Canadian Visa Photo

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.

Canadian Visa Photo - size & requirements

Size

Width: 35 mm

Height: 45 mm

Resolution

300 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

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More about Canadian Visa Photo - Requirements

If you want to apply for the Canadian Visa, you must provide two photographs of yourself, either in colour or black and white. When it comes to official photos, in this case photos for the Canadian Visa, there are certain requirements to follow. If you don’t meet the requirements, your picture will be rejected.

When applying for a Canadian tourist or work visa, your application cannot be processed before providing photos that meet the specifications. Below we have gathered all the needed information when applying for a Canadian visa, to help you get the photo specifications correct, and get your application processed with proper documents!

Canadian Visa photo size

The required photo size is 35 mm x 45 mm (approximately 1 ⅜’’ x 1 ¾’’). Your face must be in the centre of the photo, and only your head and the top of your shoulders can be in the view. The size of the head must be between 31 mm (1 ¼’’) and 36 mm (1 7/16’’).

For your convenience, you might want to try out a cropping tool for Canadian Visa photos, that helps you crop the picture to the exact size that is required. Incorrectly cropped pictures won’t be accepted.

Quality

The resolution of a digital Visa photo must be 305 dpi, and the printed photos must be printed on quality photographic paper. That means, that if you provide your Canadian visa photos on paper, you must print them out on quality paper either in a photo studio or using a specific Visa photo tool, where you can also order your Visa photos printed out to your address.

The photo must be clear and well defined, and all of the face features must be completely visible and recognizable.

Background and lighting on the Canadian Visa photo

The background of the Canadian Visa photo must be plain white or light-coloured. There must not be any visible shadows or objects in the background. It can be difficult to get such a background when taking a Visa photo at home, but you can use a tool to erase the unsuitable background and changing it into the required white or light colour.

Regarding the lighting, the best kind of light is natural, so it reflects your skin tone well. It is a good idea to stand face to face with a window, so your face is evenly lit. You can use a tripod or ask another person for help. Selfies are not acceptable.

Glasses and eyes

On the Canadian Visa photo, you are allowed to wear prescription glasses, if they don’t form any shadows or reflections on your face, and your eyes can be seen clearly. Make sure the frame of the glasses doesn’t cover any part of your face. Sunglasses are not acceptable.

Head and Face

The Canadian Visa photo must be taken with the head directly centred and eyes looking at the camera lens. Eyes must be open and mouth closed. You must also have a neutral facial expression, no frowning or wide smiles.

Hair and headcovers

For a Canadian Visa photo, hairpieces or other cosmetic accessories are accepted, if they don’t cover any part of the face, or disguise your normal appearance. If you must wear a head covering for religious reasons, it is acceptable, but the face cannot be covered. Remember that your full face must be visible and free of shadows.

What to wear for a Canadian Visa photo?

You are allowed to wear whatever you like: your normal clothes or a more casual style. Only uniforms and camouflage patterns are to be avoided.

It is a good idea to wear something slightly darker than the white background, so it creates a bit of contrast.

5 most common mistakes on Canadian Visa photo

Taking a Canadian Visa photo at home might be challenging. We have gathered the 5 most common mistakes in taking a Canadian Visa photo to help you avoid any mistakes.

Something covering the face. Make sure your hair or glasses don’t cover any part of your face.
Bad lighting. Your face must be evenly lit.
Tilted head. Your face must be centred and facing the camera directly.
False facial expressions. You must have a neutral facial expression.
Falsely cropped photo. This can be easily solved by using a photo tool to crop your Visa photo!

Passport Photo Online is a great way to avoid any mistakes with your Canadian Visa photo! We will help you prepare a visa photo that meets all the requirements.

How to take a Canadian Visa photo at home?

When applying for a Canadian Visa photo, it’s time- and money-saving to have the option to take your visa photo at home. It’s possible to take your visa photo with your own smartphone or digital camera.

Many candidates don’t have the time or the opportunity to go to a professional photo studio or a photo booth to get a Canadian visa picture. That’s why it’s a good idea to use Passport Photo Online to get your visa photo! It saves you time and money, and you can take the photo in the warmth of your home.

Canadian Visa Photo App for Android

If you have an Android phone with a camera of enough quality, you may want to try out Passport Photo Online and its app for Android to take your Canadian Visa photo. All you need to do is upload a picture of yourself, and we will take care of the rest!

