Shoppers Drug Mart charges C$16.99 for a set of passport photos at most of its 1,300+ locations across Canada. Walk in, get your photo taken by an employee, and leave with two prints that meet IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) specifications.
Canadian passport photos have different requirements than American ones. The format is 50mm wide by 70mm tall — noticeably larger than the 2×2 inch (51×51mm) US format. Getting the size right is critical, and Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the most common places Canadians turn to for the job.
Here's the full picture: what happens in-store, what the common problems are, and whether there's a smarter way to get your Canadian passport photo in 2026.
Shoppers Drug Mart Passport Photo Quick Facts
- Price: C$16.99 for two passport-sized prints
- Time: 15–25 minutes
- Print format: Two 50×70mm prints (Canadian passport standard)
- Walk-ins: Yes — no appointment needed at most locations
- Digital copy included: No
Get a compliant passport photo online
The Shoppers Drug Mart Passport Photo Process
Head to the pharmacy area or photo counter. Not every Shoppers Drug Mart has a dedicated photo section, but most locations with a photo department can handle passport photos. If you're unsure, ask at the front counter.
An employee positions you against a white or light-coloured background. Canadian passport photos require a white background — plain, without patterns, shadows, or visible textures. The employee takes the photo using a store camera, reviews it on screen, and applies the correct crop: 50mm wide by 70mm tall.
Two prints come off the printer on a single sheet. The employee does a quick visual check to make sure the framing looks right, then you pay at the register and leave with your photos.
One detail specific to Canadian passport photos: the back of at least one print needs a guarantor's signature for first-time applications and children's passports. The signature must be within the white border area of the print, not overlapping the photo itself. Shoppers prints are formatted to allow this, but you'll need to get the signature separately.
Shoppers Drug Mart Passport Photo Price Breakdown
| Cost Factor | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Photo fee | C$16.99 |
| Transit to store | C$2–$6 |
| Your time (20–30 min) | Variable |
| Retake if rejected | C$16.99 + another trip |
| Total (best case) | ~C$20–$23 |
If the photo is rejected by IRCC, you're back at square one. Another visit, another C$16.99, and another round of hoping the employee gets it right. There's no refund or credit for rejected photos.
Canadian Passport Photo Requirements (50×70mm IRCC Standard)
Before evaluating whether Shoppers gets these right, here's what IRCC requires:
- Size: 50mm × 70mm (about 2 × 2.75 inches)
- Digital equivalent: 591 × 827 pixels at 300 DPI
- Background: Plain white
- Head height: 31–36mm from chin to crown (44–51% of frame height)
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses: Prescription glasses allowed; sunglasses and tinted lenses prohibited
- Recency: Taken within the last 12 months
The head-size rule is particularly strict. Canadian passport photos require a tighter range (44–51% of frame) compared to the US (50–69%). This means the framing has to be precise — a few millimetres off and you're outside the acceptable range.
Common Issues with Shoppers Drug Mart Passport Photos
Head framing is the top failure point. The narrow 44–51% head-height range leaves very little room for error. If the employee crops the photo with your head slightly too large or too small in the frame, it won't meet IRCC standards. This is the number one reason Canadian passport photos get rejected, regardless of where they were taken.
Background consistency. Shoppers locations use various backdrop solutions — some have a proper white pull-down screen, others use a section of wall. Wall backgrounds can have subtle grey tones, scuff marks, or uneven paint that show up in the photo. IRCC requires a uniform white background with no visible marks or shadows.
Lighting creates shadows. Standard retail fluorescent lighting doesn't always produce the even illumination needed for passport photos. Shadows under the nose, chin, or behind the head are common. These may not be obvious in person but can cause problems during IRCC's digital review process.
No digital file. Shoppers provides prints only. If you're applying for a Canadian passport online or need a digital photo for other immigration documents, you'll need to scan the prints — which introduces potential quality degradation — or get a digital file from another source.
Employee variability. Like all retail passport photo services, your experience depends on who's working the counter. An employee who takes passport photos regularly will know the specific Canadian requirements. A new employee might not realize Canadian photos are a different size and format than US photos.
Glasses glare. Canada allows prescription glasses in passport photos, but the lenses must not produce glare or reflections that obscure your eyes. If the store's flash bounces off your lenses, the photo will fail IRCC's review. Employees may not catch subtle glare on the screen preview that becomes obvious in the printed image.
What Does C$16.99 Get You at Shoppers Drug Mart?
- Two 50×70mm prints (Canadian passport specification)
- White background setup
- Basic visual review by the employee
- Same-day service (15–20 minutes)
Not included:
- Digital file
- Compliance guarantee
- Refund if IRCC rejects the photo
- Guarantor signature (you arrange this separately)
Shoppers Drug Mart vs Passport Size Photo: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Shoppers Drug Mart | Passport Size Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | C$16.99 | $4.99 (~C$6.75) |
| Time | 15–25 minutes | 30 seconds |
| Retakes | C$16.99 per visit | Unlimited, free |
| Compliance check | Employee visual check | AI verification (9 automated checks) |
| Digital copy | No | Yes |
| Prints | 2 included | Download and print anywhere |
| Guarantee | None | 100% acceptance guarantee |
Should You Use Shoppers Drug Mart for Passport Photos?
Shoppers Drug Mart is the default choice for most Canadians — it's everywhere, no appointment is needed, and you walk out with prints in hand. For straightforward adult passport renewals, it's a reliable enough option at a standard price.
Where it falls short is precision. Canadian passport photo requirements are stricter than most countries, particularly the narrow head-size range. A visual check by a retail employee isn't designed to catch the subtle framing errors that IRCC's digital review will flag. If your application gets rejected for the photo, you lose time and money with no way to recover either.
For applicants who want certainty — especially first-time applicants, parents getting children's passports, or anyone who's had a photo rejected before — digital verification eliminates the guesswork.
How to Get a Canadian Passport Photo Online Instead
Snap your photo at home against a plain white wall. Upload it to passportsize-photo.online for instant verification against Canadian passport specifications: 50×70mm dimensions, white background, head framing within the 44–51% range, neutral expression, and correct eye position.
Get the compliant digital file for $4.99, then print at any photo kiosk. Total cost: about C$7–8 with printing, less than half what Shoppers charges.
Check the full Canadian passport photo requirements or read about taking a passport photo at home versus going to a studio for tips on getting a great shot with your phone.
