How to Make a Canada Passport Photo 50x70mm at Home

Canada passport photos have a very specific size: 50 by 70 millimetres, with the head measured from chin to crown. Get any part wrong and the application can be delayed. This guide walks you through the size, the background, the head position, and how to print the photo correctly, including the photographer stamp rule that catches many people out.

The exact Canada passport photo size

A Canada passport photo must measure 50 millimetres wide by 70 millimetres tall. Your head, from the chin to the top of the head, must measure between 31 and 36 millimetres. The photo must be in colour, on a plain white or light background, with no shadows on your face or behind you. Your face must look straight at the camera, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible.

Do not confuse this size with the smaller 35 by 45 millimetre photos used by many other countries. Canada uses the larger 50 by 70 format, and a photo cut to the wrong size is one of the most common reasons for rejection. If you are applying online, you also need a clear digital file, but the printed size rules still apply to the photo itself.

Take a photo that will pass

Find a plain light wall. Stand about half a metre in front of it so your shadow does not fall on the wall.
Use even daylight. Face a window in daytime. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under your chin.
Keep the camera at eye level. Ask someone else to take the photo, or use a tripod. Selfies taken at arm’s length distort the face.
Leave space around your head. Include your shoulders and some space above your hair so the crop can be adjusted.
Remove glasses if they cause glare. Glasses are allowed only if your eyes are fully visible and there is no reflection.
Keep head coverings off. They are allowed only for religious reasons, and your full face must still be visible.

The photographer stamp rule

Here is the rule many guides skip. For a printed Canada passport photo, the back of one photo must carry the name and address of the photographer or studio, plus the date the photo was taken. The photographer or studio must also sign a declaration on the application form in some cases. When you make the photo yourself at home, you still need to meet the photo standards, but check the current application form carefully: if it asks for a guarantor or photographer declaration, a purely self-made print may not be enough. Read the form before you print, not after.

Print it correctly

Print on quality photo paper, not plain paper. Print at the full 50 by 70 millimetre size, with no white border added by the printer unless the tool already includes one. Cut carefully along the edge. Print two identical photos, since the application usually asks for two. Check the printed photo in daylight: colours should look natural, the background should be plain, and the head size should fall inside the 31 to 36 millimetre range.

Try the free maker tool

Cropping by hand in a photo editor is fiddly, and one wrong drag changes the head size. The free tool below sizes your photo to 50 by 70 millimetres for you. Upload your picture, adjust the crop so your head sits in the right position, and download the result. Then follow the print steps above, and double-check the back-of-photo and declaration rules on your application form before you send it.

Common rejection reasons to avoid

Wrong size. A 35 by 45 millimetre photo will be rejected for a Canadian passport.
Shadows. Shadows on the face or the wall are a frequent cause of rejection.
Smiling or mouth open. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
Old photo. The photo must be recent and look like you now.
Filtered or edited faces. Do not smooth skin, change colours, or use beauty filters.

Take your time with the lighting and the crop, and your home-made photo can meet the standard. When in doubt, take several shots and pick the sharpest, most evenly lit one.