Canada · not possible online
Canada PR card Photo (50×70 mm)
Canada PR card photos can't be made online: IRCC requires a commercial photographer, and cropping or changing the background counts as altering the photo. Here is what the official rules say (50×70 mm, head 31–36 mm from chin to crown, white background, taken within 12 months), and how to get a photo that is accepted the first time.
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Where to get it instead
Why online tools don't work: IRCC requires a commercial photographer, and cropping or changing the background counts as altering the photo.
“Go to a commercial photographer or studio to have your photo taken.”Official guidance
Book a photo studio or a pharmacy photo counter that takes Canada PR card photos, and bring the requirements below so you can check the photo before you leave.
Official requirements
- Print size
- 50×70 mm
- Head size
- Print: chin to top of head (not including hair) between 31 mm and 36 mm; digital not quantified.
- Background
- Background: plain, untextured and white
- Glasses
- eyes clearly visible behind your glasses, with no glare on the lenses
- Head covering
- allowed if worn daily for religious or medical reasons
- Expression
- neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera
- Taken within
- 12 months
Source: canada.ca. Last checked Nov 7, 2026.
What counts as an altered photo
“An altered photo is a photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means.”Official rule
“cropping around the head and shoulders, including cutting and pasting your image against a white background … changing the background, including removing shadows”Official example of an altered photo
Canada PR card photo questions
Can I take my own Canada PR card photo at home?
No. The official rules require the photo to be taken by a professional or on site. The official guidance: “Go to a commercial photographer or studio to have your photo taken.”
Can I wear glasses in my Canada PR card photo?
The official rule: “eyes clearly visible behind your glasses, with no glare on the lenses.”
Can I smile in my Canada PR card photo?
The official rule: “neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera.”
Can I wear a hat or head covering?
The official rule: “allowed if worn daily for religious or medical reasons.”
How recent must the photo be?
It must have been taken within the last 12 months.
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