Canada Visa / Permit
Last verified 2026-06-28 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship CanadaStandards: ICAO Doc 9303Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 413 × 531 px
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm · 300 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 69–80% · target 74%
- Eye line
- 56%–68% from bottom
- File size limit
- 4 MB
Note: IRCC temporary resident photo; 35x45 mm; face 31-36 mm; plain white or light background
Dimensions
- Print size: 35 x 45 mm
- Pixel size: 413 x 531 px
- DPI: approximately 300 DPI
- File format / max file size: JPEG output, max 4 MB
- Color mode: sRGB color only
Head position
- Face height (chin to crown): 31-36 mm
- Face height as fraction of frame: approximately 69%-80%
- Head position: Directly facing camera; head upright, no tilt
- Shoulders: Square to camera and centred
Background
- Color: Plain white or light-coloured background
- Requirements: No shadows, no texture, no patterns, and no objects behind the subject
Expression
- Neutral expression, mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible
- Look directly at the camera
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: Permitted only if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare; removing glasses is safer
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Head coverings: Permitted for religious or medical reasons if the full face remains visible
- Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
Other rules
- Use a recent, unaltered color photo
- No filters, retouching, or beautification
- Lighting should be even with no face or background shadows
Notes
- Canadian temporary resident visa and permit photos use the 35 x 45 mm format, not the 50 x 70 mm Canadian passport size.
- The 31-36 mm face-height band means the face fills a large portion of the 45 mm frame.
Sources
Can I wear glasses for a Canadian visa or permit photo?
Glasses are acceptable only if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare. Removing glasses is the safer choice.
Can I wear a head covering?
Religious or medical coverings may be worn if the full face remains visible. Hats and ordinary head coverings are prohibited.
What expression should I use?
Use a neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open, and the face looking directly at the camera.
How recent does the photo need to be?
Use a recent, unaltered color photo that reflects your current appearance.
What dimensions should I use?
Use the 35 x 45 mm IRCC visa / permit format, generated as 413 x 531 px, with a 31-36 mm face height.
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
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