- Size
- Image quality
- Facial expression
- Appearance and posture
Number of photos you need
You must submit 2 identical and unaltered photos with each passport application.
Photo specifications
Passport photo size information
Go to a commercial photographer or studio to have your photo taken.
Make sure your photo
- is the right size
- has the quality we need
- captures a neutral facial expression
- reflects how you look now (taken no more than 6 months before you apply)
Size
Your photos must meet these specifications:
- They must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high).
- The height of your face must measure between 31 mm (1¼ inches) and 36 mm (1⁷⁄₁₆ inches) from your chin to the crown of your head (natural top of head).
Image quality
Your photos may be in colour or in black and white.
- be clear, sharp and in focus
- have uniform lighting and no shadows, glare or flash reflections
- show a clear difference between your face and the background
- show your natural skin tone
- be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio
- be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper
- We don’t accept photos that you print at home or photos that are printed on heavy weight paper.
What is an altered photo?
An altered photo is any photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means. This includes
- making technical corrections or enhancements, such as changes to
- colour
- brightness
- contrast
- sharpness
- cutting and pasting your image against a white background
- changing the size or shape of your eyes, nose, mouth or ears
- removing glare
- removing red-eye
- changing hair colour
- removing scars or birthmarks
Facial expression
The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos show a neutral expression. This type of photo helps us confirm your identity and prevent fraud.
A neutral facial expression means that
- your eyes are open and clearly visible
- you’re looking straight at the camera
- your mouth is closed
- you’re not smiling or frowning
Appearance and posture
Your photos must show how you look now. This means that your photos must be taken no more than 6 months before you submit your application.
Your photos must also
- show your face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera, not tilted in any direction
- have a plain white or light-coloured background
If you can’t meet these requirements for medical reasons
Explain the reasons in writing when you apply.
We accept photos with
- glasses
- Your eyes must be clearly visible.
- There must be no glare on the lenses.
- Your hair must be off your face, so that the edges of your face are visible.
- Your full face must be clearly visible.
- The head covering must not create shadows on your face.
- Your facial features and the edges of your face must both be clearly visible.
Headwear or nasal cannula
If you wear a medical headwear or nasal cannula for medical reasons
- your eyes must be clearly visible in the photo
- include a signed letter of explanation in your application
We may ask you to submit a letter from your doctor.
We don’t accept photos with
- sunglasses or tinted eye glasses
- This includes prescription lenses, even when your eyes are clearly visible.
- lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows
- around your ears
- in the background
- across your face or shoulders
Get your guarantor to sign 1 of your photos
View the full image
What the back of 1 photo should look like
On the back of 1 photo
- the photographer must clearly write or stamp the
- date the photo was taken
- name and complete address of the photo studio
- clearly write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (applicant's name)” for an application
- sign the back of the photo
If you’re renewing an adult passport, you do not need a guarantor.
Tips for taking a good passport photo
If you’re in a wheelchair Passport photos must be taken against a plain white background. If your wheelchair has a headrest, a plain white covering should be placed over it. This makes your facial features and the edges of your face clear against the background. If you have headwear or nasal cannula Your headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a passport photo if worn for medical reasons. Your eyes must remain clearly visible. Include a signed explanation with your application. We may ask for a letter from your doctor. Why can’t I smile in my passport photo? The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos be taken with a neutral expression. This lets us use facial recognition systems to help prevent fraud. They electronically verify identity based on each person's unique facial features.
Photo requirements for child passports
Give these requirements to your photographer
- Number of photos you need
- Photo specifications
- Size
- Image quality
- Facial expression
- Appearance and posture
Number of photos you need
You must submit 2 identical and unaltered photos with each passport application.
Photo specifications
Go to a commercial photographer or studio to have your child’s photo taken.
Make sure your child’s photo
- is the right size
- has the quality we need
- captures a neutral facial expression
- reflects how your child looks now (taken no more than 6 months before you apply)
View the full imagePassport photo size information
Size
Your child’s photos must meet these specifications:
- They must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2¾ inches high).
