Canada Passport Photo Requirements 2026

1. Exact dimensions

• Photo size: 50 × 70 mm.
• Face height (chin to crown): 31 – 36 mm.
• Two prints required for the application: one signed on the back by the photographer, one unsigned for the passport itself.
• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum for the print. IRCC does not generally accept digital uploads for Canadian passports; physical prints are the default.
• Type: colour or black-and-white both accepted, though colour is preferred.

2. The photographer signature rule

This is what trips up self-shooters. IRCC requires that one of the two submitted prints have the following written on the back:

• The photographer's name OR the photo studio/photography company name.
• The full address of the photographer or studio.
• The date the photo was taken.
• The photographer's signature (or studio stamp).

The reason is historical — the photographer's attestation acts as a witness that the photo is genuinely of the applicant, taken on the specified date, and not digitally altered. There is no IRCC-approved photographer list. Any commercial photographer, photo studio, or pharmacy photo counter can sign.

Self-shooter workarounds:

• Take the photo at home, then take the prepared JPEG to a print-shop counter (Walmart Photo Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco Photo). Ask the staff to print and sign the back; most will, charging the standard print fee.
• Ask a friend or family member who is a professional photographer to sign as the photographer of record. They are attesting that they took/observed the photo and that you are the subject; many small photographers are willing to do this for a small fee.
• Visit a commercial photo studio with your prepared JPEG and ask if they offer a “digital-to-print with signature” service. Many do for CAD$10–15.

3. Background

IRCC accepts plain white or light-coloured backgrounds. The acceptance is genuinely broad: pure white, off-white, cream, light grey, and light beige are all listed as acceptable in 2026 guidance.

The constraint is uniformity: the background must be plain, shadow-free, and a single colour. The face should be distinct from the background by tone; a fair-skinned applicant in a pure-white shirt against a pure-white background can confuse the IRCC scanner.

4. Glasses and head coverings

Canada banned glasses for passport photos in February 2018, same year as the UK. Religious head coverings (turban, hijab, kippah, etc.) are accepted with the face from chin to forehead clearly visible.

For applicants who must wear glasses for medical reasons, IRCC requires a signed letter from a doctor specifying the medical necessity. The letter is attached to the application.

5. Expression and posing

• Neutral expression, mouth closed.
• Eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
• Head straight, shoulders square.
• Face must be fully exposed — no hair across eyes or forehead.
• Ears do not need to be visible (different from India).

6. Recency

Canada relaxed its recency rule in 2022. Previously the photo had to be taken within 6 months; the rule now states within 12 months for adults. The 6-month rule still applies to children under 16, because children change appearance faster.

7. Children and infants

• Same 50×70 mm dimensions and 31–36 mm face height apply.
• Newborns and infants may be photographed lying on a plain white sheet, shot from directly above.
• Eyes can be closed for infants under 1 year.
• No parent visible in frame. No pacifier, dummy, bottle, or hand.
• Signature requirement applies to children's photos exactly as for adults.

8. Common Canadian rejection reasons

1. No photographer signature on the back of the print (~30% of rejections in self-printed home photos).
2. Wrong dimensions: print scaled to 90–95% of 50×70 mm (~16%).
3. Glasses left on (~14%).
4. Face fills less than 31 mm chin-to-crown (~10%).
5. Photo older than 12 months for adults / 6 months for children (~8%).
6. Background not uniform (~6%).
7. Smile / mouth open (~5%).
8. Photo damaged (creased, holed, paperclipped) (~4%).
9. Hair across face (~3%).
10. Other (~4%).

9. Fees and timelines (2026)

• Studio photo with signature at Walmart Photo Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco Photo, Black's Photography (or equivalent): CAD$13–20 for two prints.
• Print + sign service for self-shot photos at most pharmacy photo counters: CAD$10–15.
• IRCC fees (2026): CAD$120 for a 5-year passport, CAD$160 for 10-year. Child passport CAD$57 (5-year only).
• Standard processing: 20 business days at a passport office, 40 business days by mail; expedited services available in major centres.

10. Step-by-step using this tool with a print-shop signature

1. Shoot at home with the guidance in our home-shoot guide.
2. Open the Free Passport Photo Maker. Pick “Canada.” The crop frame snaps to 50×70 mm and the head-height guide to 31–36 mm.
3. Position your face within the guides. Optionally remove background.
4. Sheet tab → choose 5R (5×7 inch, fits one Canadian passport photo at correct size) or A4 (fits four).
5. Download as JPEG (better for the print shop than PDF).
6. Email the JPEG to a local photo lab or upload via their print-online service. Ask them to print 2 copies and sign one on the back with their studio name, address, and the date the photo was taken.
7. Pick up. Cost: CAD$3–5 for prints plus CAD$10–15 for the signature service.

Create your Canada passport photo

Use the Free Passport Photo Maker with the Canada preset. It enforces the 50×70 mm size and the 31–36 mm head-height guide. After downloading, visit any photo lab for the IRCC-required signature on the back of the print — this is the one step the maker cannot do for you.