Quick answer: A Canada permanent residence card photo must be 50 × 70 mm with plain white background. Head occupies 44–51% of photo height (31–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, see glasses rule. Last verified .
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| Format | 50 × 70 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 44–51% of photo height |
| Head height (mm) | 31–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Even lighting without shadows on face and background, no red eyes. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| Digital resolution | 715 × 1000 to 2000 × 2800 px |
| File format | JPEG / JPG |
| File size | max 4 MB |
Canada Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) photos are administered by **IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)**. The format is **50×70mm (5×7 cm) — UNIQUE size** (different from Canadian visa/passport 35×45 standard). TWO identical paper photos required, taken within 6 months for paper applications. For digital submissions through the Permanent Residence Portal: 715×1000 to 2000×2800 pixels, ≤5MB JPEG/PNG, 12-month digital recency (looser than paper). Face dimensions 31-36mm chin-to-crown, pure white background. IRCC reports ~40% of PR card applications face delays due to photo non-compliance.
| Authority | Government of Canada / IRCC |
|---|---|
| Source | Canadian permanent resident card photo requirements |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — exact |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Canada permanent residence card applications. The final decision always belongs to Government of Canada / IRCC, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 50 × 70 mm rule automatically.
Plain white background. Plain, evenly lit, no shadow or texture. The photo is bound to your active legal residence status — immigration reviewers compare your live appearance to the photo at submission appointments, so quality matters.
Use daylight from a window in front of you. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadow under the brow. Many residence permit reviewers run an automated check before the in-person appointment — uneven lighting fails this check.
Camera at eye level, head straight, looking at the lens. Even a 5° tilt is grounds for rejection at the automated review stage. Place your phone on a stack of books to keep it steady.
Square shoulders, both visible. Centre your head in the frame. Residence permit applications often require both a digital upload AND a physical print — the same photo must work in both formats.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections Removing glasses is the safest option for residence permit photos because the document validity is tied to legal status checks that may happen years later.
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open. Residence permit photos are biometrically compared during status renewals — match the neutral expression style of an existing passport photo so future renewals do not flag inconsistency.
Solid dark colours that contrast with the background. Avoid uniforms, religious headwear except where permanently worn, and any clothing or accessories that cover the neckline or face.
Use a photo taken within the last three months. Residence permits are tied to active legal status — submitting an older photo, even one that technically meets the dimension rule, frequently triggers manual review and slows the application.
Government of Canada / IRCC publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
CA-PR-01 |
Photo not 50×70mm (5×7 cm) — Canadian unique size | Reprint at PR-card-specific size (not 35×45 visa size) |
CA-PR-02 |
Only one photo for paper application (two required) | Print second identical copy |
CA-PR-03 |
Digital file outside 715×1000 to 2000×2800 px | Re-encode within portal range |
CA-PR-04 |
Digital file over 5MB | Re-encode at lower quality |
CA-PR-05 |
Background not pure white | Re-shoot against white backdrop |
CA-PR-06 |
Paper photo older than 6 months (digital looser at 12 mo) | Re-shoot for paper application |
Residence permits are tied to your active legal status. Most authorities require a photo taken within the last three months — older photos, even ones that look similar to your current appearance, are routinely rejected.
Plain white background is required. Immigration submission portals run a strict automated background check. Patterned wallpaper, off-white shade or shadow gradient are all rejection triggers.
Reusing your existing passport photo for a residence permit application is a common rejection cause. Even if dimensions match, immigration authorities typically require a fresh photo for each application.
Head must be straight and centred. Tilt above 3–5° fails the ICAO alignment check applied at both the automated pre-screening and the in-person biometric appointment.
If you have noticeably changed hair, weight, beard or facial features since the photo was taken, the immigration reviewer will reject the photo at the in-person submission stage and require a new one.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye area, or any clothing that covers the chin or face cause rejection at the automated stage. Religious head covering is acceptable only when permanently worn and documented in the application.
Smile, raised eyebrows or parted lips cause rejection. Residence permit photos must use the same neutral expression standard as biometric passports.
IRCC explicitly treats background replacement, glare removal and facial edits as alteration. Use a clean original photo from a professional source.
The online PR route checks pixel dimensions and file size. Files outside 715 × 1000 to 2000 × 2800 px or above 4 MB can be returned.
The Canada permanent residence card photo must be 50 × 70 mm. The head must occupy 44–51% of the photo height. Submit the photo with your application file or online portal as required by the immigration authority.
Residence permit photos often have stricter recency requirements than passport photos because the permit is tied to an active legal status. Submit a photo taken within the last three months where possible, even if the authority allows up to six months.
Plain white background. The wall behind you must be evenly lit with no shadows. Patterns or off-white shades typically trigger automated pre-screening rejection at the immigration submission portal.
Usually no. Even when dimensions match, residence permit applications require a fresh photo that reflects your current appearance at the time of application. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause.
If hair, beard, weight or facial features have changed noticeably, take a new photo. The immigration reviewer compares the photo to your current appearance during the in-person submission or biometric appointment.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Canada immigration authority rejects the photo and you supply the official rejection notice. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee.
Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.