Canada IRCC digital photo requirements (and the 420 x 540 confusion)
Updated 2026-09-20
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes digital photo specifications that are stricter than most: a minimum of 715 x 1000 pixels, a maximum of 2000 x 2800, JPEG only, and a file between 420 KB and 4 MB for permanent resident card photos. The unusual part is the lower size bound; a small, heavily compressed file is rejected just as an oversized one is.
Search results and forums also circulate an older, smaller IRCC specification (420 x 540 pixels, 60 KB to 4 MB) that applied to certain online application uploads. The two are not interchangeable, and applicants regularly ask whether a 413 x 531 conversion of a 35 x 45 mm print passes. This guide explains which spec is which and sets the resizer to the larger, current PR-card figure, which satisfies both.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum dimensions (PR card) | 715 x 1000 px (5:7 portrait) | canada.ca PR card photos |
| Maximum dimensions (PR card) | 2000 x 2800 px | canada.ca PR card photos |
| File format | JPEG / JPG | canada.ca PR card photos |
| File size (PR card) | 420 KB to 4 MB (a smaller file is rejected) | canada.ca PR card photos |
| Print equivalent | 50 x 70 mm, head 31 to 36 mm, no alterations including background | canada.ca PR card photos |
| Older e-application spec | 420 x 540 px minimum, 60 KB to 4 MB, JPEG or JPEG 2000 (applies to some online uploads; conflicting) | CanadaVisa forum (third-party discussion) |
| Official PDF spec | IRCC digital photo specification document | canada.ca PDF |
Open the tool with these settings
Centre-crops to 5:7 and saves as JPG. Raise quality to 100% if you need the file above 420 KB.
Rarely needed at 715 x 1000. Do not compress below 420 KB for PR card photos.
All tools linked here run in your browser; the photo is never uploaded to GivenTool.
The current PR card specification
IRCC's permanent resident card photo page gives the digital version of the 50 x 70 mm print: minimum 715 x 1000 pixels, maximum 2000 x 2800 pixels, JPEG or JPG format, file size from 420 KB to 4 MB. The head must measure 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown on the printed equivalent, the background must be plain white or light-coloured, and the photo must not be altered in any way; IRCC explicitly includes background changes in that ban, which rules out the "replace background" feature many photo apps offer.
The 715 x 1000 minimum is a 5:7 ratio, the same as the print. A phone photo in 3:4 needs a small crop from the sides; the resizer preset does that from the centre.
The older 420 x 540 specification
A separate IRCC digital photo spec, discussed at length on the CanadaVisa forum, asks for a minimum of 420 x 540 pixels, 60 KB to 4 MB (about 240 KB "optimal"), JPEG or JPEG 2000, 24-bit colour. It appears in older e-application and Express Entry guidance. Forum users were unsure whether 413 x 531, the common 35 x 45 mm at 300 dpi conversion, satisfies "at least 420 x 540"; it does not, by a few pixels in each direction.
The safe approach is to produce a file that satisfies the larger spec. A 715 x 1000 JPEG is above both pixel minimums and, at normal quality, lands between 150 and 400 KB. If the program you are applying to is the PR card with its 420 KB floor, raise the JPEG quality or use a larger size such as 1430 x 2000 so the file exceeds 420 KB; the resizer's quality slider at 100% usually does it.
Step by step
Open the resizer with the Canada IRCC preset (715 x 1000, JPG). Check the result card for the size.
If your application states the 420 KB minimum and your file is smaller, go back, set the quality slider to 100% or enter 1430 x 2000 in exact-pixel mode, and resize again. Do not add filters or change the background.
If the file is over 4 MB (rare at these dimensions), run it through the compressor with a target of 3900 KB.
Confirm which specification your specific application form quotes before uploading; the official pages are linked in the table.
Frequently asked questions
My file is 280 KB and the form wants at least 420 KB. What do I do?
Increase the pixel dimensions or the JPEG quality; both raise the file size without changing the picture. Resizing to 1430 x 2000 at 100% quality typically gives 600 KB to 1.5 MB. Never pad a file artificially.
Does 413 x 531 pass?
No for either spec. It is below the 420 x 540 minimum by 7 and 9 pixels and far below 715 x 1000. It is a 35 x 45 mm print conversion, which is a different format from Canada's 50 x 70 mm.
Can I use an app that replaces the background with white?
IRCC says the photo must not be altered and names background changes specifically. Take the photo against a plain white or light wall instead.
Which spec applies to my application?
Read the photo section of your own form or checklist. PR card applications use the 715 x 1000 / 420 KB figures; some online visa uploads still quote the 420 x 540 / 60 KB ones. A file that meets the larger spec meets both.
Is anything uploaded to GivenTool?
No. The resizer runs in your browser; only you upload the result, to IRCC.
This guide summarises published requirements for convenience. It is not legal advice and GivenTool is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority's page is the only authoritative source.
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.