The short answer
The Canada visa photo size is at least 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with your head measuring 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown. IRCC wants a photo taken in the last six months against a plain white or light background, with a neutral expression and nothing altered. Many visitors need none, because biometrics include a photo.
In Bangla
কানাডার ভিসার ছবির মাপ কমপক্ষে ৩৫ মিমি চওড়া ও ৪৫ মিমি লম্বা, আর থুতনি থেকে মাথার উপর পর্যন্ত মুখের মাপ ৩১ থেকে ৩৬ মিমি হতে হবে। ছবিটি গত ছয় মাসের মধ্যে সাদা বা হালকা রঙের পটভূমিতে স্বাভাবিক মুখভঙ্গিতে তোলা ও সম্পাদনাহীন হতে হবে, তবে বায়োমেট্রিক্সে ছবি তোলা হয় বলে অনেক ভিজিটরের আলাদা ছবি লাগে না।
Key takeaways
- The frame must be at least 35 mm by 45 mm, and the head from chin to crown must measure 31 to 36 mm.
- IRCC accepts colour or black and white, but the photo must be recent, sharp, unaltered and against a plain light background.
- Paper applicants who give biometrics do not need to include paper photos; online applicants follow their personalised checklist.
- Non-tinted glasses and religious head coverings are allowed as long as the eyes and full face are clearly visible.
- A Canada photo is not the same as a US visa photo, which is a 2 by 2 inch square.
The Canada visa photo size trips up more Bangladeshi applicants than it should, mostly because studios in Dhaka print several kinds of "passport size" photo and the US, UK and Canada all ask for different things. Canada's rule is simple once you have it written down: a 35 by 45 mm frame with the head at a set size. This guide gives IRCC's full specification, explains when you need a photo at all and lists what gets one rejected.
What is the Canada visa photo size?
IRCC's visa photo specifications say the frame must be at least 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, which is 1 3/8 by 1 3/4 inches. Inside that frame, your head from chin to crown must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm. The crown is the top of your head, not the top of your hair if it is styled high.
The head size is where most studio prints go wrong. A photo can be exactly 35 by 45 mm and still fail because the face is shrunk into the middle with a wide border, or cropped so tightly that the chin and crown are cut off.
Canada visa photo requirements at a glance
| Requirement | IRCC's rule |
|---|---|
| Frame size | At least 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8 x 1 3/4 inches) |
| Head size | 31 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown |
| Age of the photo | Taken within the last six months |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Colour | Colour or black and white |
| Expression | Neutral: not smiling or frowning, mouth closed |
| Glasses | Non-tinted prescription glasses only, eyes clearly visible |
| Head covering | Allowed for religious reasons if the full face is visible |
| Quality | Clear and sharp, on quality photographic paper |
| Changes | Not altered in any way |
| Paper applications | Two identical photos, name and date of birth on the back |
Do you need a photo for a Canada visitor visa at all?
Often not. Most adult applicants give biometrics at the Canada visa application centre in Dhaka, where a digital photo is taken with the fingerprints. IRCC's visitor visa guide says paper applicants who must give biometrics are not required to include paper photos.
- Online applicants: follow the personalised checklist in your IRCC account. If it lists a photo, upload one; if it does not, you do not need to.
- Paper applicants: include two photos only if you are not giving biometrics.
- Children under 14 and adults over 79: they do not give biometrics, so their checklist is the place to look for a photo request.
- Students: IRCC's study permit papers list two recent passport-size photos as part of the proof of identity, so check the student checklist carefully.
Our list of Canada tourist visa requirements shows where the photo sits among the other papers, and students should read the Canada student visa document checklist.
How do you get a compliant photo in Bangladesh?
- 1
Ask the studio for the Canadian size by name
Say "Canada visa, 35 by 45 millimetres, head 31 to 36 millimetres, white background" rather than "passport size", which means different things in different shops.
- 2
Dress and sit simply
Wear dark or coloured clothing that stands out from a white background, face the camera straight on and keep your expression neutral with your mouth closed.
- 3
Check the print with a ruler
Measure the frame and the head from chin to crown before you pay. If the head is under 31 mm or over 36 mm, ask for a reprint.
- 4
Look for shadows and glare
There should be no shadow on your face or behind your head, no flash glare on glasses and no red eyes.
- 5
Label paper copies
For a paper application, write your full name and date of birth on the back of both photos without pressing through.
- 6
Scan for an online upload
If your checklist asks for a digital photo, scan the studio print rather than photographing it with a phone, and follow the file limits the upload screen shows.
