CA Business Visa Photo Requirements - Official Guidelines

By AI Assistant 825 words 4 min read

Applying for a Canadian business visa begins with more than just filling out forms—it starts the moment your photograph is taken. Canada’s immigration officials scrutinize every detail of your photo to verify your identity, assess your professionalism, and ensure seamless entry into one of the world’s most dynamic economies. From precise dimensions and background color to head positioning and facial expression, each requirement is non-negotiable: a single misstep can lead to costly processing delays or even outright rejection. In this guide, we’ll demystify Canada’s business-visa photo standards, explain why they matter, and provide you with step-by-step advice to get it right the first time—so you can focus on making your business ambitions in Canada a reality.

Requirements

  • Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm high printed on high-quality matte or glossy paper
  • Head size: distance from chin to crown between 31 mm and 36 mm (70–80 % of photo height)
  • Head position: full-face view, centered, level, no tilt, eyes open and looking straight at camera
  • Background: plain white or light-coloured, smooth, no shadows, patterns or objects
  • Facial expression: neutral (closed mouth), natural look, both eyes visible and not squinting
  • Photo age: taken within past 6 months, accurately reflecting current appearance
  • Color & lighting: true-to-life skin tones, even lighting, no red-eye, no harsh shadows or overexposure
  • Glasses: remove prescription and non-prescription eyewear; no tinted lenses; no glare or reflections
  • Head coverings: not permitted except for religious reasons; hairline and face must be fully visible
  • Attire & accessories: normal street clothing; no uniforms, headphones, scarves (unless religious), or large jewelry
  • Quantity: submit two identical prints unmounted and untrimmed
  • Back-side marking: lightly write applicant’s name, date of birth, and client ID number in pencil
  • Image integrity: no digital enhancements, filters, airbrushing, or retouching—only basic color correction

Step-by-Step Process

Content about CA Business Visa Photo Requirements - process

Tips and Best Practices

  • Dimensions Accuracy: Use photos exactly 35 mm wide×45 mm high with the head 31–36 mm from chin to crown; consulates reject any deviation in size or head proportion.
  • Uniform White Background: Photograph against a plain white or light gray background with no shadows or patterns; uneven backdrops cause delays and retakes.
  • Centered Head Positioning: Align your head vertically and horizontally in the frame so that eyes are 31–36 mm from the bottom edge; off-center photos may be refused.
  • Neutral Expression & Open Eyes: Maintain a closed-mouth, neutral expression with eyes fully open and looking straight at the camera; smiling or frowning violates the standard.
  • No Glasses, Hats, or Hair Obstructions: Remove all eyewear, head coverings, and ensure hair doesn’t cover your face or eyebrows; any obstruction that hides facial features will lead to rejection.

Conclusion

In summary, the CA Business Visa photo must meet strict size, composition, and quality standards to ensure your application proceeds smoothly. Adhering precisely to these requirements avoids delays and rejections, keeping your travel plans on track.

Key Points:

  • Photo dimensions: 50 × 70 mm (width × height), head height 32–36 mm measured from chin to crown
  • Background: plain white or off-white, matte finish, no shadows or patterns
  • Head position: full-face view, centered, eyes 28–35 mm from bottom of photo, neutral expression
  • Image quality: high-resolution color, continuous tone, no creases, tears, marks or ink spots
  • Lighting: even, no red-eye, no shadows on face or background
  • Attire & accessories: everyday clothing, no uniforms, minimal jewelry, glasses allowed if eyes fully visible, no tinted lenses
  • Head coverings: permitted only for religious reasons, must not obscure facial features
  • Children & infants: follow same size and positioning rules, ensure eyes open or mouth closed, no pacifiers or toys visible
  • Printing & digital: print on glossy, high-quality photo paper with no borders; digital scans must be at least 600 dpi, JPEG format, color space sRGB

Following these specifications exactly will help secure approval for your CA Business Visa without unnecessary delays.

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