The official requirements
A Canada Permanent Resident (PR) card photo uses the IRCC’s distinctive 50×70mm size — taller and larger than most countries’ photos. The full spec:
- Size: 50×70 mm (width × height) — the same size IRCC uses for passport photos
- Background: plain white or light-coloured
- Head size: 31–36 mm from chin to crown
- Expression: neutral, both eyes open
- Glasses: not allowed (the rule has held since November 2017)
- Recency: taken within the last 6 months
- Match: the PR card photo and your passport photo must be identical
For a digital file, a JPEG of 420×540 pixels and up. The 50×70 mm size is the thing to get right — it is not the 35×45 mm or 2×2 inch used elsewhere.
How to take a compliant photo
The capture is standard; the 50×70 mm size and the small head ratio are the Canada-specific points:
- Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain white or light wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
- Light yourself evenly from the front.
- Have someone else take the shot — neutral expression, both eyes open, glasses off.
- Crop to the 50×70 mm frame. The head is 31–36 mm chin to crown — a smaller head ratio than a US 2×2 photo, with more space around it.
- Export a JPEG (420×540 px and up) — or use a tool that crops to the Canadian 50×70 mm frame.
Why photos get rejected
IRCC rejects a predictable set of problems on PR card photos. Each one, and the fix:
- Glasses worn — not allowed since November 2017, including prescription glasses. Take them off.
- Wrong head size — must be 31–36 mm chin to crown. A US-style large-head crop is too big.
- Wrong photo size — must be 50×70 mm. A 35×45 mm or 2×2 inch photo is the wrong size.
- Photo differs from the passport photo — the PR card and passport photos must be identical.
- Shadows on the face or background — light evenly from the front.
- Photo too old — must be within the last 6 months.
What to wear (and not wear)
There is no formal dress code, but a few choices reliably cause trouble.
Avoid: glasses of any kind, hats and non-religious head coverings, headphones, and a white or very pale top that blends into a light background.
Fine: ordinary everyday clothing in a solid darker color, light everyday makeup, and religious head coverings worn daily with the full face visible.
Glasses are the trap — the no-glasses rule applies to PR card photos exactly as it does to Canadian passport photos.
Where to get your photo
You can get a PR card photo at a studio or produce one yourself — the 50×70 mm size is what to verify:
| Where | Cost | 50×70mm sizing | Digital file | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo studio | ~CAD $15–20 | Yes — ask for “Canadian passport/PR size” | Often | Confirm 50×70 mm |
| Pharmacy photo counter | ~CAD $15–17 | Usually — Canadian counters know the size | Rarely | Print-focused |
| Online tool (this site) | $1.00 | Yes — exact 50×70 mm crop | Yes — JPEG | One step to a compliant file |
Canadian studios and pharmacy counters know the 50×70 mm size because it is the national passport size — ask for “Canadian passport photo size” and the PR card photo is the same. An online tool crops directly to 50×70 mm and gives you the digital file plus a print sheet.
Submitting your photo
PR card applications are filed with IRCC, by mail or — increasingly — online.
Paper application — You submit two identical printed 50×70 mm photos. One is signed on the back by the photographer, or carries a studio stamp with the date and address.
Online application — Where the PR card application is completed online, you upload the photo as a JPEG. Whichever route, the PR card photo must match the photo in your passport.
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Sources & References
This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.
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