Canada Visitor Visa Photo (TRV, 35 x 45 mm): size and requirements
The Canada Visitor Visa Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Plain white or light-coloured background; head 69 to 80 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 two printed photos sent with a paper temporary resident (visitor) visa application. Not for a Canadian passport or PR card, which are 50 x 70 mm, and not needed at all if you give biometrics, because IRCC takes your photo then.
You can take this photo at home, but have it printed at a photo lab on photographic paper and do not edit it; if you give biometrics you need no photo at all. See all Canada documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 69 to 80 percent of the photo height (the size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″), on a frame of at least 35 mm x 45 mm)
- 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
- Prints needed
- 2
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckThe head must fill 31 to 36 mm of a 45 mm photo, which is a much larger face than a US 2 x 2 or a UK photo. Reusing one of those gets the application returned.
- CheckIf you have to give biometrics (most visitor visa applicants do), IRCC says you do not need to include paper photos at all; your photo is taken at the collection point.
- CheckIRCC accepts black and white or colour prints, but they must be on quality photographic paper and, if the photo is digital, not altered in any way. Keep the original background if it is already plain.
- CheckWrite your name and date of birth on the back of both photos, as the IMM 5256 guide instructs.
Known portal issues
- Note
Photos processed by online photo web services are not acceptable
Take the file to a photo lab counter (many pharmacies and camera shops have one) rather than a self-service kiosk. Read the fix
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The frame size must be at least 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8″ x 1 3/4″).
The size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″).
The photographs must be identical and taken within the last six months. They may be either black and white or colour.
If the photographs are digital, they must not be altered in any way.
Photographs must be printed on quality photographic paper.
Provide two photographs of yourself with your application.
Page dated 2023-07-24 on canada.ca. The biometrics exemption ('if you are required to provide biometric fingerprints and photo, you are not required to include paper photos') is from IRCC guide 5256 on the same site. Unlike the passport, this page does not require a commercial photographer, so eligibility is 'restricted' rather than 'no'. The page gives 35 x 45 mm as a minimum frame size ('at least'), which we print exactly. It allows head coverings only 'for religious reasons' and does not mention a medical exception; our data type has no religious-only value, so 'religious-medical-only' is used.
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
