head 44–51 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Verified
Quick answer: A Canada citizenship certificate photo must be 50 × 70 mm. Even plain background without shadows. Head occupies 44–51% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 50 × 70 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 44–51% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Background | Even plain background without shadows. |
| Pose | Full face, no noticeable tilt; face turned towards the lens. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No harsh shadows or overexposure. |
| Attire | Keep the original clothing and a visible shoulder line. |
| Digital resolution | Minimum 420 × 540 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | max 4 MB Compress photo to 2 MB — Canada citizenship certificate → |
| Millimetres | 50 × 70 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5 × 7 cm |
| Inches | 1.97 × 2.75″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 591 × 827 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1181 × 1654 px |
For the Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) applied for online, IRCC asks for 1 colour digital photo from a commercial photographer or studio — and warns that «citizenship photos do not use the same specifications as passport photos» and that an application whose photos do not meet them is returned. The photo is 50 mm × 70 mm (2 × 2 3/4 inches) with the face 31–36 mm from chin to crown; as a file it is a JPG or JPEG with minimal compression, saved directly from the camera without changes, at least 420 × 540 pixels, about 240 kB and no more than 4 MB, and the receipt or a separate text file gives the person's name, the studio's name and complete address and the date the photo was taken.
It was taken no more than 6 months before you apply, in front of a plain white or light-coloured background, with the face and shoulders straight-on, centred and squared, a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed, uniform lighting with no shadows, glare or flash reflections, and natural skin tones — never altered. Glasses are accepted if the eyes are clearly visible, the frames do not cover them and there is no glare; sunglasses and tinted lenses are not, even prescription ones; hats and head coverings only if worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons with the full face visible and no shadows. For children: head and shoulders only, no hands; a newborn may sit in a car seat with a white blanket over the seat.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Canada citizenship certificate applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| An altered photo: cropped, edited, filtered, or with shadows or glare removed digitally | Use the original file saved directly from the camera, unaltered. |
| A photo that is not 50 × 70 mm, or a face outside 31–36 mm | Have the studio shoot 50 mm × 70 mm with the face 31–36 mm from chin to crown. |
| A file under 420 × 540 pixels, over 4 MB, or not JPG or JPEG | Use a JPG or JPEG of at least 420 × 540 pixels, about 240 kB and at most 4 MB. |
| No studio receipt or text file with the name, studio address and date | Attach the receipt or a text file with the person's name, the studio's name and address, and the date. |
| Sunglasses or tinted lenses, glare, shadows, a smile, or a hat without a religious or medical reason | Use clear glasses or none, a neutral expression and even light; no hat. |
How to take it
Background: plain, one colour
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 44–51 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 50 × 70 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 4 (2 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 16 (4 × 4) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A citizenship certificate is applied for online through an IRCC account with one colour digital photo from a commercial photographer, together with the receipt or a text file giving the person's name, the studio's name and address and the date of the photo.
canada.ca — Get proof of citizenship
One colour digital photo 50 × 70 mm, JPG or JPEG, 420 × 540 pixels minimum, 240 kB to 4 MB.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
|---|---|
| Source | Proof of citizenship photo specifications: 50 x 70 mm and 31-36 mm head |
| Verified |
Questions
One colour digital photo from a commercial photographer: 50 × 70 mm with the face 31–36 mm, a JPG or JPEG saved directly from the camera of at least 420 × 540 pixels, about 240 kB and at most 4 MB, taken within 6 months, on a plain white or light-coloured background, with a neutral expression, unaltered.
50 mm × 70 mm (2 × 2 3/4 inches) with the face between 31 mm and 36 mm from chin to crown; as a file at least 420 × 540 pixels and no more than 4 MB.
Yes, if the eyes are clearly visible, the frames do not cover them and there is no glare; sunglasses and tinted lenses are not accepted, even prescription ones.
No: the photo must be an original saved directly from the camera; cropping, adjusting colour or brightness, removing glare or shadows and changing the background are all alterations, and IRCC returns applications whose photos do not meet the specifications.
All requirements are in the table above. Format: 50 × 70 mm. Head height: 44–51%. Even plain background without shadows.
Yes. Use a flat, plain wall, natural daylight from a window in front of you, and the rear camera of a phone with a 3-second timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and compliance check.
Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. Removing glasses for the photo eliminates the risk of glare causing rejection, especially in automated pre-screening systems.
Most document authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. Use a fresh photo even if the rules technically allow older ones — recency reduces the risk of appearance-mismatch rejection.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
50 × 70 mm = 5 × 7 cm = 1.97 × 2.75 inches. At 300 dpi that is 591 × 827 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1181 × 1654 pixels.
Yes. The same 50 × 70 mm format and head size apply to: grant of citizenship.