Digital Photo for Visa to Canada

How does it work?

Perfect biometric photo within 3 minutes.

Check how simple and smart is it!

Take or upload a photo

That's the only thing you need to do. Take or upload a photo - we will take care of the rest.

AI prepares the photo

Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.

Expert verification

Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.

Digital or printed photos

You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-3 days. Delivery is free!

Why?

Take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home

You save time and money

Convenience

Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.

Professional service

Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.

Money-back guarantee

We give you a guarantee of acceptance by authorities or otherwise we will refund you double the price!

Satisfaction guarantee

Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.

How to take a photo?

Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.

Follow simple instruction to take a perfect ID photo.

Body-camera distance

The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.

Posture: Straight ahead

Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.

Lighting

Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.

Digital Photo for Canada Visa - Size & Requirements

Size

Width: 35 mm

Height: 45 mm

Resolution

305 dpi

Is it suitable for online submission?

Yes

Image definition parameters

Head height: 34.7 mm

Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm

Was this helpful?

Rating: 4.72

Votes: 146

Users about us

This is an excellent service This is an excellent service. I submitted a photo for my Canada visa application. Someone from this company contacted me and advised me that the quality would not be accepted by the embassy in question. He suggested that I submit a different photo and specified exactly what I needed to do. Also, I asked for the photo to be sent digitally as well as in physical form. This was done in a timely and high quality manner. I would endorse this service with confidence.

Astrid C.

I submitted pictures for a Canada visa process and did not want to go through a particular money to save money. This online option exceeded my expectation. The first pictures I submitted were subpar and they sent an email guiding me to resubmit via email. A real person was interacting with me and allowed me to get this done. I highly recommend.

Adam

Great app, just what I needed! A passport photo was done in few minutes. I sent it to my email and I could carry on with my online Canada visa application. All for free! Well I did have to watch an add but that's very fair. Many thanks! Keep up the good work! ???

Jo P

More about Visa to Canada 35x45 MM (3,5 X 4,5 CM) - Requirements

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: 2023-02-02

About the document

What is a Canadian Visa?

A visa is an official document issued by a country’s government that allows foreign citizens to enter, leave, and move through a country. If your country of residence requires a visa for Canada, then you must apply for a Canadian visa. Canada offers different types of visas, such as visitor visas, student visas, work visas, permanent residence visas, business immigrant visas, and express entry program visas. To obtain a Canadian visa you require the following documents:

A valid passport
The visa application form
Two identical biometric photographs that meet the Canadian visa photo requirements
A clean criminal record proof
Evidence of paid Canadian visa fees
Medical exam proof
Evidence of financial means
Proof you will return to your home country once the Canada visa expires
Identity and Civil Status Documents
A cover letter that explains the purpose of your stay in Canada
Letter of support/invitation to Canada

You can apply for a Canadian Visa online or on paper.

The Canadian visa application process

The process of applying for a Canada visa depends on the visa type that you’re applying for. You will probably need to:

Make sure you are eligible for a Canadian visa.
Create your online account.
Put together your document files.
Pay the required fees.
Wait for your Canadian visa to be processed.
Submit your passport and any processing fees.

Application fees

The application fee is dependent on the type of visa you are applying for. The current fees apply to the following Canada visa types:

Visitor Visa Application Fee - $100
Work Permit Application Fee - $155
Study Permit Application Fee - $150

Extending your visa in Canada

If you wish to extend your visit to Canada, you need to apply at least 30 days before your current visa expires. If you currently have a Canada visitor visa and are looking to extend it, you may be able to apply for a visitor record, which will allow you to stay in Canada longer.

The visitor record is a document that is included in your passport and shows that you’re eligible to stay in Canada. It also includes the new date by which you must leave Canada. The document is issued by the Canada Border Services Agency or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The fees for the visitor visa start from $100.

However, if you plan to leave and re-enter Canada, the visitor record does not guarantee you access. If you wish to leave Canada and return, you will need a valid official entry document, such as a visitor visa or eTA.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

What is the size of the Canadian visa photo?

