prcard.ca is independent software. It is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada and does not provide legal advice.

Skip to content
prcard.caFrançais
Renewal guide › Step 5

PR card photo requirements

What the portal accepts, what the photo page says, and the one requirement almost everyone misses: the back of the photo.

Verified Sep 11, 2026 against canada.ca and the PR PortalNothing you upload comes to us

The front1

File
JPEG, under 4 MBThe photo page says JPEG or JPG; the portal's upload screen also lists PNG. A JPEG satisfies both.
Size in pixels
715 × 1000 up to 2000 × 2800A studio file of 1000 × 1400 is inside every IRCC range.
Taken
Within the last 12 monthsBy a commercial photographer or studio. Not a selfie, not a photo of a printed photo.
Look
Plain white background, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no glare on glasses

IRCC's photo page and the portal's upload screen quote different minimum sizes (715 × 1000 and 420 × 540). Meeting the larger one satisfies both.

1

The back: the part most people miss

Most missed
IRCC says
Upload one photo taken within 12 months of the date you apply and include images of the front and the back. The back shows the name and date of birth of the person in the photo, the date the photo was taken, and the name and complete address of the photo studio.2
You do
  • Ask the studio to stamp or handwrite all four details on the back of a printed copy.
  • Photograph or scan that back with your phone. That image is your second upload.
  • If the studio only gives you a digital file, ask for a receipt or a note with the same four details. IRCC accepts that as the back image.
Don't take the photo yourself. A selfie or a phone photo has no studio back to upload, and the portal will not let you submit without one.
2

At the studio, say this

IRCC says
Your photo can be a professional digital photo or a scanned professional photo. Don't take a picture of a paper photo with your camera or phone.2
You do
  • Say: "A Canadian permanent resident card photo, with the digital file and the back stamped." Studios in Canada do this daily.
  • Ask for the file by email, then photograph or scan the stamped back.
  • Upload both under Photos in the portal: the front first, then the back.
File names that pass the portal
Last-First-Photo-1.jpg Last-First-Photo-Back-1.jpg
You're set. Front file inside the pixel range and under 4 MB, back image with the four details, both uploaded under Photos.

Applying on paper instead?

Two identical printed photos, 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, head 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown, in a small envelope with no staples or paper clips. The back rule is the same: name, date of birth, studio name and address, date taken.1

Common questions

Can I use a passport photo studio for my PR card photo?
Yes. The paper size is the same 50 × 70 mm as a Canadian passport photo, so any studio that does passport photos can do this one. Ask for the back to be stamped with the PR card details and for the digital file.
Do I need printed photos if I apply online?
No. Online you upload one digital front image and one image of the back, or a studio receipt carrying the same details. Printed photos are only for paper applications.
What if my photo is older than 12 months?
IRCC asks for a photo taken no more than 12 months before you apply. Get a new one; an old photo is a reason for the application to be returned.

Sources

  1. 1.canada.ca, PR card photo requirementscanada.ca
  2. 2.Guide 5445, photoscanada.ca