head 44–51 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — Passport Program
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Canada refugee travel document photo size is 50 × 70 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 44–51% of photo height (31–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 50 × 70 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 44–51% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 31–36 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white background. Make photo background white — Canada refugee travel document → |
| 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. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| 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 |
The Canadian refugee travel document (and the certificate of identity) is applied for on IRCC form PPTC 190, and its section N says that «photo specifications for the travel document are different from those for a permanent resident card». Two identical, unaltered photo prints go with each application, «taken in person by a commercial photographer» and «professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper — photos printed at home are not acceptable». The frame is 50 mm wide and 70 mm high, with a face height between 31 mm and 36 mm, «a neutral facial expression (no smiling, mouth closed), looking straight at the camera, eyes open and clearly visible», uniform lighting — «no shadows, glare or flash reflections», «a full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera, head not tilted or turned», a plain white or light-coloured background with enough contrast, and «taken within the last six months from the date the application is submitted». The photos may be in colour or black and white. On the back of one photo the studio puts its name, full address (no P.O. Box) and the date, and the guarantor writes «I certify this to be a true likeness of» the applicant and signs. Prescription glasses are allowed without glare; tinted glasses, sunglasses and red eye make the photos unacceptable; head coverings only for religious or medical reasons with the full face visible and no shadows.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Canada refugee travel document 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) — Passport Program publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photos printed at home, taken by oneself, altered with photo software or copied from an existing photo | Two identical, unaltered prints made by a commercial photographer on photographic paper. |
| Photos older than six months before the application, or a face height outside 31–36 mm of the 70 mm frame | Photos from the last six months with a 31–36 mm face in a 50 × 70 mm frame. |
| A smile or open mouth, a head tilted or turned, shoulders not squared to the camera, eyes not clearly visible | A neutral expression, mouth closed, a straight head, shoulders square, eyes open and clear. |
| Shadows, glare or flash reflections, red eye, tinted glasses or sunglasses, a background that is not plain white or light | Uniform lighting, a plain white or light background with contrast, no tinted lenses. |
| No studio details, «true likeness» statement or guarantor signature on the back of one photo | Studio name, full address and date, and the guarantor's statement and signature on the back of one print. |
How to take it
Background: plain white
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 (31–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 50 × 70 mm.
Clear lenses only, 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 Canadian refugee travel document or certificate of identity is applied for with form PPTC 190 and a guarantor who has known the applicant for at least six months; two photo prints from a commercial photographer go in the envelope.
The mail and courier addresses of the PPT-COI Humanitarian and Identity Operations Branch in section D of the form instructions
Two identical 50 × 70 mm prints from a commercial photographer; the guarantor signs the back of one.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — Passport Program |
|---|---|
| Source | Canadian permanent resident card photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
The frame is 50 mm wide and 70 mm high with a face height of 31–36 mm; two identical, unaltered prints go with the application.
No. The form says the photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer and professionally printed on photographic paper; photos printed at home are not acceptable.
On one photo: the studio's name and full address (no P.O. Box) and the date, the statement «I certify this to be a true likeness of» the applicant, written by the guarantor, and the guarantor's signature.
Yes. The form says the photos are in colour or black and white, with a plain white or light-coloured background.
All requirements are in the table above. Format: 50 × 70 mm. Head height: 44–51%. Plain white background.
Yes. Use a flat white 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; no tinted lenses or 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.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 50 × 70 mm format and head size apply to: PR card, PR travel document (PRTD).