Canada · passport
Canadian passport photo: the real rules
The Canadian passport photo is one of the strictest in the world, not for its geometry but for who takes it: 50×70 mm prints with the chin-to-crown at 31–36 mm, and the back of one photo must carry the commercial photographer's or studio's name, address and the date, plus your guarantor's signature.
- Size
- 50×70 mm
- Digital file
- 591×827 px JPEG
- Background
- white
- Head height
- 44.3–51.4%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: Government of Canada rules require passport photos to be taken by a commercial photographer or studio, and the stamped back is checked. We don't sell you a print sheet pretending otherwise. Self-made photos ARE accepted for Canadian visitor visas, work and study permits, and citizenship applications, and each has its own page here.
How our Canada Passport photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Canada Passport specification (50×70 mm, 591×827 px, white background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a Canada Passport photo?
A Canadian passport photo is a 50×70 mm print, larger than the international standard, with the face measuring 31–36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white or light-coloured background. The back of one photo must carry the commercial photographer's name, address and the date, plus the guarantor's signature.
That stamped back is what makes Canada unusual: the photo must be taken by a commercial photographer or studio, so self-made photos cannot be used for the passport itself. Self-submission is fine for Canada's visitor visas, work and study permits and citizenship applications, which have different specs covered on their own pages.
That means a self-printed photo cannot be used for the passport itself. This page gives you the full specification, lets you pre-check your framing against the 31–36 mm head band before paying a studio, and points you to the Canadian documents where a self-made photo genuinely works.
Canada Passport photo requirements
| Size | 50×70 mm · 591×827 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 591×827px JPEG |
| Background | white |
| Head height | 44.3–51.4% of frame height |
| Digital upload | not accepted (printed photos only) |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Chin-to-crown must measure 31–36 mm on the 50×70 mm print.
- Canada requires a commercial photographer's stamp and a guarantor signature on the back. Our print sheet works for online-upload documents, and as a guide for studio visits.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
Canada Passport photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
Canada Passport photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (591×827px)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 2 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 591×827px
- Plain white background, evenly lit
- Head filling 44.3–51.4% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your Canada Passport photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a print-ready sheet cut to the exact size, plus a digital copy to keep.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official Canada Passport requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my own Canadian passport photo?
No. The photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio, and the back must show the studio's name, address and the date the photo was taken, with your guarantor's signature. Home-printed photos are rejected at intake.
What is the Canadian passport photo size?
50 mm wide by 70 mm high, larger than the international 35×45 format, with the face measuring 31–36 mm from chin to crown of head, neutral expression, uniform white or light-coloured background.
So what is this page for?
Knowing the rules before the studio visit: the free checker shows whether your intended framing, expression and lighting meet the 31–36 mm band and background rules, and this page documents every requirement with the official source. For visa, permit and citizenship photos, where self-submission is allowed, our full service applies.
Are glasses allowed?
Non-tinted prescription glasses are fine if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare; sunglasses are banned. Religious head coverings are permitted if the full face is visible.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07