CanadaCanada Refugee Travel Document Photo: 50 x 70 mm, Two Prints, Studio Stamp and Guarantor Certification
PPTC 190: two identical 50 x 70 mm prints from a commercial photographer, within six months, face 31–36 mm, studio stamp and guarantor note on the back.
In this article · 6 sections
Key points
5 points- Two identical, unaltered prints with each application; the specs differ from the permanent resident card photo.
- Frame 70 mm high by 50 mm wide; face height from 31 mm (minimum) to 36 mm (maximum).
- Taken in person by a commercial photographer on photographic paper — photos printed at home are not acceptable.
- Back of one photo: studio name and full address (no P.O. Box), date, the sentence "I certify this to be a true likeness of…", and the guarantor's signature.
- Third-party photo software and digital photo-altering applications are not acceptable.
IRCC’s form PPTC 190 (11-2025), the adult travel document application for stateless and protected persons in Canada, has a section N on photos. It says the photograph specifications for the travel document are different from those for a permanent resident card.
Size and head
| Item | PPTC 190 diagram (not actual size) |
|---|---|
| Frame height | 70 mm (2¾ in.) |
| Frame width | 50 mm (2 in.) |
| Maximum face height | 36 mm (1 7/16 in.) |
| Minimum face height | 31 mm (1¼ in.) |
How the photo is made
- Two identical and unaltered photo prints are submitted 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.
- Clear, sharp and in focus; in colour or black and white; originals not altered in any way and not taken from an existing photo.
- Taken within the last six months from the date the application is submitted and reflecting the current appearance.
- Third-party photo software and digital photo-altering applications are not acceptable.
The picture itself
- Neutral expression (no smiling, mouth closed), looking straight at the camera, eyes open and clearly visible.
- Uniform lighting with no shadows, glare or flash reflections.
- Full front view of the face and the top of the shoulders, squared to the camera and centred; head not tilted or turned.
- Natural skin tone against a plain white or light-coloured background with enough contrast between the background, the facial features and the clothing.
- If these requirements cannot be met for medical reasons, a written explanation is provided.
- Prescription glasses may be worn if there is no glare and the eyes are clearly visible; red-eye, tinted glasses and sunglasses make the photos unacceptable.
- Hats and head coverings only for religious beliefs or medical reasons, casting no shadows on the face; natural-looking wigs are acceptable.
What goes on the back
On the back of one photo: the name and complete address of the photo studio (not a P.O. Box) and the date the photo was taken, by stamp or handwriting — stick-on labels are not acceptable. Below it, the statement “I certify this to be a true likeness of (name of applicant, written by guarantor)” and the guarantor’s signature.
Our Canada refugee travel document photo page shows the format.
05Questions
5 answers01What size is the Canadian travel document photo?
PPTC 190: frame 70 mm high by 50 mm wide, face height 31–36 mm.
02How many photos?
Two identical and unaltered prints with each application.
03Can I print the photo at home?
No. It must be taken in person by a commercial photographer and professionally printed; home prints are not acceptable.
04What goes on the back?
On one photo: studio name and full address, the date (stamp or handwriting), the true-likeness statement and the guarantor's signature.
05Black and white allowed?
Yes — in colour or black and white, taken within the last six months.
06Official sources
- IRCC — PPTC 190 adult travel document application, section N (PDF)
canada.ca - IRCC — permanent resident card photo requirements (web archive)
web.archive.org
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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Make your photo to the current rules
Pick your document and upload a selfie — we crop it to size, replace the background and check it. Free. The sizes come from the same official sources as the news.