Canada Passport Photo Requirements

Canadian Passport Photo Specifications

• Maximum size for a Canadian passport photo is 2.75" high by 2" wide.
• The required dimension of the head in a Canadian passport photo is a little bigger than for the US.
• The photographer has to put their name and address on the back of 1 of the photos. We also must put the date that the picture is taken on the back of the photo. The image to the right is a sample of what we do on the back of our photos.
• A guarantor has to certify that it is a true likeness of the applicant. We are not the guarantor.

Your Canadian Passport photos must be:

• 50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide X 2 3/4 inches long).
• In color or in black and white.
• Taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections.
• Centered and taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera.
• Taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, no smiling).
• Clear, sharp and in focus.
• Taken in front of a plain white or light-colored background with a clear difference between your face and the background. Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones.
• Sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head).
• Reflect your current appearance (taken within the last 12 months).
• Original photos that are not digitally altered or taken from an existing photo.
• Professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper (photos printed at home and photos printed on heavy weight paper are not acceptable).

Preparing for your Canadian Passport Photo

On the back of one photo:

• The photographer must print the name and address of the photographer or studio and the date the photo was taken. The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are unacceptable.
• Your guarantor must clearly write on the back of one (1) photo: "I certify this to be a true likeness of (applicant's name)" and sign his or her name (unless you are applying to renew a passport, as no guarantor is necessary for renewals).

Extra details

• Glasses, including tinted prescription glasses, may be worn in photos as long as the eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare in the glasses. Sunglasses and red eyes are unacceptable.
• There must be no reflection or glare on the face or glasses.
• Hats and head coverings must not be worn, unless it is worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, your full face must be clearly visible and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
• Your hair can be down.
• Shadows are not acceptable. Lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows across the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.

Child Photos

Child photos must follow the same rules indicated above.

• Photos must show the child's head and shoulders only. Parent's or child's hands must not appear in the photo.
• Passport Canada recognizes the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow for some tolerance in this regard.
• If applying for a one-time replacement passport for a child, you must include a photo that has been taken within one month of the date the application is submitted.

The Guarantor

The guarantor must be a person who has known the applicant for at least two years, and the guarantor also must meet these requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada and must be accessible to Passport Canada for verification. (If the applicant lives in the USA, see our note at the end of this section)
• Have known you personally for at least two years
• Be one of the following:
  • Chiropractor
  • Dentist
  • Geoscientist
  • Judge
  • Lawyer (member of a provincial bar association), notary in Quebec
  • Magistrate
  • Mayor
  • Medical doctor
  • Minister of religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
  • Notary public
  • Optometrist
  • Pharmacist
  • Police officer (municipal, provincial or RCMP)
  • Postmaster
  • Principal of a primary or secondary school
  • Professional accountant (APA, CA, CGA, CMA, PA, RPA)
  • Professional engineer (P.Eng., Eng. in Quebec)
  • Senior administrator in a community college (includes CEGEPs)
  • Senior administrator or teacher in a university
  • Veterinarian

Note: Canadian citizens living in the US can have a guarantor who is a US citizen. Further details are here: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/index.aspx