Quick answer: A Canada visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm with white or light uniform background. Head occupies 69–80% of photo height (31–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, see glasses rule. Last verified .
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| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 69–80% of photo height |
| Head height (mm) | 31–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | White or light uniform 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 | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| 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 | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | Check the authority portal before upload |
Canada visa (Temporary Resident Visa / TRV) photos are administered by **IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)**. The format is at least 35×45mm with head 31-36mm chin-to-crown. Background must be plain WHITE or LIGHT-COLOURED. Canada-specific: photos may be EITHER colour OR black-and-white (most authorities reject B&W). TWO identical photos required, taken within 6 months. Digital minimum 420×540 pixels. Non-tinted prescription glasses ALLOWED if eyes clearly visible and frame doesn't cover any part of the eye.
| Authority | Government of Canada / IRCC |
|---|---|
| Source | Canadian visa application photograph specifications |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — exact |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Canada visa 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 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.
Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match White or light uniform background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.
Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.
Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.
Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.
Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.
Verify the photo dimensions match 35 × 45 mm, the head occupies 69–80% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.
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-V-01 |
Single photo submitted (two identical required) | Print second identical copy |
CA-V-02 |
Head height outside 31-36mm | Re-crop to IRCC spec |
CA-V-03 |
Tinted glasses or frame covering eye | Re-shoot without tinted lenses or with thinner frame |
CA-V-04 |
Digital under 420×540 px | Re-encode at higher resolution |
CA-V-05 |
Smile or non-neutral expression | Re-shoot neutral with closed mouth |
CA-V-06 |
Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot |
Canada visa (Temporary Resident Visa / TRV) applications are administered by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) through online portals and VFS Global / VAC centers.
canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship
Photo: 35×45mm, white or light bg, head 31-36mm. Two photos for paper applications, 420×540 px minimum for digital.
Authority pageVFS Global Canada centers (160+ countries)
Required for biometric capture if not previously captured within 10-year window. IRCC keeps biometrics on file 10 years — reused across subsequent applications.
Authority pageWhite or light uniform background is required. Consular pre-screening systems are strict on background — even minor texture, gradient or off-white tone is grounds for immediate rejection before a human reviewer sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require photos taken within the last three to six months. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause, especially for first-time visa applications.
Each visa type has specific dimensions. Submitting a passport-sized photo for a visa that requires different proportions is grounds for rejection. Verify the spec table above matches the visa category you are applying for.
The face must be centred horizontally and vertically with the head straight. Consular automated systems flag head tilt above 3–5 degrees before manual review.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye, head covering that obscures the facial outline (except for documented religious exception), or any accessory near the face is rejected by automated pre-screening.
Smile, raised eyebrows, parted lips or visible teeth all cause rejection. Consular photos use the same biometric standard as passports — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
If submitting a physical photo, low-quality home printing, glossy paper instead of matte, ink streaks or finger smudges around the edges all cause manual rejection at the consular submission stage.
Yes. IRCC explicitly allows non-tinted prescription glasses provided your eyes are clearly visible and the frame does not cover any part of your eye. Most other major authorities (US, UK, Schengen) have stricter no-glasses rules. This is a Canadian-specific exception documented in IRCC official guidance.
IRCC requires 2 identical photos for paper applications. One is attached to the application file; the second is used for the biometric verification record kept on file for the 10-year reuse window. Digital submissions through the IRCC online portal require only 1 photo (420×540 pixels minimum, ≤5 MB).
The Canada visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 69–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
White or light uniform background. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture or off-white shade before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Canada visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
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.