Canada requires a commercial photographer
Unlike many countries, Canada does not accept passport photos you take yourself. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires a commercial photographer, and the photo must not be altered – no cropping, no background changes. MondayKit therefore offers a guide and a digital-spec checker only, not a cropper.
| Rule | Requirement | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Print size | 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in) | Official |
| Face size | 31–36 mm, chin to crown | Official |
| Print pixels | 591 × 827 px | approx. at 300 DPI |
| Digital format | JPEG, 3:2 portrait | Official |
| Digital pixels | 1200 × 1800 px minimum, 3000 × 4500 px maximum | Official |
| Digital file size | 200 KB–5 MB | Official |
| Head in digital photo | Chin to crown 45–50% of photo height | Official |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured | Official |
Official source: canada.ca – Passport photos, checked 3 Nov 2026. Always confirm with the issuing authority before you print or upload – rules change.
How to use the checker
If you are renewing online, your photographer gives you a digital file. Drop it into the checker above. It reads the file on your device and reports the pixel size, the 2:3 shape, the file size and whether it is a JPEG. If any line fails, ask the photographer for a corrected file rather than editing it yourself.
What the checker cannot tell you
It cannot measure whether the head fills 45–50% of the height, judge lighting or expression, or confirm acceptance. Only IRCC decides that.
Other countries: see the passport photo size hub.