The photo size should be at least 35x45 mm.

Can you smile in your Canadian visa photos?

No, smiling is not allowed - you can’t show your teeth and your mouth must be closed.

Can I wear makeup in my Canadian visa photo?

You’re allowed to wear makeup in Canada visa photos, however, you should bear in mind that it can’t be excessive, so it doesn’t make the recognition of your face difficult.

Is a beard allowed in the Canadian visa photo?

Yes, you’re allowed to have a beard in your photo. On the other hand, if you are clean shaven in your photo, and you have grown a long beard since, customs officers at the border might need more time to recognize you.

What should I wear in my Canadian visa photo?

Since your passport is an official document, we suggest a smart-casual style that will make you look good and professional. Extravagant outfits or uniforms might cause a photo rejection. Religious clothing, however, is allowed, so in case your beliefs require a specific outfit, there shouldn’t be any issues Take a look at our blog article to learn what tricks models use to look good in passport photos.

Does Canada Visa have photo?

Your photo won’t appear on your Canadian visa document, however, during the application process you will be required to submit a biometric photo of yourself.

If you are not sure how to get the right Canadian visa photo that will meet all the requirements, try our visa photo cropping tool!

Is the Canada visa photo the same as a passport photo?

No, the photo required for your Canadian visa has the size of at least 35x45 mm, meanwhile the photo required for a Canadian passport is 50x70 mm. Regarding the “at least” part: you cannot use your passport photo for your Canada visa, because the height to width ratio is different.

How can I get Canadian visa photo?

There are many different ways to get a photo for your Canadian visa. You can go to a professional photography studio, try your luck in one of the photo booths (not all of them will have a Canadian visa option) or take it yourself. If you are willing to try the last option, you should try out our photo cropping tool which will transform your self-taken photo into a Canadian visa photo that meets all the requirements.

What is a digital Canadian photo for visa?

Unless you use a passport of an unrecognized state, you can apply for a visa to Canada by filling an online form and uploading a photo that would meet the requirements.

If you are not sure what are the Canadian visa photo requirements or simply don’t have time for it, feel free to use our cropping tool which will transform your selfie into a professional photo for a visa to Canada.

Is Canadian Visa Photo same as Canadian passport photo?

In terms of the size Canadian visa photo and Canadian passport photo differ. The visa photo needs to have the size of 35x45 mm, meanwhile the passport photo has the dimensions of 50x70mm. When it comes to the rest of the requirements, the rules are the same.

Bear in mind that the photo is valid only for 6 months since the moment it was taken. Remember to make sure your biometric photo is still valid.

We encourage you to make your Canadian visa / Canadian passport photo on our website. Our cropping tool will transform your selfie into a professional biometric photo suitable for a document you apply for.

What type of photo is required for Canadian visa?

In order to apply for a Canadian visa, you will need a biometric photo that has size of 35x45 mm (3.5x.4.5 cm). There are many requirements regarding the background, posture, facial expression or items that might cover your face, that such a photo needs to meet.

Can I take my own Canada visa photo?

Yes, it is allowed to take a visa photo oneself, however, it needs to meet all the requirements regarding the size, background, posture, facial expression and other.

If you are not sure how to take such a photo or simply don’t have time for it, you should try out our visa to Canada cropping tool, which transforms selfies into professional Canadian visa photos

Does Walmart do Canadian visa and passport photos?

It is possible to take a photo that meets all the requirements of a Canadian passport at Walmart, however, there is no option to take a photo for the Canadian visa document. Bear in mind that you can apply for the Canadian visa online, which will probably save you money and time. In such a case we encourage you to give our cropping tool a try. All you have to do is upload an already existing photo or take one with your digital camera or smartphone, and we will make it a professional Canada visa photo.

How much should Canadian visa photos cost?

The cost of Canadian visa photos may vary depending on the place where you get the photos taken. In a professional photography studio the cost varies between $15 and $20, however, the cheapest price is offered by Passport Photo Online, being just $4.99 USD.