Canada Visa photo requirements

Canada Temporary Resident Visa photo requirements, in plain English

The Canada visitor visa — officially the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — uses the standard Canadian 35×45 mm photo. Every rule below comes straight from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) official photograph specifications page. Where IRCC is silent, we say so and apply the ICAO/best-practice default rather than inventing a Canada-specific rule.

How many photos, and how recent

You must provide two identical photographs with your application, taken within the last six months, printed on quality photographic paper. They may be either black and white or colour. If a photo is digital, it must not be altered in any way.

Size, head height, and position

The frame must be at least 35 mm × 45 mm (1 3/8″ × 1 3/4″). The photo must show the full front view of the head, with the face in the middle of the photo and the top of the shoulders included. Your head, measured from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″). IRCC defines the crown as the top of the head — or, if it is obscured by hair or a head covering, where the top of the skull would be if it could be seen. This head-height range is what matters most for acceptance.

Expression and pose

Your face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression — neither frowning nor smiling — and your mouth closed. No smile is permitted (this is stricter than the U.S. passport, which allows a closed-mouth smile).

Glasses

Canada is unusually permissive here: you may wear non-tinted prescription glasses, provided your eyes are clearly visible and the frame does not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses are not acceptable. If your glasses produce glare that hides your eyes, retake the photo without them.

Head coverings, hairpieces, and hats

If you must wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your full facial features are not obscured. A hairpiece or other cosmetic accessory is acceptable if it does not disguise your normal appearance. IRCC does not otherwise address hats or caps; the best-practice default is to remove any non-religious headwear.

Background

The photo must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white or light-coloured background. Snapassport standardizes your background to the exact compliant colour automatically, so a slightly off-colour or busy wall is corrected for you.

Lighting, shadows, and red-eye

IRCC's specifications do not separately address lighting, shadows, or red-eye on this page — the only quality requirement stated is that the photo be "clear, well defined." We apply the ICAO/best-practice default: use even, uniform lighting with no shadows on the face or background and no red-eye or flash glare, so your eyes appear clear and natural.

Infants and children

IRCC does not give separate infant rules on this page. The best-practice default is that the same requirements apply — neutral, eyes open, plain background, no other people, hands, or toys visible — with the child laid on a plain white sheet if needed to achieve a clean background.