ircc photo specifications canadian visitor visa

IRCC Canadian visitor visa photo specifications — 35×45 mm, not 50×70

The IRCC photo for a Canadian visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa, TRV), study permit (post-secondary) or work permit is 35×45 mm portrait — NOT the 50×70 mm spec used for permanent residence and citizenship. Plain white background, head 31–36 mm chin to crown, taken within the last 6 months, eyes open, neutral expression. Submitted as digital JPEG (420×540 px minimum, under 4 MB) via the IRCC Portal. complypic generates an IRCC visitor-visa compliant 35×45 mm photo for US$4.99 with refund guarantee.

Visitor visa vs PR/citizenship — different specs

Canadian visitor visa (TRV) and temporary residence applications (study permit, work permit, super visa): 35×45 mm portrait. Same dimensions as the UK and Schengen.

Canadian PR (Permanent Residence) Portal: 50×70 mm portrait. Significantly larger.

Canadian passport (for citizens): 50×70 mm portrait. Same as PR.

Canadian citizenship application: 35×45 mm portrait. Note this is a different spec from PR despite IRCC running both processes.

Net: IRCC uses 35×45 mm for temporary status applications and citizenship; 50×70 mm for PR and passport. This is a common point of confusion.

Exact 35×45 mm IRCC spec for visitor visa

Dimensions: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall portrait.

Digital: JPEG, minimum 420×540 px, maximum 4 MB. The IRCC Portal accepts JPEG only.

Background: plain white or light-colored solid background. Off-white acceptable; patterns rejected.

Head: 31–36 mm chin to crown (about 69–80% of frame height).

Recency: taken within 6 months of submission.

Format: color, taken straight-on, eyes open looking at the camera, neutral expression with mouth closed or natural smile.

No glasses (since 2016), no hats (religious exception with face visible).

Common IRCC visitor visa photo rejections

Wrong dimensions: applicants who use 2×2 inch (US-style) photos are rejected immediately at upload. The IRCC Portal requires 35×45 mm proportions.

Wrong spec for the application type: PR applicants who upload a 35×45 mm photo (visitor-visa spec) instead of 50×70 mm. The Portal does not always catch this — the application may proceed and be rejected later for spec mismatch.

File too large: phone photos at 4–8 MB are common. IRCC accepts up to 4 MB; re-export at JPEG quality 85 to land at 200–500 KB.

Background color: bright colored or patterned backgrounds. IRCC accepts plain white or pale solid colors.

Head positioning: head too small in the frame is the most common biometric rejection. Crop tighter so the head fills 70% of the height.

Application types using the 35×45 mm IRCC spec

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — visitor visa for tourism, business, family visit.

Super Visa — multi-year visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens/PRs.

Study Permit — at any post-secondary institution.

Work Permit — open work permit, employer-specific work permit, post-graduation work permit.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) — for visa-exempt nationals (UK, France, Germany, etc.) traveling by air. Same 35×45 mm spec, simpler online flow.

Citizenship application (Form CIT 0002) — note this is 35×45 mm, NOT the 50×70 mm of the PR portal.

All of the above use the same 35×45 mm spec. complypic's 'Canada Visitor Visa / Study / Work' template covers all of them.

Practical tips for IRCC photo upload

Take the photo in good natural light against a plain white wall, with no shadows behind the head. IRCC's biometric check flags background variation.

Use the rear camera, not the selfie camera. The wide-angle distortion of the front camera occasionally trips the head-shape check.

Wear a top with moderate color contrast to the white background — navy, black, dark colors.

If your IRCC application is rejected at upload for the photo: regenerate at the correct spec and resubmit. The IRCC Portal allows multiple upload attempts without restarting the application.

If the visa is denied with the photo cited as a contributing reason: send the rejection notice to refund@complypic.com for a US$4.99 refund.

FAQ

Is the IRCC visitor visa photo the same as PR or passport?

No. Visitor visa, study permit, work permit and citizenship all use 35×45 mm. PR and passport use 50×70 mm. The temporary-status spec is smaller.

What pixel dimensions does the IRCC Portal accept?

Minimum 420×540 px, maximum 4 MB file size. JPEG only. complypic exports at 600×750 px JPEG to land comfortably within both bounds.

Can I use my UK passport photo for a Canadian visitor visa?

Almost. Both are 35×45 mm portrait, but UK biases toward light grey or cream background while IRCC requires plain white. Re-export with white background applied and the same photo works for both.

Does the 2026 anti-AI rule apply to IRCC?

Not yet as of mid-2026. Canada IRCC accepts AI-edited photos at the time of writing. The US precedent is likely to be followed within 12–24 months. For ongoing applications, this is not a concern.

What if my eTA photo is rejected?

Same recovery as visitor visa rejection. Regenerate the 35×45 mm photo at the correct spec and resubmit on the eTA portal. complypic's refund guarantee covers eTA rejections.

Related guides

Canada PR

Exact IRCC specs: 35×45 mm, head 31-36 mm chin-to-crown, plain white background, neutral expression. Validated against the Canada PR Portal before you pay.

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Last reviewed 2026-05-28Official complypic page →