Create a perfect canada visa photo online in seconds. Our free tool automatically crops your picture to the official canada visa photo size of 35×45 mm, applies a clean white background, and ensures full compliance with IRCC canada visa photo requirements. Upload, auto-detect your face, and instantly download a print-ready image — no software or signup needed.
Launch the Passport Photo Maker with the Canada visa preset already selected. We handle face detection, cropping, background, and the exact canadian visa photo dimensions for you.
Create Canada Visa PhotoImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enforces strict photo standards for all temporary and permanent resident visa applications. Use the table below to confirm your photo for canada visa application meets every rule before you submit.
| Photo dimensions | 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38" × 1.77") |
|---|---|
| Width | 35 mm (1.38 inches) |
| Height | 45 mm (1.77 inches) |
| Background color | Plain white or light-colored, uniform, no shadows |
| Head size (chin to crown) | 31 mm to 36 mm (1.18" – 1.42") |
| Eye position | Between 56% and 69% up from the bottom of the photo |
| Facial expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible |
| Glasses | Not allowed (since 2016 IRCC update) |
| Headwear | Only for religious reasons; full face must be visible |
| Resolution | Minimum 600 DPI for print, sharp and in focus |
| File format | JPEG / JPG (printed copies also accepted at visa offices) |
| Recent photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Color | Color required — black & white not accepted |
Always verify requirements directly with IRCC before submitting your application, as standards may be updated.
The official canada visa photo size is 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. The head (chin to natural hairline) must occupy between 31 mm and 36 mm of the frame height. Eyes must fall between 56% and 69% up from the bottom of the photo.
35×45 mm — IRCC Official Size
The physical size is always 35×45 mm, but the pixel dimensions depend on the print resolution (DPI). For digital submissions to IRCC online portals, use at least 600 DPI (827×1063 px). For standard lab prints, 300 DPI is acceptable.
| Resolution | Width (px) | Height (px) | Use For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 DPI | 413 px | 531 px | Standard lab print |
| 600 DPI ✓ | 827 px | 1063 px | IRCC recommended / digital |
| 72 DPI | 99 px | 128 px | Screen preview only — not for submission |
Our tool outputs at 600 DPI by default, giving you the maximum quality file for both digital upload and professional printing.
The same 35×45 mm photo specification applies across all IRCC applications, but each visa type has context-specific things to know before you apply.
Temporary Resident Visa applications require a digital photo uploaded as a JPEG through the IRCC portal. The photo must be taken within the last 6 months and meet the 35×45 mm size with a white background. Most rejections for visitor visas happen due to wrong head size or shadows.
Study permit photos follow the same 35×45 mm IRCC standard. Digital photos are submitted online; if you are applying via a Visa Application Centre (VAC), two printed copies may be required. Ensure the photo is recent — student applications are often delayed due to outdated photos.
Work permit applications, including LMIA-based and PGWP submissions, require a 35×45 mm photo. If applying from outside Canada through a VAC, bring two printed photos. If applying online through the IRCC portal, upload a high-resolution JPEG. Neutral expression and no glasses are mandatory.
Super Visa applications (for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents) use the same 35×45 mm photo specification. The photo is uploaded digitally or submitted in print depending on the application stream. Head size and background rules are strictly enforced.
Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and other permanent residence applications require the standard 35×45 mm photo. Unlike passport photos, PR visa photos can be taken at home and submitted digitally, but must meet all IRCC quality rules including minimum 600 DPI resolution.
Permanent Resident Card renewals also use the 35×45 mm format. Two printed copies are typically required — one attached to the form and one held separately. See our dedicated Canada PR Card Photo page for card-specific details and print layout options.
Our online tool makes it effortless to create canada visa photo online from any device. No editing skills required.
Take a fresh selfie or upload an existing photo from your phone or computer. Use good lighting and a plain wall behind you for the best results.
Our AI automatically locates your face, eyes, and head position to align the image precisely to IRCC head-size and eye-level rules.
The image is cropped to the exact canada visa picture size of 35×45 mm with the correct head proportion and white background at 600 DPI.
Download your print-ready digital photo instantly. Use it for online IRCC applications or print a 4×6" sheet at any photo lab.
Any modern smartphone can produce a compliant canadian visa photo — if you follow these six steps. No professional camera needed.
Use your phone's rear camera (not the front selfie lens) for higher resolution. On iPhone, shoot in Photo mode (not Portrait — Portrait adds background blur). On Android, disable AI scene enhancement and shoot in standard mode.
Stand or sit 60–90 cm (2–3 feet) from the camera. Too close distorts facial proportions; too far reduces resolution. Ask a friend to take the photo so you face forward naturally.
Position yourself facing a window during daylight hours. Natural frontal light eliminates shadows on the face and background. Avoid overhead lighting (creates chin shadows) and backlighting (silhouettes your face).
Stand at least 1 metre away from the wall to prevent shadows falling behind you. A plain white or off-white wall gives our tool the cleanest background to process. Avoid patterned wallpaper or coloured walls.
