Canadian PR Card Photo Canadian PR Card Photo Requirements, Size and Digital Specifications
Canadian PR Card passport photo studio
Pro tools Face detection, biometric measurements, background and lighting analysis and automatic corrections for the exact Canadian PR Card passport template (50×70 mm, plain white or light-coloured background, 300 DPI). Everything runs on your device — your photo is never uploaded. Results are requirement checks, not a guarantee of acceptance by any authority.
Upload your Canadian PR Card passport photo
JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC • Max 20MB per file
Take a photo with live positioning guidance The Canadian permanent resident card photo is not the square North American format — IRCC uses a 50 × 70 mm portrait with a tightly-specified face height of 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown. Two extra rules catch applicants out: printed photos must carry the photographer's or studio's name, address and the date the photo was taken on the reverse, and the digital copy uploaded through the online portal has its own minimum pixel dimensions. This page lists the exact IRCC figures, shows compliant and non-compliant examples, and lets you produce and verify a 50 × 70 mm photo in your browser before you pay for prints.
Reviewed by Abdulkeni Abdelwahid, Editor-in-Chief Last verified August 28, 2026 Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) How we verify Photo size (mm)
50×70
Photo size (inches)
1.97×2.76
Pixels at 300 DPI
590×826
Background
Plain white or light-coloured
Create your Canadian PR Card photo now
Upload one portrait. ImageGates crops to 50×70 mm, replaces the background with a clean plain white or light-coloured surface and positions the head inside the official band — privately, in your browser.
Official Canadian PR Card photo requirements
Printed photo
Printed size 50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ inches) Face height 31 – 36 mm, chin to crown Age of photo Taken within the last 6 months Paper Photo-quality paper, matte or glossy, unframed and uncut Back of print Photographer or studio name, full address, and date the photo was taken Quantity Two identical photos for most paper applications Finish Sharp, clear and in focus, with no ink marks or creases on the front Head position Square to the camera with a straight, level head Digital upload
Minimum pixel size 420 × 540 px Recommended print-quality size 590 × 826 px at 300 DPI Aspect ratio 5:7 portrait File format JPEG or JPEG2000 Maximum file size 4 MB Scan resolution At least 600 DPI if scanning a printed photo Colour Colour, neutral white balance, no colour cast Retouching Not permitted — no smoothing, reshaping or red-eye correction The face must measure 31–36 mm from the chin to the natural top of the head (crown), centred and squared to the camera. Neutral expression with the mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible. Photographer's name, studio address and the date taken must appear on the back of printed photos.
What a compliant Canadian PR Card photo looks like
The examples below show the same subject photographed correctly and incorrectly. Compare the head size, the background and the lighting against your own photo before you upload it.
Accepted
- Head squared to the camera, eyes level and open
- Even lighting with no shadow on the background
- Head height inside the official band
- Plain plain white or light-coloured background, no visible edges
Rejected
- Shadow cast on the wall behind the subject
- Head tilted away from the camera
- Face too large or too small in the frame
- Cluttered or coloured background
Canadian PR Card Passport Photo Examples & Guidelines
Visual reference for 50×70 mm photos with plain white or light-coloured background
Correct Example - ✓ Front-facing, centered
- ✓ Neutral expression
- ✓ Even lighting, no shadows
- ✓ Plain white or light-coloured background
Common Mistakes - ✗ Sunglasses or tinted lenses
- ✗ Hats or head coverings
- ✗ Side angle, not facing camera
- ✗ Dark shadows on face
Do's — Follow These Rules
Face the camera directly with a neutral expression
Keep both eyes open and clearly visible
Use even, natural lighting — no harsh shadows
Center your face with equal space on both sides
Use a photo taken within the last 6 months
Wear clothing that contrasts with the background
Don'ts — Avoid These Mistakes
No sunglasses, tinted lenses, or thick frames
No smiling, laughing, or raised eyebrows
No selfies, filters, or beauty effects
No shadows on face or background
No hats, headbands, or non-religious head coverings
No closed eyes, looking away, or red-eye
📋 Quick Photo Checklist for Canadian PR Card
Photo size: 50×70 mm Background: Plain white or light-coloured Resolution: 300 DPI minimum Format: JPEG / JPG Taken within last 6 months No glasses, hats, or filters Neutral expression, mouth closed Face centered, both ears visible The 50 × 70 mm format and the 31–36 mm face rule
IRCC specifies both the paper size and the size of the face inside it. The photo itself is 50 mm wide by 70 mm tall, and the distance from the bottom of the chin to the natural top of the head must be between 31 and 36 mm. Because the frame is taller than it is wide, the correct crop leaves visible space above the head and includes the top of the shoulders. A 35 × 45 mm European passport photo enlarged to 50 × 70 mm will usually push the face over 36 mm and be refused, so re-crop from the original capture instead of scaling a finished print.
