Canada residence permit photo
Canada residence permit photo: 50 x 70 mm (2 x 2.75 in). The head must measure 31-36 mm from the chin to the top of the head. A file uploaded online must be 715-2000 px. The photo must have been taken in the last 12 months. Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, checked September 3, 2026.
You cannot supply this photo yourself
Canada: a residence permit photo is accepted only from an approved or commercial photographer, or an approved booth. A photo you take and prepare yourself is refused however exactly it measures, and editing software, filters and AI tools are named in the rule.
The editor below still earns its place. It is correct for consular and visa applications, which this rule does not cover, and it will tell you whether a photographer's file actually meets the measurements before you pay for prints.
Drop a photo here
or choose a file from this device
JPG, PNG, HEIC or WebP, up to 25 MB
Your photo is processed on this device and never uploaded.
The original background remains because this authority does not allow replacement. Use a photo already taken against the required plain background.
The requirements
| Print size | 50 x 70 mm (2 x 2.75 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 715-2000 px |
| File size | 3.8 MB |
| File formats | JPEG |
| Head height, chin to crown | 31-36 mm |
| Background | Plain, untextured and white |
| Glasses | Allowed, as long as the eyes are fully visible with no glare and no tint. |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open. |
| Head covering | Only for religious or medical reasons, and the face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. |
| Photo age | 12 months |
| Also required |
|
How to apply: Canada
The Canadian permanent resident card has its own photo specification. The print is 50 x 70 mm, the head from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (not including hair) measures 31 to 36 mm, and the background must be plain, untextured and white.
The photo must be taken by a commercial photographer or photo studio, and it must be an original that has not been altered in any way. A photo you prepare yourself will not be accepted for this card, however exactly it measures. It can be up to 12 months old when you apply, longer than the six months allowed for a passport.
For the online application IRCC asks for a JPEG from 715 x 1000 to 2000 x 2800 pixels and no more than 4 MB. These numbers belong to the card only: the passport and the visitor visa use different sheets.
Why photos get rejected here
Not taken by a photographer
IRCC requires a commercial photographer or studio. A home photo is refused even if the measurements are correct.
A light but not white background
The card needs a plain, untextured white background, stricter than the passport's white or light-coloured.
An altered image
Any editing of the image leads to rejection.
Wrong pixel size
The online upload must be between 715 x 1000 and 2000 x 2800 pixels.
Glare on glasses
The eyes must be clearly visible behind glasses, with no glare on the lenses.
What helps
Tell the studio it is for the PR card
The card's sizes differ from the passport's, so name the document when you book.
Ask for the digital file
For an online application, ask the studio for a JPEG within the card's pixel range and under 4 MB.
Use this tool to check
You can check a photographer's file against the measurements before you submit it, but the file you submit has to come from the photographer.
Babies and young children
The card's photo page does not set out separate rules for babies. A child's photo must meet the same rules and be taken by a commercial photographer.
How to take a baby's passport photo at home
Glasses
Glasses may be worn if the eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses.
Passport photo glasses rules by country
Head covering
A head covering is accepted when it is worn daily for religious or medical reasons and the face stays clearly visible.
Applying online
Upload a JPEG from 715 x 1000 to 2000 x 2800 pixels, 4 MB or less, taken by a commercial photographer.
Questions about Canada photos
Can I take my PR card photo myself?
No. IRCC requires the photo to be taken by a commercial photographer or studio.
How old can the photo be?
Up to 12 months old when you apply.
Is it the same as the Canadian passport photo?
No. The size is the same, but the background must be white, the photo may be older, and the pixel range is different.
Where these numbers come from
Official sourceEvery measurement on this page comes from the issuing authority's own published requirements.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Photos for a permanent resident cardchecked September 3, 2026
Editor: Mehmet Apaydın (Xenit)How we check our numbers