Canadian passport photos

Canada only accepts passport photos taken by a commercial photographer or studio, printed professionally, and not changed in any way. So you can't make one at home, here or anywhere else. This page sums up the rules, so you know what to ask for and can check the photos before you send them.

Printed photos

For a new passport, or a renewal by mail or in person.

Rules for printed Canadian passport photos
Who takes it	A commercial photographer or studio, in person. Photos taken at home aren't accepted.
How many	2 identical photos, printed professionally on plain, high-quality photo paper
Size	50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in)
Head, chin to crown	31–36 mm (1¼–1⁷⁄₁₆ in)
Background	Plain white or light-coloured
Taken	In the last 6 months
Colour	Colour or black and white

On the back of one photo

The photographer writes or stamps the date the photo was taken and the studio's name and full address.
Your guarantor writes “I certify this to be a true likeness of” followed by your name (or your child's), and signs it. Adults renewing don't need this.

Digital photos, for renewing online

Ask the studio for a digital copy as well as prints: if you can't renew online after all, you'll have the prints.

Rules for digital Canadian passport photos
File	JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg), saved straight from the camera's original file; no scans
Shape	3:2, portrait
Pixels	At least 1,200 × 1,800, at most 3,000 × 4,500
File size	200 KB to 5 MB
Head, chin to crown	45–50% of the photo's height
Also needed	The studio's or photographer's name and address, and the date the photo was taken

No changes at all

Canada rejects applications with altered photos. That includes cropping, even around your head and shoulders, changes to colour, brightness, contrast or sharpness, a new background, removing red eye or blemishes, filters and AI tools. Send the photos and the file exactly as the studio gave them to you.

Before you go to the studio

Wear something that contrasts with a light background, not white or very pale clothes.
Keep a neutral expression: eyes open, mouth closed, not smiling or frowning.
Glasses are allowed if your eyes are clearly visible with no glare; tinted lenses and sunglasses aren't.
Headwear only if you wear it every day for religious or medical reasons, with your whole face visible and no shadows.
When you get the photos, check the size, that your head is 31–36 mm from chin to crown, and that the back is filled in.