No, you can’t take your own passport photo at home. In Canada, they require all photos to be taken in-person, at a professional studio.
There are many rules your photographer must follow for your photo to be approved. You at least need a plain white background and great lighting to start. There are other requirements as well which we will dive into so you can have a permissible photo.
Passport Photo Requirements
The basic requirements to taking acceptable photos must include:
- Having a white or off-white background
- Taking the photo headshot style (no selfies)
- Full-face view, clearly visible
- No shadows on your face
- Good quality picture
For wheelchair users with headrests, there should be a white covering placed on it to match the background.
The photo you take can be in black and white or in color. If you pick a photo studio, they should make sure that they meet all the rules. You can also read on to see all the rules and to ensure that your photo will be accepted.
Pose and Clothing
Canada requests that you have a neutral facial expression in your passport photo. Your facial features must be clearly visible, including your eyes and mouth. This means that there should not be any filters, glare, or shadows present.
If you wear glasses, they can remain on for the photo if there is no glare or flash reflected. However, tinted glasses are unacceptable even if your eyes are visible in the picture.
To take a permissible photo, face the camera straight on and be centered. As for your hair, you can leave it down or put it up. That is your choice, as long as your hair does not cover your facial features.
A head covering for religious or medical reasons is allowed, but you should make sure that your face can still be seen perfectly. The Government of Canada requires a signed explanation for head coverings and nasal cannulas. The same rules apply to children’s passport photos as well.
As for newborns, they may be in a car seat with a white blanket or cloth behind their heads. The newborn’s expression should be as neutral as possible, but minor variations of that are okay.
Photo Size Requirements
Once you have taken the perfect photo, you need to print out 2 copies and submit them with your application. This photo cannot be printed at home, as you need to get it professionally done on photographic paper.
Each photo should be 50 mm wide x 70 mm high (2 inches wide x 2 3/4 inches high) in size. With the top of your head down to your chin measuring about 31 mm (1 1/4 inches)-36 mm (1 7/16 inches).
Altered Photos
Altered or edited photos will not be accepted. This includes basic editing like removing red-eye to photoshopping your facial features. None of the following edits are okay to use when submitting a passport photo:
- Colour corrections
- Brightness or contrast edits
- Photoshopping a person onto a plain white background
- Changing your facial features (enlarging or minimizing)
- Erasing birthmarks, beauty marks, acne, or wrinkles
- Editing of the hair, headwear, or clothing
If you use a reputable photo company, you shouldn’t have any issues with altered images.
How to Submit your Canadian Passport Photo
After you have taken and printed a photo that meets all the requirements, it’s time to submit your passport application. You have to include a guarantor’s declaration to ensure that you followed all the rules.
On the back of one of the photos you are submitting, you must write “This is the true likeness of (insert name here).” You also need to sign and date the statement for it to be official.
In addition to the statement and signature, on either the same or different photo the photographer must submit a stamp with:
- the date the photo was taken
- the name and address of the studio
If it’s a passport renewal, you may not have to do this part of the submission. More details can be found on the Government of Canada’s passport photos website page.
Where Can I Take Canadian Passport Photos Near Me?
If you need a passport photo in Calgary Check out Photo Studio Calgary today. You can’t be the price, expertise, and quickness of our services.
We even specialize in taking photos of newborns and children. You can enjoy a hassle-free passport photo process in a matter of minutes. Even if you are in a rush, you can always walk in and receive a high-quality photo.