Free Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) Photo Checker – Requirements, Size & Online Tool

Take a photo with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here for compliance checking that instantly verifies it meets official government requirements for Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) photo. Get print-ready results in seconds – 100% online.

  • Automatic size verification and background color validation
  • Head positioning analysis with instant results in seconds
  • Print-ready photo generation in multiple formats (JPG and 4x6 print layout)
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Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) Size Guide with dimensions in inches and mm

Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) Requirements Overview

Learn about Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) photo requirements for Canada. The required photo size is digital: minimum 420×540 pixels, final frame 35×45mm minimum. paper: 50mm×70mm. Photos must have a white background. Specific head positioning requirements apply. These photos are suitable for printing. CRITICAL: Digital photos MUST be taken by commercial photographer, no scans accepted. IRCC will return applications with non-compliant photos. Different requirements than passport photos.

Official Documentation:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/citizenship-application-photograph-specifications.html

Official Canadian Citizenship Photo Requirements

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) • Last updated: 11/29/2025

Photo Requirements Guide

What Makes a Good Photo

Digital Photo Standards
  • Minimum 420×540 pixels
  • Final frame 35mm×45mm minimum
  • JPEG or JPEG2000 format
  • 24 bits per pixel RGB color space
  • 240kB ideal size, 4MB maximum
  • Commercial photographer required
Printed Photo Standards
  • 50mm wide × 70mm high (2″ × 2¾″)
  • Head size 31-36mm chin to crown
  • Plain white background
  • Color photos required
  • Neutral expression, mouth closed
  • Eyes open and visible

Common Photo Problems

Critical Application Errors
  • Scanned photos (not accepted for digital)
  • Photos over 6 months old
  • Non-commercial photography
  • Incorrect digital dimensions
  • Head coverings (except religious)
  • IRCC will return entire application

💡 Note: For official photo examples and additional requirements, visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) documentation:

Digital Photo Requirements (Online)

  • Minimum image size: 420×540 pixels
  • Final frame size: minimum 35mm×45mm
  • File format: JPEG or JPEG2000
  • Color: 24 bits per pixel in RGB space
  • File size: ~240kB ideal, maximum 4MB
  • Must be taken by commercial photographer (no scans)

Printed Photo Requirements (Paper)

  • Photo size: 50mm wide × 70mm high
  • Head size: 31-36mm from chin to crown
  • Plain white background required
  • Color photographs mandatory
  • Taken within last 6 months
  • Professional commercial photography

Composition Standards

  • Face centered and squared to camera
  • Neutral facial expression required
  • Mouth closed, eyes open and visible
  • No head coverings (religious exceptions)
  • No accessories blocking facial features
  • Professional lighting and focus

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using scanned photos for digital applications
  • Non-commercial photography
  • Incorrect digital file dimensions
  • Photos older than 6 months
  • Wrong file format or size
  • Head coverings without religious basis
  • Poor quality causing application return

How We Check Your Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm)

  1. Upload your photo — we analyze it against official Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) requirements.
  2. If something doesn’t meet the rules, our AI fixes it automatically in seconds.
  3. Download a compliant digital photo or a print-ready 4×6 sheet accepted by photo labs.

What We Check for Compliance

Official RequirementHow IDPhotoNow Handles It
Head size, position & proportions✅ AI measurement and alignment checks
Eye level and visibility✅ Automatic eye-line verification
Background color & cleanliness✅ Shadow removal and background normalization
File size, resolution & DPI✅ Output optimized to official limits
Print-ready photo layout✅ One-click 4×6 print sheet generation

All checks are based on published government photo requirements.

Try the Free Canada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm) Photo Checker

Upload your photo and see if it meets official requirements. Preview is free — no signup required.

Document Requirements

NameCanada Citizenship Digital (420×540px min) or Paper (50×70mm)
CountryCanada
Document TypeCitizenship
SizeDigital: minimum 420×540 pixels, final frame 35×45mm minimum. Paper: 50mm×70mm
Resolution (Dpi)Digital: 24 bits per pixel RGB. Paper: Commercial photographer quality
Required Size In KilobytesDigital: ~240KB ideal, 4MB maximum. Paper: N/A
Image Definition ParametersHead size (chin to crown): 31-36mm. Digital format: JPEG or JPEG2000. MUST be taken by commercial photographer (no scanned photos for digital). Color photos required.
Background Color
Printable?Yes
Suitable For Online Submission?Yes - Digital photos by commercial photographer only
Web Links To Official Documents

Frequently Asked Questions About Passport & Visa Photos

Everything you need to know about passport and visa photos

Digital: minimum 420×540 pixels, final frame 35×45mm minimum. Paper: 50mm×70mm
Absolutely. With IDPhotoNow, you can take a compliant passport photo right from your phone.
It depends on the requirement. For online submissions, we offer JPG/PNG files. For printed photos, we provide ready-to-print 4x6 print layouts.
We provide a ready-to-print 4×6 inch layout with the correct photo size. You can print it at home or at a store using standard photo paper. ⚠️ Be sure to select "Actual Size" or "100% scale" when printing. Do NOT use "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Fit", as this may distort the size.
It depends on the document and country. Many passport rules require glasses to be removed, but some ID types may allow them if eyes are fully visible.
You can use scissors to carefully cut along the edges of the photo in the printed layout. We place the photo on standard 4×6 inch paper with correct dimensions, so you just need to follow the outlines. For best results, use a ruler or paper cutter for clean edges.
To take a passport photo of a baby or young child, lay them on a plain white sheet or blanket in a well-lit area. Make sure there are no shadows and the child’s face is clearly visible, with eyes open and mouth closed if possible. Avoid using props or having others in the frame. We’ll handle the background and sizing — just upload a clear photo following these tips.