Canada passport photo
Canada passport photo size is 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with your face 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown. Use this page to see the framing, then read the Canada.ca rules on who must print it.
Choose the document
Canadian passport: 50 x 70 mm (2 x 2 3/4 in), head 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown.
Add your photo
Include your head and shoulders. A plain light wall behind you works best.
Add a photo and it appears inside the frame, ready to drag.
Crown line 14.6 mm from the top. Chin between 45.6 and 50.6 mm.
Fit your head to the lines
Lighten the background
This pulls light greys towards white. It does not remove a busy background, so stand in front of a plain wall.
Check and download
- Look straight at the camera.
- Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Keep your eyes open and clearly visible.
- Nothing covering your face, and no hair across your eyes.
- No glasses glare. Take glasses off if you can.
- Plain, light background behind you.
- Even lighting, with no shadows on your face or the wall.
- Your face and shoulders should be centred and square to the camera, not tilted.
- No smile and no open mouth.
Canada asks for photos taken by a commercial photographer or studio and printed professionally. It does not accept photos printed at home, and it does not accept edited photos. Read the Canada.ca page before you apply.
We size and crop your photo to the official measurements. The passport office decides if it is accepted, so check it against their rules.
How to take a Canadian passport photo at home
- 1
Take a clear photo
Stand facing a window with a plain light wall or sheet behind you. Hold the phone at eye height, or prop it up. Keep your face straight, mouth closed and eyes open. Include your head and shoulders.
- 2
Fit it to the lines
Choose Canadian passport, add the photo, then drag and zoom until the top of your head touches the red crown line and your chin sits between the dashed lines. The frame is 50 x 70 mm.
- 3
Download and print
Press Download photo for the single file, or Download print sheet for a 6x4 inch sheet. Print the sheet at any photo kiosk at full size and cut along the thin lines.
Canadian passport photo size and rules
| Document | Canada passport |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 50 x 70 mm (2 x 2 3/4 in) |
| Head height, chin to crown | 31 to 36 mm |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured. |
| Digital file we make | 1181 x 1654 px JPG |
| Copies on a 6x4 inch sheet | 4 |
These figures come from the official guidance. Check the official rules before you apply.
Questions
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 by 2 3/4 inches). The height of your face must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown.
Can I print my own Canadian passport photo?
No. Canada asks for photos taken by a commercial photographer or studio and printed professionally, and it does not accept photos printed at home.
So why use this page?
To see the exact size and where your head should sit before you book a studio, or to make a correctly sized file. Always check the Canada.ca page before you apply.
What background do I need?
Plain white or light-coloured. Photos can be in colour or black and white.