IRCC digital photo for online applications

Two IRCC specifications, not one

IRCC publishes separate rules for printed photos and digital photos, and confusing them is one of the easiest ways to delay an application. Printed photos are defined in millimetres and must be 50 mm by 70 mm. Digital photos are defined in pixels and kilobytes, with a floor of 420 by 540 pixels and a ceiling of 4 MB. The face geometry is the same in both, but the frame shape and export settings are not.

The 31 to 36 mm rule still applies

Even though a digital file has no physical size, IRCC still expresses the head height in millimetres, measured at the equivalent print scale. This preset renders the frame at 600 DPI so the millimetre measurement stays meaningful, then reports the figure to you directly. Anything outside 31 to 36 mm is flagged before you download.

Give yourself room in the file size budget

4 MB sounds generous, but a full-resolution phone photo can exceed it. Rather than asking you to guess a compression setting, the exporter searches for the highest JPEG quality that fits inside the limit. If a portal ever rejects the file for being too large, you can also run it through the image compressor.

Which forms this covers

Any application filed through the IRCC online portal uses this format, including Express Entry permanent residence, study permits, work permits, visitor visas, family sponsorship and citizenship. If you are filling a paper form or applying for a Canadian passport, use the printed 50x70 mm format instead.