Canadian Citizenship Photo Requirements for Online and Paper Applications
Canadian Citizenship applications require photos that meet IRCC’s specific size, quality, recency and submission rules. Applicants must provide either a digital photo for an online application or printed photos for a paper application, with different technical and back-of-photo requirements for each format. Photos must be original, unaltered, correctly sized, well lit and taken within 6 months; photos with shadows, glare, incorrect positioning or an unsuitable expression may result in the application being returned. Special rules apply to children, newborns, glasses, religious or medical head coverings, while a Canadian passport photo should not be assumed to meet citizenship-photo requirements automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need a Photo for a Canadian Citizenship Application, and How Many Photos Are Required?
A photo is required when applying to become a Canadian citizen through a citizenship grant. This requirement also applies to a minor’s citizenship grant application. The number and format of photos depend on how the application is submitted.
- Online application: 1 digital photo is required. IRCC prefers a colour photo, but accepts a black-and-white digital photo.
- Paper application: 2 identical colour photos are required. They must be professionally printed on photographic paper.
- Photo age: The photo must be taken within the 6 months before the application is submitted and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
For an online application, IRCC prefers the original digital file supplied by the photographer. If that is not available, a printed professional photo may be scanned or photographed for upload, although using the photographer’s digital file is safer.
The size, quality, digital-file rules and printed-photo details are explained in the following questions.
What Are the Size, Quality, Age and Appearance Requirements for a Canadian Citizenship Photo?
A Canadian citizenship photo must meet IRCC’s requirements for size, image quality, recency and appearance. IRCC will return an application if the photo does not meet these specifications.
Photo size
The photo must be:
- 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high)
- Sized so that the face measures 31 mm to 36 mm (1¼ inches to 1 7/16 inches) from the chin to the crown of the head, including the natural top of the head
Image quality
The photo must:
- Be clear, sharp and in focus
- Have uniform lighting, with no shadows, glare or flash reflections
- Show a clear difference between the face and the background
- Show natural skin tones
- Be an original photo that has not been altered in any way
Age, expression and position
The photo must:
- Be taken no more than 6 months before the application is submitted
- Reflect the applicant’s current appearance
- Show the face and shoulders straight-on to the camera, centred and squared
- Have a plain white or light-coloured background
- Show open, clearly visible eyes
- Show a closed mouth, with no smiling or frowning
What Can Cause a Canadian Citizenship Photo to Be Rejected?
IRCC will return a citizenship application if the photo does not meet its specifications. A new photo may be needed before the application can be submitted again.
A citizenship photo must be original and must not be changed in any way. Alterations that are not accepted include:
- Adjusting brightness, colour, contrast or sharpness
- Cropping around the head and shoulders
- Removing glare, red-eye, wrinkles, blemishes or birthmarks
- Changing facial features, hair colour or clothing
- Replacing or editing the background, including removing shadows
- Using filters, photo-editing software or AI tools
The following are also common examples of photos that do not meet IRCC requirements.
Where Can Canadian Citizenship Photos Be Taken, and Must They Be Taken by a Commercial Photographer?
Canadian citizenship photos should be taken by a commercial photographer or photo studio. Common places to check include:
- Walmart Photo Centre
- Staples
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- London Drugs
- Independent passport and immigration-photo studios
Before visiting, the applicant should call the specific location and ask whether it takes Canadian citizenship photos. Not every location offers the same photo services.
It is also helpful to confirm whether the provider can supply:
- A digital photo file for an online application
- Printed photos for a paper application
- The required information on the back of printed photos
The applicant should ask for a Canadian citizenship photo, not simply a passport photo, because the specifications are not the same.
What Are the Digital Photo Requirements for an Online Canadian Citizenship Application?
The digital photo uploaded with an online citizenship application must meet the same size, quality, expression and appearance requirements as a printed citizenship photo. It must also meet these digital-file requirements:
- Be in JPG or JPEG format with minimal compression
- Be saved directly from the camera without changes to the original file
- Be at least 420 × 540 pixels
- Be approximately 240 kB, but no larger than 4 MB
The digital photo should not be edited, enhanced, cropped around the head and shoulders, or placed onto a new background. This includes changes to brightness, colour, sharpness, facial features, hair, clothing, glare or shadows.
