Canada visa photo size
A frame of at least 35 × 45 mm, head 31 to 36 mm, for a temporary resident visa.
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sets different photo sizes for different documents. For a temporary resident visa, the visitor visa most travellers need, the frame must be at least 35 by 45 millimetres and the head from chin to crown between 31 and 36 millimetres, on a plain white or light-coloured background. A Canadian passport uses a larger 50 by 70 millimetre photo, which has its own page.
This page makes the visa photo at 35 by 45 millimetres, saved as 413 by 531 pixels at 300 DPI, and the sheet option places eight copies on a 4 by 6 inch print. You need two identical photos, so one sheet leaves spares.
The table shows the size and background with the date we read the IRCC page. If the photos do not meet the specifications, you will have to provide new ones before the application can be processed.
What the official source states
Canada visa, printed photo
- Photo size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Pixels at 300 DPI
- 413 × 531 px
- Background
- Plain white or light-coloured
Requirements checked on October 15, 2026. Official source
Check the official requirements before you submit. We resize to the numbers shown; we do not check face position, expression, glasses, lighting or background rules.
Head size and the crown
The head must measure 31 to 36 millimetres from chin to crown, which on this file is about 366 to 425 pixels of the 531 pixel height. IRCC defines the crown as the top of the head or, if hair or a head covering hides it, where the top of the skull would be if it could be seen.
The photo shows the full front view of the head with the face in the middle, and includes the top of the shoulders. Keep the shoulders visible and level.
Colour or black and white
Unlike many visa photos, these may be black and white or colour, as long as both are identical and taken within the last six months. They must be printed on quality photographic paper, and a digital photo must not be altered in any way.
Compare the two before you hand them in; a difference in colour or crop means they are not identical.
Expression, glasses and hairpieces
Your face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling, and with the mouth closed. Non-tinted prescription glasses are fine if the eyes are clearly visible and the frame covers no part of them; sunglasses are not acceptable.
A head covering worn for religious reasons is accepted if your full facial features are not hidden. A hairpiece or other cosmetic accessory is acceptable when it does not disguise your normal appearance.
Background and printing
Plain white or light-coloured is the rule, and the photos must be clear and well defined. A pale wall with even light is enough. If you use "Replace the background", remember the rule against altering digital photos; a real plain wall avoids that question. Print the sheet at a photo lab with resizing turned off.
Take both photos from the same sheet so they are certainly identical, as IRCC requires.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Canada visa photo?
The frame must be at least 35 by 45 millimetres.
How big should the head be?
31 to 36 millimetres from chin to crown.
Is the visa photo the same as the Canadian passport photo?
No. The passport uses 50 by 70 millimetres. This page is for the temporary resident visa.
How many photos do I need?
Two identical photos, taken within the last six months.
Can the photos be black and white?
Yes. IRCC accepts black and white or colour.
What does crown mean?
The top of the head or, if hair or a head covering hides it, where the top of the skull would be.
Related tools
- Canada passport photo size50 × 70 mm on paper, or a 1,200 × 1,800 pixel JPG for an online renewal.
- Make a 35 × 45 mm photoThe most widely used ID photo size, cut from your own picture and saved at 413 × 531 pixels.
- Print passport photos on a 4 × 6 sheetOne ordinary photo print, several ID photos. Crop once and cut them out.