Canadian Visa Photo App for iPhone

You can easily take your Canadian Visa photo with your iPhone with the Passport Photo Online app! Get a professional visa photo in under 3 seconds, we guarantee it will be accepted!

Last update: 28/05/2023

About the document

Are you planning on visiting Canada for a long period of time? If you are planning on visiting the country for tourism reasons for up to six months, you do not need a Canadian tourist visa - however, you do need an Electronic Travel Authority. This is electronically linked to your passport and is needed before boarding a plane to Canada. It costs CAD $7 and is valid for up to 5 years. If you are planning on visiting for longer than 6 months - there are a number of different types of Canadian visa, depending on the reason for travelling and the length of time you are planning to stay. Once you arrive in Canada, you must be able to show proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, as well as your Electronic Travel Authority or Canada visa.

Types of Canadian Visas

There are a number of different types of Canadian visas that you can apply for either before you leave or while you are in the country on a Canada ETA. If you are staying in Canada for educational purposes, the Canadian student visa is available. This is valid for the length of the study programme plus 90 days, during which you can extend it or apply for another Canada visa. There are also two different Canadian work visas for those coming for employment reasons - the employer-specific work permit and the open work permit. The job must be with an eligible employer and the Canada work permit usually costs from $155. There is also a Canadian super visa for parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens, allowing you to stay in the country for up to 2 years at a time and valid for 10 years.

Canadian Visa Application

Once you have decided which Canada visa is suitable for you, you can apply for it either online or on paper. You must complete a Canadian visa application form and send a number of documents depending on the type of Canadian visa you are applying for. These documents can include a valid passport, proof that you have the financial means to support you during your stay and a letter from either your employer, family or school. You must also provide a passport-style photo with your Canada visa application. This must meet a number of requirements in order for it to be accepted by Canadian authorities - such as being 35 mm x 45 mm in size, having a plain white or light-coloured background and the face having a neutral expression. With our photo-editing app ‘Passport Photo Online’ - you can save time and money when taking your Canadian visa photo, ensuring that it will meet all of the requirements and be accepted as fast as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Do I need a visa to enter Canada?

No - if you are entering Canada as a visitor you do not need a visa. However, you do need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) which you can apply for quickly and easily online.

How long can I stay in Canada without a visa?

With the ETA you are able to stay in Canada for periods of up to 6 months at a time, as many times as you want in 5 years. You must apply for a visa if you plan on staying for longer than this.

What documents do I need to apply for a Canadian visa?

The documents required when applying for a Canadian visa depend on the type of visa which you are applying for. A valid passport and passport-style photo must always be submitted, along with possible others including proof of finances and a letter of acceptance from an institute.

How many photos do I need to provide in my Canadian visa application?

You should provide 2 passport-style photos in your Canadian visa application. These can either be in colour or black and white and must meet a number of requirements in order to be accepted by Canadian authorities.

What size must my Canadian visa photo be?

The Canadian visa photo must be 35 mm x 45 mm, with the size of the head being betwen 31 mm and 36 mm and the face in the centre.

How should I pose in my Canada visa photo?

The head should be directly centred in the Canadian visa photo. The face should have a neutral expression - no smiling or frowning - with the mouth closed and the eyes open and directly looking into the camera.

Can I wear headwear in my Canadian visa photo?

Headwear worn daily for religous reasons is accepted in the Canadian visa photo - as long as it doesn't cover any part of the face or change any features. Other small hair accesories are also permited - so long as the full face is visible and free of shadows.

Can I wear glasses in my Canadian visa photo?

Prescription glasses with clear lenses may be worn in the Canadian visa photo, as long as they do not cause any glares of reflections. Tinted lenses such as sunglasses are not acceptable.

Can I take my Canadian visa photo from home?

Of course! Simply download our photo-editing app - Passport Photo Online - and you can take your biometric photo from home, or anywhere else you lIike! Save yourself time and money by using only your iPhone and the digital app to crop and edit the Canadian visa photo until it meets all of the requirements.

How can I ensure that my Canadian visa photo will be accepted by authorities?

Our Passport Photo Online app uses AI to check that all the requirements are fullfilled in your biometric photo. When using our app to take the Russian visa photo, it will tell you what needs to be altered in order for the photo to be accepted by the Canadian Government. We can even assure you that if the photo does get rejected - we will reimburse you!