What is the Canada Temporary Resident Visa?
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also called the Canada visitor visa, is issued by the Government of Canada to foreign nationals who come to Canada for a temporary stay: tourism, business meetings and conferences, or family visits. A Canada visa lets you travel to a Canadian port of entry, where a border services officer decides whether you can enter. Every application for a Canada visa includes a recent photo that meets the IRCC photo specifications, so the Canada visa photo is one of the first things to prepare.
Why people apply for a visitor visa
- Tourism: to explore the country's natural beauty, cultural heritage and attractions.
- Business: to attend meetings, conferences or other business activities.
- Family visits: to see family members or friends who live in the country.
Whatever the reason for your trip, the officer looks at the same things: a valid passport, enough money for the stay, ties that bring you back home, and a complete application. A missing or unsuitable photo is one of the easiest problems to avoid, which is why it pays to get it right at the start.
Canada visa photo size explained
The Canada visa photo size is 35×45 mm, or 3.5×4.5 cm. In our template the head size is about 34.7 mm from the chin to the crown, and there is about 3 mm of space between the top edge of the photo and the top of the hair. For a print, 305 DPI keeps the Canada visa photo sharp at this size. The wrong frame, a head that is too small or a face cut off at the top can all make a Canadian visa photo unsuitable.
Visa photo size in inches and pixels
If your printer or photo app works in inches, 35×45 mm is about 1.38×1.77 inches. At 305 DPI this photo size is about 420×540 pixels. Do not stretch or squeeze the photo to fit the size: the proportions of the face must stay natural. Our online tool sets the size, the head position and the margins together, so you do not need to calculate anything yourself. If a print shop asks for the visa photo size, give them 35×45 mm and the white background requirement.
Digital Canada visa photo for the online application
If you apply for the Canada visa online, you create an IRCC account and upload a digital photo file. Our tool prepares the digital Canada visa photo in the same 35×45 mm proportions and keeps the file size under 240 KB, so the upload goes through. A scan of a printed photo usually loses sharpness and can show the paper texture, so it is better to upload the original digital visa photo. If you apply on paper, print the photo at 305 DPI and cut it to the exact 35×45 mm size.
Online or paper: which visa photo do you need?
The format of your visa photo depends on how you apply. For an online application, you need a digital visa photo file in 35×45 mm proportions, on a white background, with a file size of no more than 240 KB. For a paper application sent by mail to a VAC, you need printed visa photos in the 35×45 mm size, printed at 305 DPI so the face stays sharp. Our tool gives you both from one photo: download the digital file for the upload, and print the same file if you also need paper visa photos. If you are not sure yet which way you will apply, keep the original file; you can print it or upload it later without taking a new photo.
How to apply for a Canada visa
The IRCC visitor visa page describes the process. Check that you are eligible, gather your documents, complete the application form IMM 5257 online or on paper, pay the CAD 100 application fee and submit the application online or by mail to a visa application centre (VAC). Depending on your nationality, you may also need to give biometrics, fingerprints and a photo, at a VAC. After a decision, an approved Canada visa is placed in your passport. Processing times vary; check the IRCC processing times page before you plan your trip.
Documents you need besides the photo
- A valid passport for the whole stay in Canada.
- The completed application form IMM 5257.
- Recent photos that meet the Canada visa photo requirements.
- Proof that you can support yourself financially during your stay.
- Proof of ties to your home country, such as a job, property or family.
- A police certificate or medical exam, if IRCC asks for one.
After you apply: decision or refusal
Once IRCC makes a decision, you are notified. If the Canada visa is approved, it is stamped in your passport. If the application is refused, you receive a letter that explains the reasons. If you decide to apply again, prepare the documents carefully and take a new visa photo, so the photos you send are recent. Before you travel, also check any travel restrictions or health advisories that may affect your plans.
Biometrics photo vs. Canada visa photo
Biometrics, fingerprints and a photo, are a separate step: if your nationality requires them, IRCC sends instructions to book an appointment at a VAC. The photographs themselves are on the list of required documents for the application, so prepare a visa photo that meets the 35×45 mm size and background rules before you submit.
Canada visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm, head about 34.7 mm from chin to crown.
- Plain white photo background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible.
- Head straight and centred, facing the camera.
- No hats or tinted glasses; a religious head covering must leave the face visible.
- Recent sharp colour photo, no filters or retouching.
Light, expression and photo quality
Size is only part of a good visa photo. The photo must be sharp, in focus and in natural colour, with even light on both sides of the face. Shadows on the face or behind the head, red eyes and glare on the skin or on glasses are typical reasons a visa photo fails. Keep a neutral expression with the mouth closed and look straight at the camera. Hair should not cover the eyes. Take several photos and choose the clearest one; our online check tells you which photos pass before you download.
Printing visa photos at home or in a shop
For a paper application, download the free digital visa photo and print it on glossy or matte photo paper at 305 DPI. Print at 100% scale, with no "fit to page" option, so the photo keeps the 35×45 mm size. Check the printed size with a ruler before you cut it. You can also take the file to any photo shop and ask for prints at the original size. Keep the digital photo file: if IRCC asks for another photo, you can print it again or upload it online.
Glasses, head coverings and jewellery
The officer who reviews your application compares the photo with your face and your passport, so anything that hides your features can cause a problem. Tinted glasses are not suitable, and clear glasses often reflect the flash or the window. The simplest choice is to take them off for a moment. Hats and caps should come off too. If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your whole face stays visible. Large earrings, scarves over the chin and headphones are better removed before you take the visa photo.
Before you submit your application
Take a minute to look at the final visa photo before you attach it. Compare it with the checklist above, make sure the photo was taken recently and that it still looks like you today, and check that the name on your application matches your passport exactly. During processing, IRCC may contact you for more information or an interview. Keep copies of everything you send, including the photo file, the payment receipt and your application number, so you can answer quickly.
Canada visa photo for children and babies
Every traveller needs a separate Canada visa photo, including children and babies. The size and background rules are the same as for adults: a 35×45 mm photo on a plain white background. A baby can lie on a white sheet for the photo; keep hands and toys out of the frame. Our online tool crops a child's photo to the Canadian visa photo size and replaces the background, so you can take the photo at home when the child is calm.
Multiple entry and length of stay
A Canada visa can be single or multiple entry. A multiple-entry visa lets you enter Canada several times while the visa is valid. A stay on a visitor visa is usually up to six months, but the border services officer decides the length at entry. To stay longer, apply for an extension before your current status expires. If a new application is needed later, take a new photo, because the application asks for recent photographs.
Free online visa photo check
Our online visa photo maker is free to use. Upload a photo, and the AI checks the size, head position, background, expression and sharpness, then shows the result next to the photo. The digital visa photo download is free. If your photo fails because of uneven light or shadows, you can retake the photo for free, or choose the optional retouch, which fixes the photo for $5.99.
Other Canadian documents
Other Canadian documents have their own photo rules. See our Canada passport photo page, the PR card photo page and the Canadian citizenship photo page if you need a photo for another application.
