Canada Visa Photo Requirements

A Canada visa photo is 35 x 45mm, with the head 31 to 36mm from chin to crown, submitted digitally as a JPEG of at least 420 x 540 pixels and 60KB to 240KB. The catch that gets applications sent back: this is a completely different size from a Canadian passport photo, which is 50 x 70mm. Using a passport-sized photo, or a file cropped to those proportions, for a visa is one of the most common reasons the photo is rejected.

This spec covers temporary resident visas, study permits, and work permits alike - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses the same one across all three. For the broader visa-versus-passport point, see visa photos are not passport photos; for the Canadian passport photo, Canada passport photo requirements.

The visa size, and why it is not the passport size

The two Canadian documents use different photos, and the difference is large. A Canadian passport photo is 50 x 70mm - tall and large. A Canada visa photo is 35 x 45mm - the smaller international ID size. They are not variants of one shape; a 50 x 70mm crop is the wrong proportion for a visa entirely. The IRCC photo specification for temporary resident visas sets the 35 x 45mm size, with the head measuring 31 to 36mm from chin to crown.

The digital numbers: 420 x 540 minimum, 60-240KB

For the online application the file must meet three requirements: at least 420 x 540 pixels, JPEG format, and a file size between 60KB and 240KB. That is a window with a floor as well as a ceiling - a very plain, flat photo can compress below 60KB, in which case it needs to be scaled up until it clears the minimum. A normal portrait sits inside the window without any of that coming up.

One spec, three applications

A convenient part: IRCC uses the same 35 x 45mm, 60-240KB photo specification for temporary resident visas, study permits, and work permits. One correctly-made photo works for all three, so there is no need to remake it if you are applying for more than one. Always confirm the current requirement for your specific application before submitting.

Background and expression

IRCC asks for a plain white or light background with no shadows, a neutral expression - no smiling or frowning - with eyes open and mouth closed. These are checked, so get them right at the point you take the photo rather than hoping they pass.

How to make one

The Canada visa photo maker crops your photo to the 35 x 45mm shape and outputs a JPEG at 1400 x 1800 pixels - well above the 420 x 540 minimum - compressed into the 60-240KB window, in your browser with nothing uploaded. It sets the shape, size, and file weight; it does not fill a white background for you or judge your expression, so start from a photo on a plain light backdrop and check the framing against IRCC's list. To compare across countries, the visa photo maker hub lists only those verified against their own issuing authority.

FAQ

Can I use my Canada passport photo for my visa?
No. A Canadian passport photo is 50 x 70mm; a Canada visa, study, or work permit photo is 35 x 45mm - a different size and shape. Submitting a passport-sized photo is a common rejection. Crop to 35 x 45mm instead.

What exact size and file limits does a Canada visa photo need?
35 x 45mm, head 31-36mm chin to crown; digitally at least 420 x 540 pixels, JPEG, 60KB to 240KB. This tool outputs a 35:45 JPEG at 1400 x 1800 within that file window.

Does this work for study and work permits too?
Yes. IRCC uses the same 35 x 45mm, 60-240KB spec for temporary resident visas, study permits, and work permits, so one photo covers all three.

Why might my photo come back larger than expected?
IRCC sets a 60KB floor as well as a 240KB ceiling. A very plain photo can compress below the floor, so the tool scales it up until it clears the minimum.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The crop, resize and compression run in your browser using the Canvas API, so your photo never leaves your device.