Canada Visa Photo Specifications 2026
Everything you need to know about Canada visa photo requirements for 2026 — size, background, format, glasses rules, biometrics exceptions, and how to get a compliant photo with PhotoOmni's free AI check.
Canada Visa Photo Specifications 2026
Last updated: August 2026
A Canada visa photo is a different size from a Canadian passport or PR card photo — a mistake that trips up applicants who've already prepared one of those and assume it'll work here too. Before anything else, it's also worth checking whether you need a visa photo at all, since a meaningful share of travelers to Canada need something else entirely.
Quick Answer
A Canada visitor visa (TRV), study permit, or work permit photo must be 35 mm × 45 mm, with your face measuring 31–36 mm chin to crown, against a plain white or light-coloured background, taken within the last 6 months. This is different from the 50×70 mm size used for Canadian passports, PR cards, and citizenship applications — don't reuse a photo across these document types. Unlike a Canadian passport photo, non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed for a visa photo. For online applications, upload a digital file in JPEG, JPG, JPEG2000, TIFF, or PNG format, between roughly 240 KB and 4 MB. If you're a visa-exempt traveler (this includes US citizens, and most EU, UK, Australian, and Japanese citizens for air travel) you likely need an eTA instead of a visa — and an eTA doesn't require a photo at all.
Do You Need a Visa Photo, or Something Else?
This is worth checking first, since it determines whether any of the rest of this guide even applies to you:
- eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — for visa-exempt travelers flying to Canada (US citizens are exempt from needing an eTA at all; most EU, UK, Australian, and Japanese citizens need an eTA for air travel). Costs CAD $7. No photo required.
- Visitor visa / TRV, study permit, or work permit — for travelers from visa-required countries, or those needing longer-term status. Costs CAD $100 for a standard visitor visa. Photo required, per the spec below.
If you're American, you generally don't need either a visa or an eTA for a short visit — check current entry requirements for your specific situation before assuming you need a photo prepared at all.
Full Photo Specification
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 mm × 45 mm |
| Face height | 31–36 mm, chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured, no shadows or patterns |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, facing the camera directly |
| Glasses | Non-tinted prescription glasses permitted |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital format | JPEG, JPG, JPEG2000, TIFF, or PNG |
| Digital file size | Roughly 240 KB–4 MB |
| Copies | Two identical printed photos for paper applications; one digital file for online submission |
Visa Photos vs. PR Card, Citizenship, and Passport Photos
This is one of the most common points of confusion across IRCC's various photo requirements, and it's worth stating clearly:
| Document | Size | Glasses |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (TRV), study permit, work permit | 35 × 45 mm | Non-tinted prescription glasses OK |
| PR card, citizenship | 50 × 70 mm | No tinted lenses (PR card) / no glasses at all (citizenship) |
| Canadian passport | 50 × 70 mm | No glasses at all |
A photo prepared for one of these will not meet another's frame size — always tell your photographer, or your compliance tool, exactly which document you're preparing the photo for. See our guides on Canada PR Card Photo Requirements and Canada Citizenship Photo Requirements if you're preparing photos for either of those separately.
If Biometrics Are Required, You May Not Need a Paper Photo
If your visa application requires biometrics (fingerprints and a photo collected at a Visa Application Centre), IRCC's own guidance notes that you generally do not need to include separate paper photos with your application in that case — the biometrics appointment covers the photo requirement. Check your specific application instructions to confirm whether you're on a paper-photo route or a biometrics route before preparing anything.
Preparing a Compliant Photo With PhotoOmni
- Take your photo against a plain white or light-coloured background, in even natural light, with a neutral expression — glasses are fine as long as there's no glare or tint.
- Upload it to PhotoOmni's free AI check. It verifies the 35×45 mm proportions, face-height ratio, and background compliance against the current Canada visa specification — distinct from the PR card/passport spec, so it won't mix up the two.
- Fix anything flagged and re-check — there's no cost to try again.
- Download the compliant file once it passes — the only paid step — ready for digital upload or printing, depending on your specific application route.
FAQ
Is a Canada visa photo the same size as a passport photo? No — a visa (TRV) photo is 35×45 mm, while a Canadian passport or PR card photo is 50×70 mm. Don't reuse one for the other.
Can I wear glasses in a Canada visa photo? Yes, as long as the lenses aren't tinted. This is more permissive than the Canadian passport rule, which doesn't allow glasses at all.
Do I need a visa or an eTA to visit Canada? It depends on your nationality and travel method. Visa-exempt travelers (including US citizens, and most EU, UK, Australian, and Japanese citizens flying to Canada) typically need an eTA instead of a visa — and an eTA doesn't require a photo.
What file formats does IRCC accept for a digital visa photo upload? JPEG, JPG, JPEG2000, TIFF, or PNG, generally between about 240 KB and 4 MB.
Do I need to submit a paper photo if I'm required to give biometrics? Generally no — if your application requires a biometrics appointment (fingerprints and photo), that typically replaces the need for a separate paper photo submission. Check your specific application instructions to confirm.
Is PhotoOmni's compliance check free? Yes — checking your photo against the current Canada visa specification is free. You only pay if you choose to download the final compliant file.
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About the Author
Emma Richardson Senior ICAO Photo Compliance Expert, PhotoOmni
Emma Richardson is the Senior ICAO Photo Compliance Expert at PhotoOmni. With 12+ years of experience in passport and visa photo verification, she has helped applicants achieve 820,000+ successful photo approvals across 100+ countries and territories. She specializes in global passport photo requirements, ICAO-compliant photo standards, and biometric image verification.
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Data sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), visitor visa and temporary resident visa photo specifications. This guide is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by IRCC or the Government of Canada. Always verify current requirements at canada.ca before submitting your application.