Digital passport photos

On this page

• Who needs a digital passport photo
• Digital photo requirements (what you must do, and what we do and don’t accept in a photo)
• Digital photo specifications (format, size and more)
• Examples of acceptable and unacceptable passport photos
• How to take a good passport photo in specific situations

Who needs a digital passport photo

You need a digital passport photo to renew your passport online.

If you aren’t renewing online, you don’t need a digital photo. Check the photo requirements for a paper application.

Digital photo requirements

Your digital passport photo must:

• be taken in person by a commercial photographer
• be no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application
• NOT be a scanned copy of a printed passport photo

We recommend you ask for both the digital copy of your photo and a printed (physical) copy when you get your photo taken.

Your photo must have:

• your face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera
• a neutral facial expression:
  • eyes open and clearly visible
  • mouth closed, no smiling
• uniform lighting:
  • no shadows, glare or flash reflections
  • clear, sharp and in focus
  • natural skin tones
• a plain white or light-coloured background with a clear difference between your face and the background

Why you can’t smile on your passport photo

The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos be taken with a neutral expression. This lets us use facial recognition systems to help prevent fraud. They electronically verify identity based on each person’s unique facial features.

We accept photos with:

• glasses, if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses
• hair down or up
• hats and head coverings worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons if:
  • your full face is clearly visible
  • there are no shadows on your face

We don’t accept photos with:

• sunglasses or tinted eye glasses (even when the eyes are clearly visible)
• red-eye effect or red-eye alterations
• hats and head coverings not worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons

Photo and photographer details

When you upload your photo, you must provide:

• the studio or photographer’s name
• the studio or photographer’s address
• the date the photo was taken

Digital photo specifications

The specifications for a digital photo are different from those for a physical photo.

Share these specifications with your photographer when you have your photo taken:

• Your photo must be in .jpeg or .jpg format.
• The file must be saved directly from the original file captured by the camera.
  • The photographer can then share it with you by uploading the photo to an online file sharing service, saving it to a USB flash drive or sending it by email, for example.
• We don’t accept scanned copies of a printed photo.
• The photo may be either in colour or in black and white.
• The photo must not be altered.
• The image must
  • have a 3:2 aspect ratio with the camera oriented in portrait mode
  • be at least 1800 pixels high by 1200 pixels wide
  • be no larger than 4500 pixels high by 3000 pixels wide
  • be between 200 KB and 5 MB in size
  • have a chin to crown (the top of your head) measurement between 45 and 50% of the photo’s height

What is an altered photo?

An altered photo is any photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means.

This includes:

• technical corrections or enhancements
  • For example, adjusting colour, brightness, contrast or sharpness.
• cropping around the subject’s head and shoulders
  • For example, cutting and pasting the subject against a white background.
• editing facial features
  • For example, changing size or shape of eyes, nose, mouth or ears.
• editing to improve the appearance of the subject
  • For example, removing glare or red-eye, changing hair colour or eliminating wrinkles, blemishes and birthmarks.
• editing the subject’s clothing
  • For example, changing the clothing’s colours.
• changing the background
  • For example, eliminating shadows.

Examples of acceptable and unacceptable passport photos

These photos are not the actual size of a passport photo.

Unacceptable photos show you what to look for before you submit your application.

How to take a good passport photo in specific situations

Watch our video about taking passport photos of adults.

If you’re in a wheelchair

Passport photos must be taken against a plain white background. If your wheelchair has a headrest, a plain white covering should be placed over it. This makes your facial features and the edges of your face clear against the background.

If you have headwear or nasal cannula that blocks part of your face

Headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a passport photo if worn for medical reasons only. Your eyes must remain clearly visible. Include a signed explanation with your application. We may ask for a letter from your doctor.