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Canada permanent residence photo check (PR Portal)
For online permanent residence applications in the PR Portal, IRCC requires one digital photo between 715 x 1000 and 2000 x 2800 pixels, JPEG, at most 4 MB, against a white background, with a neutral expression, mouth closed and eyes open, taken no more than 12 months before applying. IRCC counts any edit - including cropping around the head and shoulders - as an altered photo, and altered photos are rejected. That is why this page only validates your photographer's file on your device and never modifies it.
The official requirements
| Dimensions | Between 715 x 1000 and 2000 x 2800 px |
|---|---|
| File format | JPEG (.jpeg or .jpg) |
| File size | 4 MB or less |
| Background | White; avoid white clothing or white head coverings that blend into it |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera |
| Recency | Taken no more than 12 months before you apply |
| Alteration | Strictly none - cropping around head and shoulders, colour or contrast fixes, red-eye removal and background edits all count as altered |
| Source | Professional digital photo or professionally scanned print; a phone photo of a paper photo is not accepted |
Checked against the official sources below on 7 Nov 2026.
IRCC's alteration list explicitly includes 'cropping around the head and shoulders' - so no converter output is safe here. This page only checks your file against the published rules; a pass describes the file itself, and the reviewing officer decides.
The PR Portal accepts one digital photo per applicant. Specifications checked against canada.ca's permanent resident photos page (checked November 2026).
How to do it
- Have a commercial photographer take the photo against a plain white background, neutral expression, mouth closed.
- Get the digital file (or a professional scan) directly - no edits of any kind.
- Upload it below: the checker confirms dimensions (715 x 1000 to 2000 x 2800 px), JPEG format, the 4 MB limit, background and expression.
- If anything fails, ask the photographer for a compliant original rather than editing the file yourself.
Common questions
Why doesn't this page crop or fix my photo?
Because IRCC explicitly counts cropping around the head and shoulders - and any other edit - as altering the photo, and altered photos are rejected. The only safe route is a compliant original file.
Is a photo of my printed photo OK?
No - IRCC does not accept photos of paper photos taken with a camera or phone. A professional scan of a printed professional photo is accepted.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken no more than 12 months before you apply - longer than the 6-month rule used for Canadian passports.
Can I wear a religious head covering?
Yes - but choose a non-white one, because white coverings can blend into the required white background.