The photographer information on the back
This requirement is unique among the major immigration photo standards and is the single most common paperwork failure for PR card applications submitted on paper. The reverse of each print must show the name and full street address of the photographer or studio and the date the photograph was taken. If you produce the photo yourself, write your own name in place of the studio name along with the address where the photo was taken and the exact date — an undated print or one with only a shop stamp and no date can be returned.
Background and lighting requirements
IRCC accepts a plain white or light-coloured background, but the practical standard reviewers apply is a clean, evenly-lit surface with no shadows, no visible edges and no texture. Because the frame is tall, a shadow gradient down the wall behind you is more visible than it would be in a square crop. Position yourself well away from the wall, avoid direct flash, and check the corners of the finished image where uneven illumination shows up first.
Expression, glasses and head coverings
Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed — IRCC is stricter than the US standard here and does not invite a smile. Glasses may be worn only if your eyes are clearly visible with no glare, no tinting and no frames obscuring any part of the eyes; removing them is the safer route. Head coverings for religious reasons are accepted provided the full face is visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face are unobstructed. Hairstyles that hide the outline of the face can also cause a refusal.
When you need a PR card photo
You submit photos when applying for your first permanent resident card, when renewing a card that is expiring, and when replacing one that was lost, stolen or damaged. The same specification is used for the permanent resident travel document. Citizenship applications use a similar but separately-published standard, so check the citizenship requirements rather than assuming the PR figures carry over.
Check and edit your photo before you submit
The checker measures your file against the 50×70 mm specification and reports dimensions, background uniformity, sharpness, face position and file size. Fix anything it flags in the studio above, then re-check — the whole loop runs on your device, so the photo is never uploaded to a server.
- 1
Upload the original capture
- 2
Auto-fix crop and background
- 3
Run the compliance check
- 4
Download or print at exact size
Check Photo Compliance — Canadian PR Card passport
Free, instant, 100% private check against Canadian PR Card's official passport photo rules (50×70 mm, plain white or light-coloured background). Your image never leaves your device.
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JPG, PNG, WebP • Max 20MB per file
Common Canadian PR Card photo rejection reasons
These are the failures Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) documents most often. Each one is checkable before you file.
Face outside the 31–36 mm band
Scaling up a 35 × 45 mm passport photo is the usual cause — the face ends up too large for the taller frame.
Missing photographer details on the back
Name, full address and the date the photo was taken must all appear on the reverse of printed photos.
Wrong aspect ratio
Anything other than the 5:7 (50 × 70 mm) portrait shape, including square 2 × 2 inch North American photos.
Smiling or an open mouth
IRCC requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed; a broad smile is a documented refusal reason.
Glare or tint on glasses
Reflections on the lenses, tinted lenses, or frames crossing the eyes all obscure the eye region.
Shadow behind the head
Standing close to the wall creates a shadow gradient that is treated as a non-uniform background.
Photo older than six months
IRCC checks the date on the back of the print against the application date.
Digital file below the minimum size
Uploads under 420 × 540 pixels, or scans below 600 DPI, lack the detail required for card production.
Related Canada photo tools and guides
The Canadian PR Card photo shares rules with other Canada documents but is not identical to them. These pages cover the neighbouring requirements and the tools you need to meet each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size photo is required for a Canadian PR card?
Is the PR card photo the same as a Canadian passport photo?
Do I really need the photographer's name and address on the back?
Can I smile in a Canadian PR card photo?
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
What are the digital photo requirements for the online PR card application?
How many photos do I need?
Can I take the PR card photo myself at home?
Does ImageGates guarantee IRCC will accept my photo?
What happens if IRCC rejects my photo?
Show all 10 questions Official sources
Every measurement on this page is transcribed from the government pages below. ImageGates is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); requirements can change, so confirm against the source before you file.
ImageGates cannot guarantee that any photo will be accepted — the decision rests with the reviewing officer. Our tools measure your photo against the published specification so you can correct problems before submitting.
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