Canadian Passport Photos Los Angeles Book Appointment — Canadian Citizenship Photos Canadian Passport Photos Los Angeles Book Appointment — Canadian Citizenship Photos

No — they are completely different. Canadian passport photos are 50×70mm — larger than the U.S. 2×2 inch (51×51mm) format. This size difference alone is the most common reason U.S.-processed photos are rejected at a Canadian consulate or Service Canada office. Beyond dimensions, Canadian photos have their own strict government specifications including precise head measurements, lighting requirements, background standards, and a mandatory commercial studio stamp on the back required by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). A photo taken for a U.S. passport will not be accepted for a Canadian passport or citizenship application.

Yes. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) requires that passport and citizenship photos be taken by a recognized commercial photographer or studio. Photos taken at drugstores, kiosks, or on a smartphone do not meet this requirement and are frequently rejected.

Many retail and drug store locations do not have a commercial studio stamp at all — they write the required information on the back of the photo with a ballpoint pen, which smears on photographic paper. A smeared or illegible stamp is grounds for rejection. Karen Vaisman Photography uses a professionally produced studio stamp with non-smear ink specially formulated to adhere to photographic paper, ensuring your application goes through cleanly.

The Canadian government requires a commercial studio stamp on the back of one of your two print photos. The stamp must include the studio name, address, and the date the photo was taken. Here is what is included in every Karen Vaisman Photography Canadian passport package:

• Two compliant prints sized to exact Canadian government specifications (50×70mm)
• Commercial studio stamp on the back of one of the two prints
• Precise head measurements meeting strict IRCC requirements (31–36mm chin to crown)
• Exact pixel dimensions and file specifications if a digital file is included in your package

Additional prints, a second stamp, or a digital file add-on are available for purchase separately if needed.

Different packages offer different products. Please review the packages above carefully before booking. As a general guide:

• All packages include two compliant 50×70mm prints with the commercial studio stamp on the back of one print
• Digital files are available in select packages or as an add-on — they meet the exact pixel dimensions and file specifications required by the Canadian government for online applications
• Digital files are sized to government specifications — not to be used for printing
• Additional prints, a second stamp, or digital file add-ons can be purchased separately

Questions about which package is right for you? Call Karen at (818) 991-7787.

The key difference comes down to the stamp requirements on the back of the print. Canadian passport photos and Canadian citizenship photos are governed by different IRCC departments and each has its own specific stamp requirements. Karen is experienced with both and will provide the correct stamp and documentation for whichever application you are submitting. If you are unsure which you need, call Karen at (818) 991-7787 before booking.

For a full breakdown of citizenship-specific requirements, see our Canadian citizenship picture requirements guide →

Photos are ready in just 1 hour. Karen normally works by appointment — book online at our Canadian passport photo appointments page. If you have an urgent situation, call Karen directly at (818) 991-7787 and she can sometimes accommodate same-day appointments depending on availability.

We have never had a Canadian passport or citizenship photo rejected. If yours ever is, we will retake it for free — though we have never needed to. Karen is meticulous about every detail: precise head measurements, exact print dimensions, correct pixel specifications, proper lighting with no shadows, and the correct commercial studio stamp. Clients travel from Bakersfield, San Diego, Lancaster, Pasadena, and Marina del Rey specifically because they trust our compliance record.

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) sets strict technical requirements for Canadian passport photos. Karen handles all of these for you, but here is exactly what goes into a compliant photo:

• Size: exactly 50×70mm — not the U.S. 2×2 inch format. This is the single most common rejection cause for photos processed at U.S. drugstores
• Face height: 31–36mm from chin to crown — measured precisely at the studio
• Plain white background — no shadows, no patterns, no gradients
• Neutral expression — no teeth showing, no smile
• Both eyes fully visible, open, and looking directly at the camera
• No glasses (IRCC has not permitted glasses in passport photos since 2017)
• No hats or headwear unless worn daily for religious reasons
• Commercial studio stamp on the back of one print — studio name, address, and date
• Photo taken within the last 6 months
• Taken by a licensed commercial photographer — not a kiosk, drugstore, or smartphone

It is all in the details — and Karen is meticulous about every single one. For the full technical breakdown, see our Canadian passport & citizenship photo requirements guide →

Yes! Karen specializes in infant and child Canadian passport and citizenship photos. Even if your baby cannot sit or stand on their own, Karen has techniques to get a compliant, accepted photo every time. Call ahead so Karen can prepare for your little one: (818) 991-7787.

Wear a solid colored top that contrasts with the white background. Avoid white, off-white, or very light tops — IRCC flags photos where clothing blends into the background. Do not wear glasses, hats, or any headwear unless worn daily for religious reasons. No uniforms.

One tip Karen shares with clients concerned about neck appearance: since no retouching is allowed on government ID photos, some women choose to wear a turtleneck or higher neckline to feel their most confident in the final photo. For more wardrobe guidance visit our What to Wear page. Karen is also happy to advise you before your session — call (818) 991-7787.

Yes, depending on the package selected or as an add-on. Digital files meet the exact pixel dimensions and file specifications required by the Canadian government for online applications. These files are sized to government specifications — not to be used for printing. See our full products and services page for details.

Absolutely. We frequently help clients whose photos were rejected elsewhere. The most common reasons are:

• Shadows on the face or background
• Incorrect head size or measurements — face must be 31–36mm chin to crown
• Wrong print dimensions — most commonly a U.S. 2×2 inch photo submitted instead of the required 50×70mm
• Missing commercial studio stamp
• Stamp written in ballpoint pen that smeared on the photo paper

Karen will make sure your new photos meet every IRCC requirement precisely. Same-day appointments are often available for urgent situations — call (818) 991-7787.

Karen Vaisman Photography is a premier photography studio located at 5624 Silver Valley Avenue, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 — just off the 101 Freeway at Reyes Adobe, minutes from Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Book your appointment online here or call (818) 991-7787. Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm, by appointment only. Same-day appointments sometimes available — call to check.

Yes. Canadian Permanent Resident card photos have their own IRCC specifications — different dimensions and stamp requirements from standard passport photos. Many clients are surprised to learn the two formats are not interchangeable. Karen is familiar with both and will confirm exactly which application you are submitting before your session so the correct stamp and specifications are applied. Call to discuss your application before booking: (818) 991-7787.

Yes, for most Canadian passport applications. A guarantor must sign the back of one of your two photos. IRCC requires the guarantor to:

• Be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older
• Have known you personally for at least 2 years
• Not be a family member
• Write “I certify that this is a true likeness of [your full name]” on the back of one photo
• Sign their name and include their address and phone number

The guarantor signs after your session — not at the studio. Karen will leave the required space on the stamp and can advise you at your appointment. Questions? Call (818) 991-7787.

Canada’s online passport renewal portal requires a digital photo from a commercial photographer — not a scanned print, not a selfie, and not a photo taken at home. IRCC specifies exact pixel dimensions and file requirements for the upload, and the photo must still meet all standard compliance criteria: white background, correct head size, neutral expression, no glasses, no shadows.

Karen provides a fully compliant digital file as a package option or add-on. The file is emailed to you, sized exactly to government specifications, and ready to upload directly to the IRCC renewal portal. Book your appointment online or call (818) 991-7787 to confirm your package includes the digital file.