Canada Visa Photo Size 2026: IRCC Rules + Free Resizer

As per IRCC's Temporary Resident Visa photo specifications on canada.ca (page last updated July 2023), a Canada visa photo must be at least 35 × 45 mm, with the head 31-36 mm from chin to crown, against a plain white or light background, taken within the last six months. The visitor-visa page itself lists no pixel figures; for digital uploads, IRCC's guidance for other online applications (such as IEC work permits) asks for at least 420 × 540 pixels. Crop to the 35:45 shape and resize with our free image resizer, then check the current rules on canada.ca and in your own document checklist, because IRCC can change them.

Requirements differ between programmes (visitor visa, study and work permits, permanent residence, citizenship, passports), so the first step is knowing which photo you're actually being asked for.

Do you even need to upload a photo?

Often, no. Many visitor visa applicants must give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) at a collection point after applying. IRCC's paper application guide for visitor visas says that if you're required to give biometrics, you don't need to include paper photos.

If you apply online, IRCC gives you a personalized document checklist in your account. Upload exactly what it lists. If it doesn't ask for a photo, you don't need to make one. If it does, use the specs below.

Canada visa photo size and rules, as per IRCC

From IRCC's Temporary Resident Visa application photograph specifications page on canada.ca (date modified 2023-07-24):

Rule	Requirement
Size	Frame at least 35 mm × 45 mm (1 3/8″ × 1 3/4″)
Head size	31 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown
Framing	Full front view, face in the middle, top of the shoulders included
Background	Plain white or light-coloured
Colour	Colour or black and white
Age of photo	Taken within the last six months
Expression	Neutral, not frowning or smiling, mouth closed
Glasses	Non-tinted prescription glasses allowed if eyes are clearly visible; no sunglasses
Head coverings	Religious head coverings allowed if your full facial features are visible
Digital photos	Must not be altered in any way
Paper applications	Two identical photos on quality photo paper

The TRV page doesn't list pixel or file-size numbers.

Digital photo specs (pixels and KB)

Where IRCC asks for a digital photo in an online application, its published guidance (for example on the International Experience Canada work-permit page, updated May 2026) says:

• At least 420 × 540 pixels.
• Ideally about 240 KB, and not less than 60 KB.
• JPEG (or JPEG2000) format.
• Colour, 24-bit RGB (what phones and cameras normally produce).
• If scanning a printed photo, at least 600 pixels per inch.

IRCC's citizenship online-application page uses the same 420 × 540 minimum and about 240 KB, with a 4 MB maximum. Permanent residence and Canadian passport photos have different rules again, so if you're applying for those, use their own pages. Always follow the instructions shown in your own application; they take priority over any general guide, including this one.

The shape and head size in pixels

420 × 540 is exactly the 35:45 shape (both are 7:9). Applying the 31-36 mm head rule to a 45 mm-tall frame gives a head height of roughly 69-80% of the photo's height. At 540 pixels tall, that's about 372-432 pixels from chin to crown. That's our arithmetic from IRCC's mm figures, not a separate IRCC rule, but it's a useful check when cropping.

How to prepare the digital photo

Start with a photo that already meets the rules: taken recently, plain light wall, even light, neutral face. Our tips for passport photos at home cover lighting and distance.

1. Crop to 35:45

1. Open the free image cropper and choose your photo (JPG, PNG or WebP; it doesn't open iPhone HEIC files).
2. Pick the Passport 35×45 mm shape. The box keeps exactly the 35:45 proportion.
3. Frame it: face centred, top of the shoulders visible, a little space above the head. Aim for the head to fill roughly 70-80% of the box height.
4. Click Crop image and save as JPG.

2. Resize to the pixel size

1. Open the free image resizer and choose the cropped photo.
2. With Lock proportions on, type a width of at least 420. A larger size such as 840 (giving 840 × 1080) stays well above the minimum.
3. Choose JPG under Save as, click Resize image, and note the size shown, for example 840 × 1080 px · 180 KB.

3. Check the KB

If the guidance you're following asks for about 240 KB and at least 60 KB, check the number shown. Too small? Resize to a larger width. Too big for your portal? Lower the quality slightly with the free image compressor as JPG. Our guide on increasing image size in KB covers the too-small case.

Don't alter the photo

IRCC says digital photos must not be altered. Cropping to the frame and resizing don't change how you look. But avoid:

• Beauty filters, smoothing or "portrait mode" blur.
• Brightening or colour filters that change your skin tone.
• Replacing or editing the background.
• Removing glasses glare, shadows or blemishes digitally.

If your background isn't plain and light, retake the photo against a better wall rather than editing it. When in doubt, a professional photographer familiar with Canadian visa photos is the safest route.

Other countries

Other countries' photo rules differ. See our pages on the US visa photo size, the UK visa photo size and the Schengen visa photo size, and passport size in cm and pixels for the general picture.

Resize your photo now

Crop to Passport 35×45 mm, then open the free image resizer, set a width of at least 420 pixels and download your JPG. It's free, and your photo stays on your device. Before you upload, check the current IRCC instructions on canada.ca and in your account.