Canada visitor visa photo (temporary resident visa)

Updated October 18, 2026

Checked on October 18, 2026 against IRCC's temporary resident visa photo specifications (page updated July 24, 2023), IRCC's photo brochure, the visitor visa page, the study permit documents page and the Canadian passport photo page.

1. 1. Light wall, neutral faceMouth closed, no smile, face square to the camera.

2. 2. Crop to 35 × 45 mmHead 31–36 mm, face in the middle, top of the shoulders in.

3. 3. Print two identicalA 4×6 sheet on photo paper at 100%, then cut out two.

Canada visa photo requirements

If photos don't meet the specifications, IRCC says you'll have to send new ones before your application can be processed.

Problems IRCC's brochure shows

The photo brochure has a page of example photos that fail: blurred, non-neutral expression, tinted glasses, shadow on the face, shadow in the background, underlit, disturbed background, overlit, reflection on glasses, glasses frame covering the eyes, unnatural colour, face too small, washed out, hands in the picture, hair covering part of the face, and face covered. Eight of them, drawn:

The checks in the tool cover most of the list: light on the face, brightness, blur, the background, glare on glasses, head size and expression. Hands and hair over the face aren't checked, so look for those yourself.

Visitor, student or worker: which photos you need

canada.ca names the visa “Visitor visa (temporary resident visa)” on its application page. The photo specifications above are the ones IRCC publishes for that visa application.

• Visitors. Follow the document checklist for your application. The visitor visa page also says to wait for a biometrics instruction letter after you apply; biometrics are your fingerprints and photo.
• Students. The study permit documents page asks each traveller for 2 recent passport size photos, with the person's name and date of birth written on the back of each.
• Workers. Your work permit application's checklist says whether photos are needed and which specifications apply.

Canada visa photo or Canadian passport photo

The head size matches, but a 35 × 45 mm visa photo is too small for a passport, and a passport photo needs the studio anyway. This tool only makes the visa photo.

Make and print the photos

1. Check that the document above the buttons says Canada visitor, study or work visa. It's already selected on this page.
2. Stand in front of a plain white or light gray wall, about 2 ft away, facing a window. Keep your face relaxed: no smile, mouth closed.
3. The tool crops to 35 × 45 mm with your head in the 31–36 mm range and your face in the middle. Adjust with the slider and arrows if the top of your shoulders doesn't show.
4. Fix anything the checks flag. Glasses can stay if the lenses aren't tinted, but move the light until there's no reflection on them.
5. Save the 4×6 print sheet with the main button. It holds six 35 × 45 mm photos from the same shot, so any two are identical.
6. Order it as a regular 4×6 photo print with crop and fit turned off, or print the Letter PDF on photo paper at Actual size. See how to print passport photos.
7. Measure one photo: it should be 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall. Then cut out two.

Checklist before you send them

• Two identical prints, cut from the same sheet.
• 35 × 45 mm, head 31–36 mm from chin to crown.
• Plain white or light background, no shadows.
• Neutral face, mouth closed, eyes clearly visible.
• Glasses only if prescription, untinted and clear of the eyes.
• Taken in the last six months, not edited.
• On quality photographic paper.

Questions