What are the IRCC digital photo requirements for permanent residence?

A digital permanent residence photograph must be in JPEG or PNG format, measure between 715 x 1000 and 2000 x 2800 pixels, and be 4 MB or less. It must be a scan of a professional photo rather than a phone picture of a printed one. The photo itself is 50 mm x 70 mm with the face measuring 31 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown.

Why does the IRCC portal keep rejecting my photo?

The most common causes are pixel dimensions outside the 715 x 1000 to 2000 x 2800 range, a file over 4 MB, a background that reads grey rather than plain white, a face that is too dark against the background, or a face height outside the 31 mm to 36 mm range.

Can I edit my IRCC photo?

IRCC says photos must be original and not altered in any way. Resizing the file so it fits the size limits, or fixing lighting the scan got wrong, is file handling. Changing how you look is not allowed. If your photo needs more than that, ask your photographer for a new one.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

No. Your photo is opened and edited by your own device and is never sent to MapleAlerts or anyone else. Closing the tab discards it.

PR Photo Checker

New

Check your photo against IRCC's rules, and brighten it if the portal says it is too dark.

Your photo never leaves your device No upload, no sign up Works with your wifi off

Your photo must not be altered

The specification sheet says photos have to be original and not altered in any way. Resizing the file and fixing the lighting is fine. Do not touch your face or your skin. If your photo needs more than a small nudge, ask your photographer for a new one.

Drop your photo here, or click to choose one

The file from your photographer. JPEG or PNG. Nothing is uploaded.

Crown

Chin

Original

Face brightness

Background

Washed out

The background must be white, with your face standing out clearly against it.

Checklist

Face height

Lighting

Brightness

Contrast

Saturation

Small changes only. Your skin still has to look natural.

Saved file

Format

Both are accepted. PNG files come out much bigger.

JPEG quality

Shrink to 2000 × 2800 px Your photo is bigger than the limit. Nothing gets cut off.

Photo size
File size

The requirements

And what this page can fix.

The file you upload

JPEG or PNG format

Save as either one above.

Between 715 × 1000 and 2000 × 2800 px

Too big is easy to fix. Too small is not.

4 MB or less

Lower the quality if you are over.

A scan from the photographer

Not a phone picture of a printed photo.

Your photographer's job

50 mm × 70 mm, face 31 mm to 36 mm

Chin to the top of your head. Measure it above.

Plain white background

No pattern or texture, and your face has to stand out from it.

Even lighting, no shadows or glare

Brightness lifts the whole photo. It cannot remove a shadow.

Straight on, head and shoulders centred

Sharp and in focus. Eyes open, mouth closed, no smiling.

Taken in the last 12 months

By a commercial photographer, and it has to look like you now.

Original, not altered

Fix the lighting if you have to. Nothing else.

Taken from the IRCC photograph specification sheet. We are not part of IRCC and the rules change, so check the sheet in your application guide before you send anything.

Your photo stays with you

Your photo is opened, changed and saved by your own device. We never receive it, never see it, and never store it. There is no upload button because there is nowhere for it to go.

Turn off your wifi after this page loads and everything here still works. Close the tab and your photo is gone from here.