Canada visitor visa photo maker
Canada's visitor visa photo specifications ask for a frame of at least 35 × 45 mm, with the head 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown, against a plain white or light-coloured background. Frame your photo here and print two identical copies at the true size.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
Canada visitor visa photo requirements
| Frame size | At least 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head size | 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown |
| Number of photos | Two identical photos |
| How recent | Taken within the last six months |
| Colour | Black and white or colour |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| On quality photographic paper | |
| Framing | Full front view of the head, face in the middle, top of the shoulders included |
| On the back | Your name and date of birth |
Checked against the official source on 11 November 2026. Source: IRCC: Temporary Resident Visa application photograph specifications · IRCC: Visa application photograph specifications (PDF) · IRCC: Document checklist, temporary resident visa (IMM 5484, PDF) · IRCC: How to apply for a visitor visa. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- Your face square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling, and your mouth closed.
- Clear, well-defined detail against a plain background.
- Non-tinted prescription glasses only if your eyes are clearly visible and the frame does not cover any part of them. No sunglasses.
- A head covering worn for religious reasons only if your full facial features are not obscured.
- A hairpiece or cosmetic accessory only if it does not disguise your normal appearance.
- If the photographs are digital, they must not be altered in any way.
Do you need photos at all?
Most people must apply for a visitor visa online, and most applicants must give biometrics: fingerprints and a photo taken at a collection point after they apply. IRCC's document checklist for the visitor visa (IMM 5484) lists two photos, then adds that if you are required to give biometric fingerprints and photo, you are not required to include paper photos. When you apply online, follow the personalised document checklist in the portal.
Measuring the head
The 31 to 36 mm head size is measured from the chin to the crown. IRCC defines the crown as the top of the head, or where the top of the skull would be if hair or a head covering hides it. The tool on this page frames your head inside that range on a 35 × 45 mm photo.
No digital upload size is published for the visitor visa
IRCC's visitor visa photo specifications describe printed photographs. IRCC publishes a pixel and file size for the digital photo in some other applications, such as the International Experience Canada work permit, but its visitor visa pages do not say that those numbers apply to a visitor visa, so this page does not use them.
Common problems with Canada visitor visa photos
- A head smaller than 31 mm or larger than 36 mm from chin to crown.
- Shoulders cut off: the photo must include the top of the shoulders.
- A smile or frown instead of a neutral expression.
- Tinted glasses, or a frame that covers part of the eyes.
- Shadows on the face or in the background, or a busy background.
- Two photos that are not identical.
✓ 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.
Questions about the Canada visitor visa photo
What size is a Canada visitor visa photo?
IRCC asks for a frame of at least 35 × 45 mm, with the head between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown, and the top of the shoulders included.
Do I need photos for an online Canada visitor visa application?
Usually not. IRCC's visitor visa document checklist says that if you are required to give biometric fingerprints and photo, you do not need to include paper photos. Follow the personalised checklist in the portal.
Can a Canada visitor visa photo be black and white?
Yes. IRCC's specifications say the two identical photos may be black and white or colour, taken within the last six months.
Can I wear glasses in my Canada visitor visa photo?
Yes, non-tinted prescription glasses, as long as your eyes are clearly visible and the frame does not cover any part of them. Sunglasses are not accepted.
What background does a Canada visitor visa photo need?
A plain white or light-coloured background, according to IRCC's temporary resident visa photo specifications.
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
- How to print passport photos on 4 × 6 paperHow many fit, the settings to use, and the right paper
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not