Before
After🇨🇦 CANADA · UPDATED 2026
Canadian Passport Photo Maker — 50×70 mm, White Background
Make a Canadian passport photo online. Official 50x70mm size with a 31-36mm face height on a white or light background. Meet all IRCC requirements here.
Drag & drop or click to upload
JPG, PNG or WEBP
- Checked against the 50×70mm / IRCC face-height spec
- Plain white or light background, no shadows
- Print-ready file, sized for Canadian passport and visa applications
OFFICIAL SPECIFICATION
Canada passport photo requirements
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical size | 50 x 70 mm |
| Digital photo size | 591 x 827 px |
| Background | #FFFFFF |
| Head height | 31-36 mm (44-51% of frame height) |
Canada's 50x70mm passport photo is not interchangeable with the 35x45mm size used for Canadian visas, IRCC digital submissions, or almost every other country's passport. Do not stretch or pad a 35x45mm photo up to fit — the 31-36mm face-height rule is measured against the taller 70mm frame, so a resized photo fails the ratio check even when it looks fine on screen.
GUARANTOR ENDORSEMENT
Canada's guarantor system: who signs your passport photo
For a first-time passport, Canada asks a guarantor — not a notary, not a random witness — to personally vouch that the printed photo looks like you. Eligibility is narrow: Canadian citizen, 18 or older, holding a valid or recently expired Canadian passport, acquainted with you for at least two years, and not related to you or living at your address. The oversized 50x70mm frame itself is a holdover from an era when border officers compared printed photos by eye rather than matching a digital chip, and although e-passports have reduced the need for large prints, the print-size rule has never been revised.
The guarantor's job comes down to two lines on the back of one print: a signed statement that the photo is a true likeness, dated on the spot. The photographer or studio also stamps the back of one photo with their name, address, and the date taken — missing either endorsement is a common reason applications get sent back. Renewals skip the guarantor step entirely, since the expiring passport already proves who you are — only first-time applicants and some replacement cases need the signature.
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps to a compliant Canada photo
Upload a photo
Any recent, front-facing photo works — the tool handles the background and framing for you.
AI matches the spec
Background is replaced with an even #FFFFFF and the crop is adjusted to the 50x70mm frame, without altering your face.
Check compliance and download
Your result is measured against the Canada pixel size, DPI, and head-height ratio before you download it.
Canadian passport photo cost — retailer vs. at home
| Where | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoppers Drug Mart | CAD $16.99-19.99 | Two prints, 1,300+ locations nationwide, includes the studio stamp IRCC requires for paper applications |
| Walmart | CAD $16.97 | Two prints, includes the studio stamp |
| London Drugs | CAD $14.99 | ~15 minute turnaround, Western Canada only |
| Costco | CAD $5-8 | Membership required; not all warehouses still run a photo centre |
| faceroom.app (at home)Includes compliance check | Under CAD $1 | 4x6in retail print + free online edit; you handle printing yourself, so there is no studio stamp on the back |
Skip the guarantor scramble — get a print-ready 50x70mm photo today
Upload a recent photo above and download a file sized to the 5:7 Canadian frame, ready for a retail print or an IRCC online upload.
IRCC online upload — pixel-perfect specs for a passport renewal
Pixel size
1200 x 1800 to 3000 x 4500 px
File size
200KB to 5MB
Format
JPEG
Colour
24-bit full-colour RGB
Aspect ratio
5:7, matching the 50x70mm print
Background
Plain white or light background
Upload errors & fixes
- •Uploading a visa-sized photo (420-480px wide, 60KB-4MB) for a passport renewal fails the dimension check — the two IRCC upload specs are not interchangeable, so don’t reuse one for the other.
- •A square or 4:5 crop straight off a phone camera cuts off the chin or crown once forced into the 5:7 frame — set a custom 5:7 crop before exporting.
- •Filters, retouching, and beauty modes are not permitted and can trigger a manual review delay.
- •Both upload routes require a plain white or light background in full-colour RGB — a black-and-white or heavily edited scan will be rejected regardless of pixel size.
RULES TO GET RIGHT
Canada photo rules beyond the size
- Photo must be 50mm wide by 70mm high — this is a different ratio from a US or Indian passport photo, so a square photo will not work.
- Face height (chin to crown) must measure between 31mm and 36mm.
- Avoid pure white clothing — IRCC specifically warns it can blend into the background and cause rejection.
- Two identical printed copies are required for a paper application; the back of one photo needs the photographer/studio name, address, and date taken if not self-taken.
- Glasses are not permitted; religious head coverings are allowed if the full face remains visible.
Baby / infant photo rules
A Canadian baby passport photo uses the same 50x70mm format and face-height rule as an adult. Photograph the baby alone, ideally lying on a plain white sheet photographed from above, with no toys or visible supporting hands.
Printing
A 4x6 in photo sheet fits 4 copies of a 50x70mm Canadian passport photo.
At home / online
~$0.35 per photo printed at home or at a retail kiosk
In-store studio
CAD $15-25 at a passport-photo studio, often including the signed authentication note
Canadian passport photo do's and don'ts
Do
- Use a plain white or light background with no shadows
- Keep face height between 31mm and 36mm within the 70mm frame
- Wear a dark, non-white top for contrast against the background
- Get one printed photo endorsed on the back by an eligible guarantor for a first-time application
- Bring two identical prints to a paper application and keep a spare for your own records
Don't
- Wear glasses — Canada permits no exceptions
- Wear pure white clothing that blends into the background
- Reuse a same-day photo-booth print for an online IRCC upload without checking its pixel spec first
- Ask a family member or someone at your own address to act as guarantor
- Assume a visa or work-permit upload (420-480px) meets the passport-renewal spec, or vice versa
FAQ