When applying for a Canadian visa, a compliant visa photo is one of the required materials; non-compliant photos may delay or even cause your application to be refused. Canadian visa photo standards follow both international guidelines and those of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, ensuring that your appearance is accurately represented for identification purposes. Below, drawing on official and professional photography standards, we offer a complete overview of Canadian visa photo dimensions, facial-feature rules, headwear regulations, digital-photo requirements, and other key points to help you prepare correctly.

• Standard dimensions: 35 mm (width) × 45 mm (height)
• Head height (chin to crown): 31 mm–36 mm
• Photo must show the entire front view of the head; the face must be centred and the top of the shoulders visible
• Leave sufficient space above the head to avoid cropping
• Photo must be taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Colour or black-and-white is acceptable; colours must be natural and clear. Background must be pure white or light-coloured, with no shadows
• Must be taken by a professional photographer or photo studio and printed on high-quality photo paper. Self-printed or ordinary paper prints are not accepted

• Face directly toward the camera with a neutral expression, mouth closed—no smiling or frowning
• Eyes open and clearly visible; head not tilted or turned
• All facial features (eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, ears) must be unobstructed
• Lighting must be even, with no shadows or glare on the face, shoulders, or background
• If wearing glasses, lenses must be clear (no tint) and reflection-free; sunglasses or tinted glasses are not allowed

• Generally, no hats or head coverings are permitted
• Exception: religious or medical headwear worn daily—provided the entire face remains visible and no shadows are cast
• Headwear must not obscure eyes, nose, mouth, or other facial features
• Decorative or non-essential headpieces (e.g. helmets, sun hats) are not allowed

• Must meet the same size standard: 35 mm × 45 mm
• High resolution only; no compression artifacts, blurriness, or any form of retouching or editing
• Taken within the last 6 months, with a pure white or light-coloured background and even lighting, no shadows
• Can be captured with a digital camera or smartphone if all specifications are met
• Digital files do not require back-of-photo annotations; printed photos must include the shoot date and studio information on the back

• Submit two identical original photos; edited, filtered, or altered images are not accepted
• Infant and child photos must show only head and shoulders, with no hands visible. Infants may be seated in a safety seat; background must be pure white
• Wheelchair users should cover any headrest with plain white cloth to avoid interfering with facial-contour recognition
• Avoid wearing white clothing to prevent blending into the background
• Ensure no red-eye, glare, shadows, or other quality issues
• Do not wear accessories that impede facial recognition, such as sunglasses or tinted eyewear

By strictly following these requirements, you can avoid photo-related delays or refusals in your Canadian visa application, ensuring a smooth process and timely decision.

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References:

• Canadian Passport and Visa Photos – photobi
• Canadian Visa (35 × 45 mm) Photo Size Requirements & Online Tool – 123passportphoto
• Detailed Requirements for Canadian Visa Photos – immica
• Canadian Visa Photo Requirements – jianada-qianzheng

Extended Readings:

• Comprehensive Guide to Canadian Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Facial Expression, Headwear & Digital Photo Standards
• Chinese Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Facial Standards, Headwear & Digital Photo Specifications
• Complete Guide to U.S. Visa Photo Requirements: Size, Facial Rules, Head Coverings, and Digital Standards