Passport and Visa photos online, Canada documents

Take your own ID photos with our passport photo app

Passport-photo.online is a website/app that allows you to quickly and easily take pictures for any official document, such as the Canadian passport or Canadian visa. We also provide you with all the up-to-date passport photo requirements and useful tips on how to easily take various document photos.

In this article, you will learn:

• the criteria for passport photos in Canada,
• how to take a perfect passport or visa photo at home,
• what to wear for your passport photo,
• the most common mistakes in passport photos.

With Passport-photo.online, you no longer have to look for a photographer, or try to edit a photo yourself in Photoshop. Have you been Googling “visa or passport photo near me”? Now you can take a photo for your ID, passport, or visa from home - online! 

Automatic and human expert photo verification

Our passport photo app prides itself in a super high acceptance rate thanks to its two-step photo verification process. Our main photo validator is AI-based, and it automatically adjusts all ID and passport pictures to the correct size required by passport authorities, including the Canadian government. Our photo app also features a background removal tool to make sure all photos have the correct background suitable for a passport photo. The AI system carefully scans each photo, and if there are any errors in terms of lighting, position of the head, visibility of facial features, or shadows, you will receive an email asking you to take another photo until you get it right. Bottom line is, we won’t let you leave with an incorrect photo. 

Our AI passport photo verification is very accurate, and usually enough for your image to make the cut. However, on top of that, we also offer a passport photo verification by a human expert who will thoroughly examine your photo to give you double assurance that the picture gets approved by the appropriate government agencies. 

Photos for Canadian identity documents - specifications

Nowadays, biometric photos are requested for most important documents around the world. Biometric ID photos have particular criteria that must be met in order for the pictures to be approved by government agencies. Below we will cover the specifications for three types of Canadian ID photos.

Photos for Canadian passport

When it comes to the Canadian passport, smiling is not allowed, because it’s important to show a neutral facial expression. The dimensions of the Canadian passport photo are 50 mm wide x 70 mm high (2 inches wide x 2.7 inches long). The height of the face should measure between 31 mm (1.22 inches) and 36 mm (1.4 inches) from the chin to the top of the head.

The passport photo can be in colour or in black and white with a white or light-coloured background. Your eyes must be fully visible; glasses are acceptable in certain circumstances, provided that you have a medical condition that requires you to wear prescription glasses at all times.

Similarly, head coverings are acceptable only for religious or medical purposes. Also, if you have a nasal cannula you can wear it in your photo, however, be prepared to provide medical proof, such as a note signed by your doctor. 

The Canadian visa photos

The Canadian visa photo requirements are similar to passport photo specifications. However, there is a difference in terms of size - the measurements for the Canadian visa photo are 35 mm x 45 mm (1.3 ″ x 1.7″). Again, the photo may be either in colour or black and white, taken against a plain, white or light-coloured background. 

Driving licence photos

Driving licences have biometric photos, which are also used in passports or photo IDs. Our photo tool is now ready to prepare and adjust pictures to all European specifications. Ask someone to take a pic of you and upload it to the app. After a few minutes, your photo will be ready in your email box.

Ontario Photo Card photo 

The Ontario Photo Card is a form of ID used by individuals who don’t hold a driver’s license. The Ontario Photo Card picture is 50 mm x 70 mm (just like the Canadian passport photo). This ID photo should also show your face clearly (your facial features cannot be obstructed by hair, jewelry, or accessories) with a neutral expression. Headwear and/or glasses are permissible, provided that they’re worn for either religious or medical reasons. The photo for your Ontario Photo Card cannot be older than 12 months. 

What to wear in Canadian ID photos?

Since you’re required to submit photos taken against a white, solid background, you should avoid white or very light-coloured clothes, because they can make you blend in with the background. It’s also not advisable to wear dark clothes, those with patterns on them, or more than three colors. Go for a simple, solid-coloured t-shirt or v-neck, and avoid uniforms or anything that resembles a uniform, as those are actually not accepted by the Canadian passport authorities.

DIY Canadian passport or visa photo from home

Now that we’ve gone over some of the most common types of ID photos in Canada, let’s go over how you actually take your own passport photo from home!

Step 1. The first step to taking your biometric passport photo is to make sure your face looks exactly the way you want it to appear in your photo, without excessive makeup, and with clean, brushed hair that doesn’t cover any part of your face. 

Step 2. Find a good spot with a plain background and lots of natural light (make sure it’s not too bright). Whether using natural lighting or lamps, the best thing you can do is choose a light source that you can stand directly in front of. That way, no shadows will show on your face. The light shouldn’t be too dark or too bright, as your passport picture can’t be underexposed or overexposed. Whenever possible, it’s recommended to take your passport photo using natural light, preferably coming from a window right in front of you (that way your features will also appear more natural and flattering).

Step 3. Place your digital camera or smartphone on a tripod, or have someone take the picture for you. It’s best to maintain a 1-2 meter distance between you and the camera.

Step 4. Once you’re satisfied with your new ID photo, simply upload your image to our photo app, and let the photo magic happen!

Our passport photo app input 

We will frame your image so that it meets the ID, passport, or visa photo requirements of national law, as well as the international standards (ICAO9303). As we’ve mentioned before, we’ll also automatically adjust the background (you don’t need Walgreens Photo for this!) to make it uniform and of the right colour. 

Once your passport picture has been properly adjusted and verified, our passport photo app will send you the digital files to your email - ready to be printed and attached to your passport or visa application. You can also request printouts to be shipped to your preferred address. 

The most common mistakes in passport or visa photos

Incorrectly taken photos are actually the #1 reason passport or visa applications get rejected. Some of the most common mistakes when it comes to passport or ID photos are:

• A wide smile. In a biometric photo, you cannot smile showing your teeth.
• A photo that is older than 6 months. 
• Low resolution - your passport or ID picture cannot be pixelated, blurred, or damaged in any other way. 
• Not looking directly into the camera.
• Wrong format or dimensions.

Passport photo app for iPhone & Android

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can use our application dedicated for iOS. Go to the AppStore and download the passport photo online app for iOS software.

If you use a smartphone or tablet with an Android system such as Samsung, Huawei, HTC, Sony, Motorola, you can use our passport photo app for Android that’s available in the Google Play store.

Passport Photo Online is one of the best applications - 5 reasons 

There are five important reasons why we think you should take your photo at home and use our online app:

• It’s very easy and you don’t have to leave your house,
• You can take an unlimited amount of photos, and pay for the final one you choose,
• The photo app has a built-in validator, which checks photos to comply with the requirements of all countries,
• You can save your money and time,
• You have 100% guarantee your photo will be accepted.

Why choose Passport Photo Online?

Every day we process thousands (!) of photos for Canadian ID cards, passports, driver’s licenses, and student IDs. We know the exact requirements for all types of photos. Each image taken with the help of our service is guaranteed to be accepted by the office that issues the documents - regardless of whether you apply for a given document traditionally in the office or online. Let yourself be surprised and check us out free of charge!

Our mission

The mission of our company is to make sure that every person, regardless of where they are at a given time and place, can take a professional and legally compliant photo. In contrast to traditional photography studios or passport photo booths, Passport-photo.online works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and your waiting time is literally a couple of minutes.

So whether you need a photo for yourself, your baby or toddler - save time, money, and energy by using Passport-photo.online!