Canada Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, Head 31–36 mm
420×540 px · ≤4MB · White
IRCC's visa photo uses the 35×45 mm frame with an unusually precise head rule: 31–36 mm from chin to crown — proportionally larger than US framing, so a DS-160-cropped photo usually fails Canada's proportions. Digital uploads need at least 420×540 pixels.
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Official spec — Canada Visa (IRCC)
- Size
- 420×540 px JPEG
- File
- ≤4MB
- Head height
- 69–80%
- Background
- White
- Print size
- 35×45 mm
Portal quirks
- Head height (chin to crown) must be 31–36 mm of the 45 mm frame — proportionally larger than US framing
- Digital uploads need at least 420×540 px; scanned prints should be 600 DPI
- Background is plain white or light-coloured; the 50×70 mm frame you may see elsewhere is the PR-card/citizenship spec, not the visa
Source: canada.ca (IRCC) · Last verified: 2026-08
Common rejection reasons
Canada visa photo rejections almost always trace to head proportions or resolution. If IRCC or the VAC refused your photo:
Fix a rejected photo →Frequently asked questions
35×45 mm (width×height) with the head measuring 31–36 mm from chin to crown — roughly 69–80% of the frame. Digital uploads must be at least 420×540 pixels on a plain white or light-coloured background.