Keep the camera at eye level — not below (upward angle distorts chin) and not above (makes head appear smaller). Use a phone stand or lean the phone against a stack of books for a stable, level shot.
No filters, beauty mode, or HDR. Turn off Portrait / Bokeh mode. Remove glasses, hats (unless religious), and large earrings. Tie back hair that covers your ears or jawline.
Visa officers reject thousands of applications every year due to photo errors. Avoid these issues before you submit your canadian visa photo.
If the photo is not exactly 35×45 mm or the head height falls outside the 31–36 mm range, the application is automatically flagged. Our tool enforces the correct dimensions.
Backgrounds with patterns, shadows, gradients, or colours other than white or light grey fail IRCC validation. The background must be completely uniform.
Since 2016, glasses are not allowed in any Canada visa photo — even clear lenses with no glare. Remove all eyewear before taking the picture.
Expressions must be neutral with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, or squinting will cause rejection at the photo verification stage.
Shadows on the face or background, overexposure, red-eye, and harsh side-lighting are not accepted. Use even, front-facing natural daylight.
Photos older than 6 months, blurry images, or low-resolution scans will be refused. The photo must clearly represent your current appearance.
Instagram-style filters, skin-smoothing, teeth-whitening, or any digital alteration of your face constitutes photo manipulation and is grounds for rejection.
Your head must be centered in the frame with full face visible — top of head, both ears, and chin all clearly within the photo boundaries.
Hair must not cover the forehead, eyebrows, or fall across the face. IRCC needs a clear, unobstructed view of the full face from hairline to chin.
Photos taken with flash directly facing the camera create overexposed, flat images. Blown-out highlights obscure facial features and trigger rejection.
Submitting a square or 4:3 photo instead of the required 35×45 mm portrait ratio (roughly 7:9) is a structural error that cannot be corrected at the visa office.
If the head is too small — below the 31 mm minimum — officers reject it even if the overall photo dimensions are correct. Head fill matters as much as frame size.
Many applicants confuse the two — they share the same physical size but have key differences in photographer requirements, submission format, and backing requirements.
| Feature | 🇨🇦 Canada Visa Photo | 🇨🇦 Canada Passport Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm | 50 × 70 mm |
| Head height | 31–36 mm | 31–36 mm |
| Background | White or light-colored | Plain white only |
| Taken at home | ✓ Allowed | ✗ Must be a commercial photographer |
| Photographer stamp required | ✗ Not required | ✓ Required on back of print |
| Digital submission | ✓ Yes — IRCC portal | ✗ Print only for passports |
| Glasses allowed | ✗ No (since 2016) | ✗ No |
| Valid for | 6 months from date taken | 6 months from date taken |
| Applies to | Visitor visa, study, work, PR applications | Canadian passport renewal/new application |
Need a passport photo instead? See our dedicated Canada Passport Photo maker for the correct 50×70 mm format.
The official canada visa photo size is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall (1.38" × 1.77"). The head must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to the top of the natural hairline. In pixels at 600 DPI, this equals 827 × 1063 pixels.
IRCC requires a plain white or light-colored background that is uniform and free of shadows, patterns, or other people. Our tool automatically replaces busy backgrounds with the correct white color.
No. Since 2016, glasses are not allowed in any photo submitted to IRCC for visas, study permits, work permits, PR, or citizenship applications — regardless of lens type or glare.
Yes. Any modern smartphone camera can produce a compliant photo. Use good lighting, a plain background, and then upload it to our Canada visa photo maker to crop and resize it correctly.
Yes. Most online Canada visa applications (visitor visa, study permit, work permit) require a digital JPEG uploaded through the IRCC portal. Printed copies are only required when applying via paper or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
At 600 DPI (the IRCC-recommended resolution for digital submissions), the photo is 827 × 1063 pixels. At 300 DPI for standard lab printing, it is 413 × 531 pixels. Our tool outputs at 600 DPI by default.
Download your processed photo and print it on 4×6" photo paper. Most pharmacies and photo labs can print 35×45 mm copies directly from the file. Our output is set to 600 DPI for sharp prints.
The photo must be taken within the last 6 months of your application date. Photos that are older or no longer match your current appearance will be rejected by IRCC.
Our face detection locates your eyes and chin, then crops the image so your head occupies the IRCC-required 31–36 mm range inside a 35×45 mm frame with correct eye placement. You don't need to measure anything manually.
Yes. The Passport Photo Maker is completely free — no signup, no watermark, no hidden fees. You can create unlimited Canada visa photos at no cost.
Visa photos are 35×45 mm and can be taken at home and submitted digitally. Canadian passport photos are 50×70 mm, must be taken by a commercial photographer, and require a stamp and date on the back of the print. Both require no glasses and a white background.
Yes — the same 35×45 mm size and white background rules apply to children's visa photos. For infants and toddlers, the child must face the camera with eyes open. They may be photographed lying on a white blanket if they cannot sit upright, provided the background is plain white.
Need a photo for a different country? Our passport photo maker covers all major visa and document formats.
Stop worrying about millimeters and backgrounds. Let our tool handle every IRCC rule so your application is accepted the first time.
Create Canada Visa Photo