- The height of your child’s face must measure between 31 mm (1¼ inches) and 36 mm (1⁷⁄₁₆ inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head).
Image quality
Your child’s photos may be in colour or in black and white. They must
- be clear, sharp and in focus
- have uniform lighting and no shadows, glare or flash reflections
- show a clear difference between your child’s face and the background
- show your child’s natural skin tone
- be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio
- be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper
- We don’t accept photos that you print at home or photos that are printed on heavy weight paper.
What is an altered photo?
An altered photo refers to any photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means.
- making technical corrections or enhancements, such as changes to
- colour
- brightness
- contrast
- sharpness
- cutting and pasting your child’s image against a white background
- changing the size or shape of your child’s eyes, nose, mouth or ears
- removing glare
- removing red-eye
- changing hair colour
- removing scars or birthmarks
Facial expression
The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos show a neutral expression. This type of photo helps us confirm your child’s identity and prevent fraud.
A neutral facial expression means that
- eyes are open and clearly visible
- eyes are looking straight at the camera
- mouth is closed and not smiling
Note: Newborns may have a range of facial expressions.
Your child’s passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio with
- uniform lighting
- no shadows, glare or flash reflections
Appearance and posture
Your child’s passport photos must show how your child looks now. This means they must be taken no more than 6 months before the application is submitted.
Your child’s passport photos must also
- show your child’s face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera, not tilted in any direction
- not show your hands or your child's hands
- have a plain white or light-coloured background that shows a clear difference between your child and the background
- reflect or represent your child’s natural skin tone
If you can’t meet these requirements for medical reasons
Explain the reasons in writing when you apply.
We accept photos with
- glasses
- Your child’s eyes must be clearly visible.
- There must be no glare on the lenses.
- Hair must be off your child’s face, so that the edges of the face are visible.
- Your child’s full face must be clearly visible.
- The head covering must not create shadows on your child’s face.
- Your child’s facial features and the edges of your child’s face must both be clearly visible.
We don’t accept photos with
- sunglasses or tinted eye glasses
- This includes prescription lenses, even when your child’s eyes are clearly visible.
- lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows
- around your child’s ears
- in the background
- across your child’s face or shoulders
Additional instructions for photos of newborns
You may take a photo of your newborn sitting in a car seat, as long as
- a white blanket is placed over the seat behind your child’s head
- This makes your child’s facial features and the edges of your child’s face clear against the background.
- around your child’s ears
- in the background
- on your child’s face or shoulders
We know that it is difficult to get a neutral expression from your newborn. We do allow some range for infant facial expressions.
Your guarantor must also write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (the newborn’s name)” and sign the back of the photo.
Get your guarantor to sign 1 of your child’s photos
View the full imageWhat the back of 1 photo should look like
On the back of 1 photo
- the photographer must clearly write or stamp the
- date the photo was taken
- name and complete address of the photo studio
- clearly write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (child’s name)”
- sign the back of the photo
Tips for child and newborn passport photos
- Video: Tips for taking passport photos of toddlers
- Video: Tips for taking passport photos of babies
If you’re in a wheelchair Passport photos must be taken against a plain white background. If your wheelchair has a headrest, a plain white covering should be placed over it. This makes your facial features and the edges of your face clear against the background. If you have headwear or nasal cannula Your headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a passport photo if worn for medical reasons. Your eyes must remain clearly visible. Include a signed explanation with your application. We may ask for a letter from your doctor. Why can’t I smile in my passport photo? The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos be taken with a neutral expression. This lets us use facial recognition systems to help prevent fraud. They electronically verify identity based on each person's unique facial features.
Examples of acceptable and unacceptable passport photos
These photos don’t represent the actual size of a passport photo. Unacceptable photos show you what to look for before you submit your application.
