Canadian Passport Photo Requirements: Why Apps and Online Edits Fail

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets two rules that no app or online photo service can meet. The photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio, and it must be an original that is not altered in any way.

IRCC spells out what counts as altering: changes made with software, filters or editing tools, including color, brightness, contrast, sharpness, cropping, background changes and removing glare or blemishes. Every online passport photo tool, ours included, works by cropping and adjusting the image, often by replacing the background. By IRCC's definition, that disqualifies the photo.

That is why PhotoForPass does not sell a Canadian passport photo. We would rather tell you this up front than take your money for a photo that IRCC can refuse. The rest of this page explains the official requirements so you can walk into a studio knowing exactly what to ask for.

The table summarizes the IRCC rules for printed passport photos used in mail or in-person applications. All values come from the official IRCC passport photo page.

Two details catch people out. The photo is much taller than a US passport photo, and IRCC measures the face from the chin to the crown, meaning the natural top of the head. Light clothing can also blend into the background, so wear something darker than the wall.

IRCC's page for Canadians in the US is clear: passport applications from the US have to be mailed to Canada. That means you will almost always submit printed photos, not a digital file.

Where to send it

IRCC recommends a certified courier or traceable mail service. The courier address is Government of Canada, Passport Program, 22 de Varennes Street, Gatineau, QC J8T 8R1, Canada. Regular mail goes to the Passport Program in Gatineau, QC K1A 0G3.

Fees and payment

Fees are set in Canadian dollars, so check the current IRCC fee list before you pay. You can put Visa, Mastercard or American Express details on the form, or send a certified check or money order in Canadian funds payable to the Receiver General for Canada. IRCC does not accept cash or personal checks.

The back of the photo

On one photo, the photographer writes or stamps the date it was taken and the studio's name and complete address. For new adult and child passports, your guarantor also writes 'I certify this to be a true likeness of' followed by your name, and signs. Adult renewals do not need a guarantor.

IRCC also publishes rules for digital photos used in online renewals. Even here, the photo must come from a commercial photographer, which is why searching for a 'Canadian passport photo online' service will not get you a compliant file.

The digital photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer, must not be a scanned print, and must be a JPG or JPEG saved directly from the camera's original file. IRCC asks for a 3:2 portrait image of 1200 x 1800 to 3000 x 4500 pixels, 200 KB to 5 MB, with the face filling 45 to 50 percent of the photo's height. The upload also asks for the studio's name, address and the date taken.

IRCC's guidance for Canadians in the US tells you to mail your application, so check IRCC's eligibility rules before planning an online renewal.

Any commercial photographer or studio that follows every IRCC rule can take the photo. Many US photo counters are set up for 2 x 2 inch US photos, so call ahead and ask three questions.

1. Can you take and print photos at 50 x 70 mm with a 31 to 36 mm face, following IRCC's Canadian passport rules?
2. Do you print on professional photo paper, not plain or heavyweight paper?
3. Will you write or stamp your studio's name, full address and the date on the back?

How to prepare

• Wear everyday clothes that contrast with a white or light background. Avoid white or very pale tops.
• Keep hair away from your eyes and face. Remove hats unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons.
• If you wear glasses, make sure there is no glare. Tinted lenses, including tinted prescription lenses, are not accepted.
• For babies, no hands may appear in the photo. A newborn can sit in a car seat with a white blanket behind the head, with no shadows.

IRCC uses different photo specs for different applications, so do not assume a passport photo works elsewhere. Canadian citizenship, permanent resident card and visa applications each come with their own photo instructions. Check the instruction guide for the exact form you are filing.

If you also live with US status, US forms use a completely different photo: 2 x 2 inches on a white background. PhotoForPass does make those. See our 2x2 photo tool, the green card photo page for USCIS filings, or the U.S. passport photo if you are a dual citizen. To compare local studios for your Canadian photos, our passport photos near me guide covers what to ask and what it costs.