Canada citizenship certificate photos must be 50×70mm — the same size and standard as a Canadian passport photo. You'll need two identical prints. The photographer's name and address must be written on the back of each one. IRCC reviews both photos when processing the citizenship certificate application (Form CIT 0014).
The certificate is a proof-of-citizenship document, not a travel document. But the photo standard is the full Canadian passport spec.
Canada Citizenship Certificate Photo Specifications
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Print size | 50×70mm |
| Digital size | 591×827 pixels |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Background | White |
| Glasses | Allowed |
| Expression | Neutral |
| Head size | 31–36mm from chin to crown |
| File format | JPEG |
These are the standard Canadian passport photo dimensions. If you had a photo session for a passport or PR card recently, the same photos may work — provided they're less than six months old and your appearance hasn't changed.
Two identical prints means printed from the same exposure, same session. Don't use two prints from different sittings even if they look similar.
Get a compliant passport photo online
What Goes on the Back of a Citizenship Certificate Photo?
IRCC requires the photographer's name and address written on the back of both photos. Most professional photo studios print a stamp automatically. If you're using a DIY printing service, you'll need to write it by hand with a soft pen — pressing too hard can damage the photo surface.
Write on the back before attaching to the application. Applying a wet-ink signature or stamp to a photo already mounted on a form can cause the ink to bleed through.
If you're printing your own photos at home, write the name and address of the printer or photography studio you used for the digital image. IRCC has accepted home-printed photos in the past, but a professional studio print is lower-risk.
IRCC Citizenship Certificate Photo Requirements in Detail
The Citizenship Act operates through IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). The photo spec for the citizenship certificate follows the same biometric standard as the Canadian passport, with a few submission-specific additions.
Your photo must:
- Be taken within the last six months
- Show your current appearance (no photos from a different hairstyle, significant weight change, or before major facial surgery)
- Have a plain white or off-white background — no patterns, furniture, or gradients visible
- Have even lighting with no harsh shadows on the face or behind the head
- Show a neutral expression with mouth closed
- Have eyes open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera
Glasses are technically permitted, but IRCC follows Canadian passport standards closely — and the passport spec increasingly disfavours glasses due to glare issues. If your application is for a child, note that the same specs apply.
Head Covering Rules for Canadian Citizenship Photos
Religious head coverings are permitted, provided they don't obscure the face. The entire oval of the face — forehead to chin, ear to ear — must be clearly visible in the photo. A hijab that frames the face is acceptable. A niqab that covers the lower face is not.
Medical head coverings (post-surgical, chemotherapy treatment) are accepted with a signed doctor's letter included with the application.
Citizenship Certificate Processing Time and Application
The citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) has been one of IRCC's slower processes. Processing typically runs 12-18 months from complete application submission. This is distinct from the citizenship ceremony — if you recently naturalized, you receive a citizenship certificate as part of that process. The application here covers people seeking a replacement, first-time issuance for those who are Canadian citizens by birth but lack documentation, or those registering citizenship for children born abroad.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application form | CIT 0014 |
| Fee | CAD 75 (adults, replacement); CAD 630 (search for citizenship, adults) |
| Processing time | 12–18 months |
| Validity | Lifetime |
| Issued by | IRCC |
| Photos required | Two identical 50×70mm prints |
The fee varies by the type of certificate request. Replacing a lost certificate is CAD 75. The CAD 630 fee applies to adults searching for proof of citizenship they may not know they have — less common, but relevant for people whose Canadian citizenship was registered at birth by a parent.
Can You Reuse Canadian Passport Photos for the Citizenship Certificate?
Photo reuse is allowed if the photo is recent (under six months) and still reflects your current appearance. If you had passport photos taken three months ago and nothing about your appearance has changed, those prints can be used for the citizenship certificate application too.
The practical constraint is the photographer stamp on the back. If your passport photo prints already have the photographer's name and address stamped, they're ready to use. If you printed at home, you'll need to add the details.
Don't try to reuse an older photo. IRCC officers check submission date against photo date and can request a new photo if there's a mismatch.
Common Citizenship Certificate Photo Rejection Reasons
The most common photo-related reasons for IRCC to request a new photo:
- Shadows on the face or behind the head
- Background not purely white (light grey, patterned walls, or visible objects in the frame)
- Head size outside the 31–36mm range (either too close to the camera or too far)
- Glasses with heavy frames or visible glare
- Red-eye or visible flash reflection
- Photo older than six months
- Missing photographer information on the back
Each rejection adds weeks to an already long process. Getting the photo right at submission is worth the extra care.
Where to Get Canadian Citizenship Certificate Photos
Any Canadian pharmacy, passport photo studio, or Canada Post location can produce compliant 50×70mm photos. Tell them it's for a Canadian citizenship certificate — the dimensions are the same as a passport photo, so most will produce an identical product.
Before printing, run your photo through the passportsize-photo.online checker — it checks head size, background compliance, and lighting against the IRCC standard and flags anything that would cause a rejection. One session, one check, and you're ready to submit.
The same 50×70mm photo works for the PR card as well. If you need both, print a full sheet and you're covered.
Expression and Appearance Rules for Canadian Citizenship Photos
- Neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile, no frown
- Eyes open — both eyes fully visible, looking directly at the camera
- Glasses permitted — clear prescription lenses allowed; no tinted lenses; no visible glare or heavy frames obscuring the eye area
- Hair away from face — forehead and both eyes clearly visible
- Head coverings — permitted for religious reasons; full face from chin to forehead must remain visible
- Clean, even lighting — no shadows on face or background
- Recent photo — taken within the last 6 months
Canadian Document Photo Comparison
| Document | Size | Background | Glasses | Smile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Certificate | 50×70mm | White | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Canadian Passport | 50×70mm | White | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Secure Status Card (SCIS) | 50×70mm | White | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Firearms Licence (PAL) | 45×57mm | White | Allowed | Not allowed |
The citizenship certificate, passport, and SCIS share the same 50×70mm specification. The firearms licence is the only Canadian document using the smaller 45×57mm format.
Quick Checklist for Canada Citizenship Certificate Photos
- Size: 50×70mm (two identical prints)
- Background: white
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses: clear lenses only, no glare
- Photo taken within 6 months
- Photographer name and address on back of each print
- Form CIT 0014 completed
- Processing fee paid ($100)
