Canadian Citizenship Photo (digital, online application): size and requirements
The Canadian Citizenship Photo size is 1000 x 1400 pixels for online upload (minimum 420 x 540), file under 4 MB. Plain white or light-coloured background; head 44 to 52 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
For the single digital photo uploaded with an online citizenship grant application. Not for the paper application, which needs two 50 x 70 mm prints, and not for the online passport renewal, which has different pixel rules.
Have a commercial photographer take the photo and send you the unedited digital file to upload. See all Canada documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 1000 x 1400 pixels for online upload (minimum 420 x 540), file under 4 MB
- Head height
- Head 44 to 52 percent of the photo height (the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1-1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1-7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head, on a 50 x 70 mm frame)
- Background
- plain white or light-coloured background
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 1000 x 1400 px , under 4096 KB, plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckIRCC wants the JPEG saved directly from the camera with minimal compression, at least 420 x 540 pixels, about 240 KB and no more than 4 MB.
- CheckThe photo should come from a commercial photographer or studio; IRCC only allows a scan or phone picture of their print as a fallback and says a digital original is safer.
- CheckNo editing at all: cropping, brightness, contrast, red-eye removal or background changes are each listed as alterations that get the application returned.
- CheckThe 50 x 70 mm shape still applies, so a square or 35 x 45 crop will have the face at the wrong proportion.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
You must provide 1 colour digital photo (preferred) or 1 digital black-and-white photo.
Go to a commercial photographer or studio to have your photo taken.
JPG or JPEG file format with minimal compression
at least 420 by 540 pixels
approximately 240 kB in file size, but no more than 4 MB
50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide X 2- 3/4 inches long)
IRCC 'Citizenship grant online: photo specifications'. IRCC's 420 x 540 px minimum is not the 50:70 shape; our 1000 x 1400 px target follows the stated mm size and clears the minimum.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
