Canada PR card photo checker
A Canada PR card photo for an online application is a JPG between 715 × 1000 and 2000 × 2800 pixels and 4 MB or less, on a plain white background, taken no more than 12 months before you apply. IRCC requires the photo to be taken by a commercial photographer or studio, so this page checks the studio's file instead of making a new photo.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 12 November 2026
Canada PR card photo requirements
| Who takes it | A commercial photographer or studio |
|---|---|
| Pixel size (online) | Between 715 × 1000 and 2000 × 2800 pixels |
| File size (online) | 4 MB or less |
| File format (online) | .jpeg or .jpg |
| How recent | Taken no more than 12 months before you apply |
| Background | Plain, untextured and white |
| Colour | Colour or black and white |
| Number of photos | 1 digital photo online; 2 identical prints on paper |
| Paper print size | 50 × 70 mm, head 31 to 36 mm from chin to top of head (not including hair) |
Checked against the official source on 12 November 2026. Source: IRCC: Permanent resident photos. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- A neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera.
- Face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera.
- Uniform lighting with no shadows, glare or flash reflections, and your natural skin tone.
- A clear difference between your face and the white background. IRCC advises against white clothing or white religious head coverings.
- Eyes clearly visible behind any glasses, with no glare on the lenses. Hair off your face so the edges of your face show.
- A head covering only if worn daily for religious or medical reasons, with your face, the area around your ears and your shoulders clearly visible.
- Children: no more than the head and shoulders, no hands and no hair accessories. A newborn may sit in a car seat with a white blanket behind the head.
What the online application asks for
The IRCC photo page covers both an application for permanent residence and an application for a PR card. For a PR card online, you fill in the digital Application for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5444) first, then upload 1 digital photo in the Permanent Residence Portal. You can send a professional digital photo or a scan of a printed professional photo made with a scanner or a scanner app.
A second field, "Upload your photo (back)", needs the details normally written on the back of the photo: the name and date of birth of the person in the photo, the date it was taken, and the name and complete address of the studio. If the studio gave you a digital file, add a confirmation from the studio, such as a receipt. No guarantor signature is needed.
After upload the photo shows in black and white; IRCC says this is not a technical issue. If the portal's photo checker warns about brightness, background or pixel range, you can still submit, and an officer reviews the photo.
Paper applications
For a paper application you send 2 identical prints, 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with the head 31 to 36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, not including hair. They must be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photo paper; IRCC does not accept photos printed at home on heavyweight paper. The back of one photo shows your name and date of birth, the studio's name and complete address, and the date taken, stamped or handwritten by the photographer. Stick-on labels are not accepted.
Common problems with PR card photos
- A photo that is too dark, or has too much glare.
- A background that is not white, or shadows behind the ears.
- Facial features covered by hair, shadows or accessories.
- A file outside 715 × 1000 to 2000 × 2800 pixels, or larger than 4 MB.
- A phone picture of the printed studio photo instead of a scan.
- A file the applicant has cropped, brightened or put on a new background, which IRCC treats as altered.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall. The background row in the table above gives the exact colour this document asks for.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Applying online? Choose the online option above the tool. It checks your photo exactly as it is and has nothing to download: you add your original file to the official application, which crops it for you.
Questions about the Canada PR card photo
Can I take my own Canada PR card photo?
No. IRCC tells applicants to go to a commercial photographer or studio. The online application also asks for the studio's name and complete address and a confirmation from the studio, such as a receipt.
What size is a Canada PR card photo?
Online, a JPG between 715 × 1000 and 2000 × 2800 pixels and 4 MB or less. For a paper application, 2 identical prints of 50 × 70 mm, with the head 31 to 36 mm from chin to top of head.
Why did my PR card photo turn black and white in the portal?
IRCC says this is not a technical issue: once a photo is uploaded to the Permanent Residence Portal, it becomes black and white.
Can I wear glasses in a PR card photo?
Yes, if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses. IRCC tells you to avoid sunglasses or tinted prescription glasses that reflect light or hide your eyes.
How recent must a Canada PR card photo be?
IRCC requires the photo to be taken no more than 12 months before you apply, for both online and paper applications.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not
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