Canadian passport photo requirements

Canada is the strict one. Passport photos must be 50×70 mm with the head 31–36 mm from chin to crown, and they must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio who stamps or writes the date and studio details on the back. Home-printed photos are refused, and digital photos for online renewal must also come from a commercial photographer. We do not sell a Canadian product; this page exists so you know what the photographer must get right and can check the result.

Make and check a CA passport photo Free checker; files from A$6.99.

Can I take it myself? No

No. The Government of Canada page is unambiguous: the photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio, printed professionally, and for first adult and child passports the studio's name, address and the date go on the back. Even the digital photo for online renewal has to come from a commercial photographer and must not be a scan of a print. For that reason we sell nothing for the Canadian passport. Use the free checker here to confirm a studio photo meets the 31–36 mm head rule before you lodge, and take the measurements to the photographer if it does not.

How to take the photo

1. Book a photographer or a pharmacy studio that offers Canadian passport photos and knows the 50×70 mm format; it is larger than the 35×45 mm most countries use.
2. Ask them to measure the head from chin to crown: it must be between 31 and 36 mm on the print. Many rejections come from heads that are too small.
3. Wear something that contrasts with the plain white or light background. Light clothing that blends in is a stated reason for refusal.
4. Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. Glasses are allowed only with no glare; tinted or sunglasses are not, even prescription.
5. Check the back of one photo has the studio name, address and the date before you leave, and that the photos are on plain photo paper, not heavyweight stock.

Why CA passport photos get rejected

1. Taken at home or printed at home. Not accepted under any circumstances. Use a commercial photographer.
2. Head height outside 31–36 mm. Measure the print; ask the studio to reprint if it is out of band. Use the free checker here to confirm.
3. Altered or filtered photo. Canada rejects any editing, filters or AI alteration. Ask for the untouched image.
4. Light clothing blending into the background. Wear a darker top than the wall.
5. Glare on glasses or tinted lenses. Remove them, or have the photographer adjust the lighting.
6. Missing stamp or date on the back. Required for first adult passports and child passports. Return to the studio.
7. Scan of a printed photo used for online renewal. The digital file must be the photographer's original, 3:2 portrait, at least 1200×1800 px, 200 KB to 5 MB, with the head 45–50 per cent of the height.

Infants and children

Canada allows some range of expression for infants and a newborn may be photographed in a car seat with a white blanket behind the head, provided there are no shadows and nothing else is visible. The photo must still be taken by a commercial photographer, so choose a studio experienced with babies.

Step by step: Canadian passport online renewal

1. Only adults renewing an eligible passport can apply online. The photographer emails you the digital file; do not scan a print.
2. The file must be JPEG, 3:2 portrait, at least 1200 px wide by 1800 px high, between 200 KB and 5 MB, with the chin-to-crown 45 to 50 per cent of the height.
3. Upload the file at the photo step and enter the photographer's details when asked.

Open Canadian passport online renewal

What it costs

Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and Costco charge about C$12–20 for two Canadian passport photos; a studio photographer C$15–30. There is no self-print option, so there is nothing to buy here. The free checker lets you verify the head measurement on a studio photo before lodging.