
- ☐ Taken by a commercial photographer, within 6 months
- ☐ You have the name, address and date ready to declare
- ☐ .jpeg / .jpg, from the original camera file (not a scan)
- ☐ 3:2 portrait, 1800×1200 to 4500×3000 px
- ☐ 200 KB–5 MB
- ☐ Paper route: 2 identical photos, guarantor signed one
Official source: canada.ca — “Digital photos” and “Passport photos” (Canadian passports), retrieved 2026-09-27 via Wayback Machine snapshots (canada.ca timed out to direct access). Confidence A (official pages).
Frequently asked questions
What details must I provide when uploading a Canadian passport photo?
You must provide the studio or photographer’s name, the studio or photographer’s address, and the date the photo was taken.
Does a Canadian passport digital photo have to be taken by a professional?
Yes. The digital photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer, and no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application.
What are the pixel and file-size limits for a Canadian digital passport photo?
It must have a 3:2 aspect ratio in portrait mode, be at least 1800 pixels high by 1200 pixels wide, no larger than 4500 pixels high by 3000 pixels wide, and between 200 KB and 5 MB.
Can I scan a printed photo for a Canadian passport application?
No. The file must not be a scanned copy of a printed passport photo, and it must be saved directly from the original file captured by the camera.
Who signs a Canadian passport photo on a paper application?
On the paper route you submit 2 identical and unaltered photos, and your guarantor signs 1 of them.
Can I print my Canadian passport photo at home?
No. Photos printed at home, and photos printed on heavy weight paper, are not accepted.
Should I ask for a printed copy as well as the digital file?
Yes — it is recommended you ask for both the digital copy of your photo and a printed (physical) copy when you get your photo taken.
How the file metadata itself works is in the image metadata guide, and the file rules across countries in digital file requirements. Who should take the photo is compared in app vs professional, and the paper side is in the printing guide.