Crop a photo to 50 × 70 mm — Canada refugee travel document

Exact numbers for this document

What this document is

A refugee travel document is issued to a recognised refugee in place of a passport from their country of origin. Article 28 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees obliges states to issue such documents to refugees lawfully staying in their territory, and its annex sets the specimen they follow.

How to crop it, in three steps

1. 01

   Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light

2. 02

   The tool finds the face and aligns the frame itself — check that the head lands in 44–51%

3. 03

   Save the 50 × 70 mm result — print it or attach it to the application

Do not confuse it with another Canada document

Canada does not use one frame for everything. This page is about refugee travel document — 50 × 70 mm. The documents below are cut to a different size, so a file prepared here will not fit them.

• super visa 35 × 45 mm
• visa 35 × 45 mm
• work permit 35 × 45 mm

What we fix for free, and what AI fixes

Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again.

Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one

Canada-specific things to know

• The refugee travel document has its own photograph sheet and says outright that it differs from the permanent resident card: two identical prints of 50 × 70 mm taken in person by a commercial photographer, none printed at home.
• The photos may be in colour or black and white, and the back of one print carries the studio's name, address and date plus the guarantor's «true likeness» statement and signature.
• Natural-looking wigs are accepted, prescription glasses only without glare, and tinted glasses or sunglasses make the photos unacceptable.

Printing on a single sheet

Where these numbers come from

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — Passport Program. Last checked against the official page on 1 Oct 2026.

What the source confirms

• IRCC form PPTC 190 (11-2025), section N: the photograph specifications for the travel document are different from those for a permanent resident card; two identical and unaltered photo prints must be submitted with each Canadian travel document application; third-party photo software and digital photo-altering applications are not acceptable.
• Same section, the photos must be 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 that have not been 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.
• Same section, the picture: a neutral facial expression (no smiling, mouth closed), looking straight at the camera, eyes open and clearly visible; uniform lighting with no shadows, glare or flash reflections; a full front view of the face and the top of the shoulders squared to the camera, 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.
• Same section, the 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.).
• Same section, 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); the statement «I certify this to be a true likeness of (name of applicant, written by guarantor)»; and the guarantor's signature. The declaration of the guarantor on the form says the guarantor has signed the back of one of the photos to certify the image is a true likeness of the applicant.
• Same section, additional information: prescription glasses may be worn as long as there is no glare and the eyes are clearly visible; the red-eye effect, tinted glasses and sunglasses make the photos unacceptable; hats and head coverings must not be worn except for religious beliefs or medical reasons, and the head covering and hair must not cast shadows on the face and the full face must be clearly visible; natural-looking wigs are acceptable.

Canadian permanent resident card photo requirements ↗

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