A digital file supplied directly by the photographer is the safest option for an online application.
What Can an Applicant Wear in a Canadian Citizenship Photo, Including Glasses, Religious Head Coverings and Medical Headwear?
An applicant may wear normal clothing in a Canadian citizenship photo. The face must remain clearly visible and distinct from the background.
Glasses
Glasses are accepted only when:
- The eyes are clearly visible
- The frames do not cover the eyes
- There is no glare on the lenses
Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not accepted, including tinted prescription glasses.
Examples of photos that are not accepted
Hair and head coverings
Hair may be worn up or down. Hats and head coverings are accepted only when they are worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons. In either case:
- The full face must be clearly visible
- The head covering must not create shadows on the face
A head covering is not a problem by itself. A photo is not accepted only when it covers facial features or creates shadows.
Medical headwear or a nasal cannula
An applicant who wears medical headwear or a nasal cannula for medical reasons must ensure that the eyes remain clearly visible and include a signed letter of explanation with the application. IRCC may also request a letter from the applicant’s doctor.
Wheelchairs
A wheelchair is accepted in the photo if a white blanket is placed behind the applicant’s head so that the facial features and edges of the face are clearly visible.
What Information Must Appear on the Back of Printed Citizenship Photos, and Is a Guarantor Signature Required?
For a paper citizenship application, the printed photos must be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper.
The following information must appear on the back of the photo:
- The applicant’s first and last name
- The name and complete address of the photographer or photo studio
- The date the photo was taken
A guarantor signature is not required for Canadian citizenship photos. This is one of the differences between citizenship-photo and passport-photo requirements.
Do Children and Newborns Have Different Canadian Citizenship Photo Requirements?
Children must meet the same general citizenship-photo requirements as adults, including the required photo size, face measurement, image quality, lighting and background.
A child’s photo must also:
- Show the child’s head and shoulders only
- Show the child facing the camera
- Not show the parent’s hands or the child’s hands in the photo
- Have no shadows on the child’s face or shoulders, around the ears, or in the background
Examples of photos that are not accepted
For a newborn, IRCC allows the photo to be taken while the baby is sitting in a car seat. A white blanket must be placed over the seat behind the newborn’s head so that the facial features and edges of the face are visible. The photo must still have even lighting and no shadows.
IRCC recognizes that it may be difficult for a newborn to maintain a neutral expression. Some range of infant facial expressions is accepted.
Are Canadian Citizenship Photos the Same as Canadian Passport Photos?
No. A Canadian passport photo should not automatically be used for a citizenship application. Although the two photo types share some core rules, they have different submission requirements.
Similar requirements
Both citizenship and passport photos must generally:
- Measure 50 mm wide by 70 mm high
- Show a face measuring 31 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown
- Be taken within the 6 months before the application is submitted
- Show a neutral expression, with open eyes and a closed mouth
- Have uniform lighting, no shadows or glare, and a plain white or light-coloured background
Be clear, unaltered and professionally taken
Important differences
- Online photo specifications differ. Online citizenship applications require a JPG or JPEG photo that is at least 420 × 540 pixels and no larger than 4 MB. Online passport renewals have different digital specifications, including a 3:2 aspect ratio and a minimum size of 1,200 × 1,800 pixels.
- Scanned photos are treated differently. For an online citizenship application, IRCC allows an applicant to scan or photograph a printed professional photo if the photographer cannot provide a digital file. For an online passport renewal, a scanned printed photo is not accepted.
- Printed-photo information differs.
For a paper citizenship application, the back of the photo must include the applicant’s name, the photographer or studio’s complete name and address, and the date taken. - Guarantor rules differ.
A guarantor signature is not required for citizenship photos. For a new passport application, one photo must include a guarantor certification and signature. Adult passport renewals do not require a guarantor.
An applicant should therefore ask for a Canadian citizenship photo and specify whether the application will be submitted online or by mail.