IRCC's printed visa specifications do not set a pixel size. As a guide, scanning a 35 by 45 mm print at 600 dots per inch gives an image of roughly 827 by 1063 pixels, which keeps the detail an officer needs. Use the limits in your own upload screen if they differ.
How is the Canada photo different from a US or passport photo?
The Canada visitor photo is a rectangle; the US visa photo is a square. The US State Department's photo requirements ask for 2 by 2 inches, about 51 by 51 mm, and do not allow glasses at all. A US print trimmed down will not have the right head size for Canada, so get a separate print for each country.
Studio "passport size" prints in Bangladesh vary from shop to shop, and the photo in your e-passport was taken at the passport office, so neither tells you much about Canada's rule. Ask for the measurements, not the name.
The photo is the easy part of the file. The harder part is making sure the name, date of birth and passport number are identical on the form, the passport and every supporting paper. Agencies that use Visolv send clients the checklist through the agency's own branded portal, so you know before visiting a studio whether your application needs a printed photo, and the software checks passport details against the form and the other papers, pointing the caseworker to any page that does not match.
What gets a Canada visa photo rejected?
- A smile, raised eyebrows or an open mouth.
- Tinted lenses, sunglasses or glare that hides the eyes.
- A head covering or hair that hides the chin, forehead or the edges of the face.
- A head under 31 mm or over 36 mm from chin to crown.
- A coloured, patterned or shadowed background.
- A photo older than six months, or one that no longer looks like you.
- Beauty filters, skin smoothing or any digital retouching.
- A blurry print, a phone photo of a print or a heavily compressed file.
A rejected photo rarely refuses a visa on its own, but it can bring a request for a new one and add time. Our guide to Canada visa processing time explains how requests like this lengthen the wait.
Can you wear a hijab or glasses in a Canada visa photo?
Yes to both, within limits. IRCC allows a head covering worn for religious reasons as long as your full facial features are not hidden, so the face from the hairline to the chin and both edges of the face should be visible. Non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed if your eyes are clearly visible, with no glare hiding them. Sunglasses are never accepted. If in doubt, remove the glasses for the photo.
A correct photo takes ten minutes at a good studio. Ask for the Canadian size by name, check it with a ruler and only upload it if your checklist asks. For the papers that matter more, our Canada visit visa from Bangladesh guide covers the whole file, and a visa agency that uses Visolv can check it for you before IRCC does.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Canada visa photo size in mm?
The Canada visa photo must be at least 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Inside that frame, your head from chin to crown must measure between 31 mm and 36 mm. The photo should be taken in the last six months against a plain white or light background, printed on quality photographic paper and not altered in any way, according to IRCC's specifications.
What is the Canada visa photo size in pixels?
IRCC's printed visa photo specifications do not give a pixel size. If your online checklist asks for a digital photo, scan a studio print of the correct 35 by 45 mm size and follow the file limits shown on the upload screen. Scanning at 600 dots per inch gives roughly 827 by 1063 pixels, which keeps enough detail for an officer to check your face.
Can I wear a hijab in my Canada visa photo?
Yes. IRCC allows a head covering worn for religious reasons, as long as your full facial features are not obscured. Your face should be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face showing. Keep the expression neutral, the background plain and light, and avoid shadows from the fabric falling across your face.
Do I need to send photos if I give biometrics for Canada?
Usually not. A digital photo is taken with your fingerprints at the Canada visa application centre, and IRCC's visitor visa guide says paper applicants who must give biometrics are not required to include paper photos. Online applicants should follow the personalised checklist in their IRCC account and upload a photo only if it is listed there.
Can I use my US visa photo for a Canada visa?
No. A US visa photo is a 2 by 2 inch square, about 51 by 51 mm, while Canada asks for a frame of at least 35 by 45 mm with the head measuring 31 to 36 mm. Trimming a US print rarely gives the right head size. The US also bans glasses, while Canada allows non-tinted ones. Get a separate print for each country.
Can I smile in a Canada visa photo?
No. IRCC asks for a neutral expression, neither smiling nor frowning, with your mouth closed. Look straight at the camera with your eyes open and your head level, not tilted. A smile is one of the most common reasons a photo is asked for again, which adds time to your application. Children should follow the same rule as far as possible.
The Visolv team
Editorial team, Easital Technologies (Dhaka)
Visolv is software for visa agencies, made in Dhaka by Easital Technologies: an AI caseworker that reads and checks every paper in a client's file, writes the drafts and builds the upload pack under the agency's own brand. We write about what we see in real visa files from Bangladesh.
