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Steps
1. Forms
2. Personal information
3. Proof of citizenship
4. Proof of identity
5. Fees
6. Photos
7. Guarantor
8. Submit
9. Processing times
10. Upon receipt
Profiles
- For Canadians
  - living in Canada
  - living in the United States or Bermuda
  - abroad
Why can't I smile in my passport photo?
- The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends that passport photos be taken with a neutral expression for use with facial recognition systems - advanced technology that helps prevent fraud by electronically verifying identity based on each person's unique facial features.

Step-by-Step Guide

You must submit two (2) identical photos with each passport application.

50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide X 2 3/4 inches long).
taken by a professional photographer.
in colour or in black and white.
taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections.
centered and taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera.
taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, no smiling).
clear, sharp and in focus.
taken in front of a plain white or light-coloured background with a clear difference between your face and the background. Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones.
sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head).
reflect your current appearance (taken within the last 12 months).
original photos that are not digitally altered or taken from an existing photo.
professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper (photos printed at home and photos printed on heavy weight paper are not acceptable).

The name and address of the photographer or studio and the date the photo was taken must be provided directly on the back of one photo (see illustration above). The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are unacceptable.
Your guarantor must clearly write on the back of one (1) photo: "I certify this to be a true likeness of (applicant's name)" and sign his or her name (unless you are applying to renew a passport, as no guarantor is necessary for renewals).

Glasses, including tinted prescription glasses, may be worn in photos as long as the eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare in the glasses. Sunglasses and red eyes are unacceptable.
There must be no reflection or glare on the face or glasses.
Hats and head coverings must not be worn, unless it is worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, your full face must be clearly visible and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Your hair can be down.
Shadows are not acceptable. Lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows across the face or shoulders, around the ears or in the background.

Child photos must follow the same rules indicated above.
Photos must show the child’s head and shoulders only. Parent’s or child’s hands must not appear in the photo.
Passport Canada recognizes the difficulty in obtaining a neutral expression of a newborn and will allow for some tolerance in this regard.
If applying for a one-time replacement passport for a child, you must include a photo that has been taken within one month of the date the application is submitted.