2026-08-15 · 8 min read · PicsForm Editorial
Why Canadian passport photos are 50×70 mm
Canadian passport photos use 50×70 mm — not 35×45. IRCC head-size rules and how to avoid the wrong crop at US border studios.
The unique IRCC format
50 mm wide × 70 mm tall with 31–36 mm chin-to-crown — a smaller head relative to frame height than UK or Schengen 35×45 photos.
Visa vs passport
Canadian visa / TRV applications use 35×45 mm instead. Pick ca-passport vs ca-visa explicitly in PicsForm.
Visual comparison: 50×70 vs 35×45
A 35×45 Schengen crop looks taller relative to head size than IRCC's 50×70. US border-area studios often default to 2×2 or 35×45 — always say 'Canadian passport 50 by 70 millimetres' when printing.
Head-size band explained
- Chin to crown: 31–36 mm within the 70 mm frame height
- Face must occupy 60–80% of photo height per IRCC guidance
- Shoulders visible; centred and facing camera
- Plain white or light-coloured background
Where Canadians get rejected
Wrong aspect ratio is the #1 fixable error — especially when reusing a US 2×2 or UK 35×45 file. Run /verify with ca-passport selected before Service Canada or online renewal upload.
Reference spec: Canadian Passport
Pulled from the PicsForm requirements catalog — confirm on the official portal before you submit.
- Document: Canadian Passport
- Country: Canada
- Dimensions (mm): 50 × 70
- Pixels @ DPI: 591 × 827 @ 300
- Head height: 44–51%
- Eye line from bottom: 55–70%
- Background: white
- Official source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html
- Last verified: 2026-08-18
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use a US 2×2 photo for a Canadian passport?
- No — dimensions and head-size bands differ. Export a dedicated 50×70 mm file from PicsForm.
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PicsForm matches photos to published requirements. This is not legal or immigration advice and does not guarantee application approval. Always confirm current rules on the official portal.