Canadian Visa Photo

Canada visa photo - requirements and size

Just like all other document photos, the Canada visa photo has very specific requirements that must be met in order for it to be approved by the Canadian authorities. 

Having your Canadian visa photo rejected will prolong the process of obtaining your visa, so it is imperative that you closely follow these criteria to ensure your Canada visa application goes smoothly. 

Canada visa photo - size

It is important to know the size of the visa photo you are applying for. The size of visa photos may differ depending on the country’s requirements. In this case, the visa photo size should be 35 mm (width) by 45 mm (height) (approximately 1.4” x 1.8”). The size of your head, from the chin to the top, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″).

Positioning of the head 

Your head should be in the center of the photo - you must face the camera straight on, making sure that your head is not tilted or turned slightly. If your head is not centered and straight, you’ll risk your photo not being accepted. 

Only your head and the top of your shoulders should be in view. The head size should be between 31 mm and 36 mm. There should be a 3 mm distance from the top of the hair to the top of the photo.

A photo for the Canada visa - quality

The Canada visa photo resolution should be 305 dpi and your photos must be printed on high quality photographic paper.

The photo should be well-defined and clear. Your full facial features must be visible and recognizable in the photo. There should be no blurring in the photo, and your face must be in full focus.

Background 

The background is a very important aspect of all document photos. The Canada visa photo calls for a plain white or light-coloured background. No objects should be visible in the photo. 

Lighting and shadows 

The best kind of lighting for the Canadian visa photo is natural lighting that can accurately reflect your natural skin tones. It’s advisable to stand directly in front of a window when taking the photo, as this will ensure that your face is evenly illuminated. 

Your face shouldn’t be over-exposed by the light, therefore the natural lighting you’re using should be bright, but not too sunny. Glares and shadows are an absolute no-no in any visa or passport photos, so make sure you avoid those as well. 

What to wear for your Canada visa photo

Deciding what to wear for your visa photo may be tricky. It’s absolutely crucial that you get familiar with the particular document photo dress code before you go ahead and take your photos, because sometimes what you may consider appropriate may turn out not be appropriate at all. You should learn about what you should wear, but also about what to avoid wearing.

Attire

For the Canadian visa photo, you are allowed to wear almost anything. This includes casual or elegant clothes. However, uniforms and camouflage clothing should not be worn. 

You may want to wear a slightly darker shirt, so that you stand out from the white or off-white background. Because black would create too much contrast, colours such as purple, green, or navy blue are usually a better choice.

Glasses, jewelry, and accessories

You’re allowed to wear prescription glasses in the Canadian visa photo, but only if they do not produce any reflections or shadows on your face. If you do wear prescription glasses in the photo, you must ensure your eyes can be clearly seen. The frame of the glasses must also not cover any part of the face. Sunglasses, on the other hand, are not allowed. 

You can’t wear any jewelry or accessories that would obscure your facial features. A pair of small earrings or a dainty pendant necklace (nothing too extreme) should be acceptable. 

Head coverings 

Head coverings are accepted in visa photos, however only if they’re regularly worn by you for religious reasons. Still, your head covering should only cover your head, not any of your facial features.

Makeup 

You are allowed to wear makeup in the Canadian visa photo as long as it doesn’t drastically alter your normal appearance. We recommend that you use natural makeup (mattifying foundation, some blush, mascara - keep it light and fresh).

Canada visa photos - most common mistakes 

When taking your Canada visa photo it might be easy to make some common mistakes which might include:: 

• Poor lighting - make sure that your face is evenly illuminated and there aren’t any shadows. Try taking your photo facing a window on a cloudless day. 
• Partially covered facial features - sometimes even a partially covered eyebrow can cause your visa photos to be rejected, so it’s very important that your photo shows your full facial features.
• Facial expression - make sure you maintain a neutral facial expression and don’t smile in your photo. Your mouth must be closed and you can’t show your teeth.
• Head position - the head should not be tilted - it should be centered and straight. The exact dimensions are detailed above.
• Incorrectly cropped photo - seems like a trivial reason for your photo to be rejected, but it might be difficult to get done properly sometimes.

Can I take my Canadian visa photo at home? 

Yes! Taking your Canada visa photo at home has never been easier. Many people don’t have the time or opportunity to travel to a professional photo studio or photo booth in order to obtain their visa photos. 

Thanks to using our photo app, taking your Canadian visa photo will feel like a breeze! You can save time and money when opting to take your visa photo with our tool:

• you don’t have to spend money on gas or train/subway fares,
• you don’t have to waste time commuting
• photo booths and studios usually charge more for visa photos, and with Passport Photo Online you’re saving roughly 30%

Passport Photo Online photo app 

You can take your photos for the Canada visa using either your digital camera or smartphone - you can use a tripod or ask a friend or family member to take the photo for you. All this from the comfort of your home, with an unlimited number of photos to take.

Our photo editing tool uses Artificial Intelligence technology to adjust your photo to make sure it meets the requirements set forth by the Canadian government for its visa photos. The photo app uses a resizing tool, background remover tool, and a cropping tool. It will eliminate incorrect backgrounds, and edit your photo so that it meets the Canadian government standards. 

After the photo adjustment and verification process by the AI system, your Canada visa photo then gets passed on to our human expert who will review your photo for double verification. This way we have an almost 100% acceptance rate and our customers very rarely return to us with rejected photos. However, if it happens, we double refund the money, so you’re literally not risking anything! 

Our friendly staff ensures that we sort out any issues you may have with the photo tool. We aim to respond quickly to queries and problems, and are prepared to provide you with any further information you may require. Simply contact us and we will be there to help!

The photo tool is available both on our website and as a phone app available for both iOS and Android systems.

Last update: 2023-10-01