Guides · capture a better original
Set up a plain background, soft front light and an eye-level camera. Capture a real photo, then choose the correct application preparation route.
Your photo · your application route
Photo stays in this browser
Print at 2 × 2 inches (50.8 × 50.8 mm exact). Keep your real appearance and original background. The official page also describes this as 51 × 51 mm.
JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC/HEIF · up to 20 MB. Browser support varies for HEIC. No photo is sent to a server.
Start with your real photo.
We locate your face, suggest framing and flag possible pose problems. You review the remaining requirements.
Local analysis & measured facts
A correct file size does not make a photo acceptable. This check does not replace the authority’s final review.
Choose a photo to see measured format, byte size and pixel dimensions, alongside the items that need your confirmation.
01 · Know the requirement
Check whether your application permits a self-taken photo. Use the required plain background, move away from the wall and face soft, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, busy walls and a bright window behind you.
02 · Choose your next step
Keep the camera straight and leave space around the whole head and shoulders. Use a clear, high-quality camera setting, turn off beauty filters and inspect the original for blur, glare and uneven light. Do not assume a selfie angle can be corrected with a crop.
03 · Review before submission
Keep the original for online renewal. Use the appropriate print or digital preset when that application permits preparation. Canada’s paper passport process requires a commercial photographer and professional printing, so a home-made template is not an equivalent service.
Official sources · checked 2026-11-06
Requirements can change. The authority’s current instructions and final review take precedence.
Questions about this task
A close selfie can distort proportions or create an uneven angle. Ask another person to take the photo with the camera at eye level and follow the authority’s guidance.
Use a smooth, plain background suited to the application. Check for visible folds, texture and shadows; a white color alone is not enough.
Leave enough space to avoid a cast shadow and follow the specific authority’s instructions. Check the actual photo rather than relying on one universal distance.
Avoid effects that alter the face, blur edges or replace the background. Keep the original unfiltered photograph.
Do not rely on generated detail for an identity photo. Take a sharper original under better light and review the applicable editing restrictions.
No. Check the exact process. For example, Canada’s paper passport rules require commercial photography and professional printing.
