50 x 70 mm size
The photo must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, which is 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches.
Canada official guide
Canada baby passport photo requirements for child applications
Canada child passport photos follow stricter official rules than the digital-first flows used by some other countries. Use this page as a requirements guide and follow the official Canada rules exactly for the final submitted photos.
Core Canada child passport photo requirements
31 to 36 mm head height
The child’s face, measured from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm and 36 mm.
2 identical printed photos
The application requires 2 identical, unaltered photos produced from a single image and printed on plain high-quality photographic paper.
What the official rules emphasize for children
Commercial photographer only
Canada says the child’s passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio.
No hands in frame
The photo must show the child’s face and shoulders only. Your hands or the child’s hands must not appear in the picture.
Plain white or light background
The background must be plain and light-coloured, with clear contrast between the child’s face and the background.
Newborn-specific guidance Canada allows
Car seat setup is allowed
Canada allows a newborn photo in a car seat if a white blanket is placed behind the baby’s head and there are no shadows.
Infant expressions have some flexibility
The Passport Program recognizes that neutral expressions are harder for newborns and allows some flexibility for infant facial expressions.
Keep the face fully visible
Even for newborns, the facial features and face outline must remain clearly visible.
Back-of-photo details for a child application
Photographer information
On the back of 1 photo, the photographer must write or stamp the date the photo was taken and the name and complete address of the photo studio.
Guarantor signature
For a child passport application, the guarantor must certify the photo as a true likeness of the child and sign the back of 1 photo.
No stick-on labels
The official specification says stick-on labels are not acceptable for the required studio information on the back of the photo.
Important limitation
Do not treat edited online output as a substitute for the official Canada child passport photo process
Canada’s official child passport rules explicitly require in-person commercial photography and reject altered photos. Use this site to understand the format and avoid common mistakes, but follow the official Canada requirements for the final submitted passport photos.