How to Make a Passport Photo at Home with a White Background

Getting a Canadian passport photo taken at a pharmacy or photo studio typically costs $15-25 CAD. If you need photos for your whole family, that adds up quickly. And if the photos get rejected, you pay again.

The good news: you can take a compliant passport photo at home with just your phone and a background removal tool. Here's how.

Canadian Passport Photo Requirements

Before you shoot, know the rules. Canada has specific requirements for passport photos:

• Size: 50mm x 70mm (2 inches x 2.75 inches) when printed
• Background: Plain white or light-coloured background
• Expression: Neutral expression with mouth closed
• Eyes: Open and clearly visible, no glasses (as of 2023 policy)
• Head position: Straight, facing the camera directly
• Face coverage: Face must measure between 31mm and 36mm from chin to crown of head
• Lighting: Even, no shadows on face or background
• Recency: Taken within the last 12 months
• Quality: Sharp focus, no red-eye, proper exposure

The full requirements are on the Government of Canada passport photo page.

Step-by-Step: Take Your Photo

1. Find good lighting. Stand facing a window during the day. Natural, diffused light is ideal — it minimises shadows and provides even illumination. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows.

2. Set up your camera. Use your phone's rear camera (higher quality than the selfie camera). Have someone else take the photo, or prop the phone at eye level and use the timer. The camera should be about 1.2 metres away.

3. Stand in front of any background. This is the key insight — it doesn't need to be white. Stand in front of whatever wall or space you have available. You'll replace the background digitally.

4. Position yourself correctly. Face the camera straight on. Keep a neutral expression — no smiling, mouth closed. Eyes open and looking directly at the lens. Remove glasses, hats, and headwear (religious head coverings are permitted).

5. Take several shots. Take 5-10 photos with slightly different angles and expressions. This gives you options to choose from.

Process Your Photo

1. Choose your best shot. Pick the photo where your expression is most neutral, your eyes are open, and you're looking directly at the camera.

2. Remove the background. Upload to the Background Remover. The AI removes whatever's behind you — your living room wall, kitchen, wherever you took the photo.

3. Set a white background. Use the Change Background Colour tool to apply a pure white background. Canadian passport photos require a plain white or light-coloured backdrop.

4. Crop and resize. Crop the image to passport proportions (50mm x 70mm at 300 DPI, which is 591 x 827 pixels). Ensure your face fills the required proportion of the frame — between 31mm and 36mm from chin to crown.

5. Review against requirements. Check that:

• Background is uniformly white with no shadows
• Your face is evenly lit
• Expression is neutral
• Eyes are open and visible
• No glasses or hats (unless religious)
• Image is sharp and properly exposed

6. Print or submit. For paper applications, print on high-quality photo paper at the exact dimensions. For online passport renewal, upload the digital file directly.

Tips for a Compliant Photo

Lighting makes or breaks it. The single biggest reason DIY passport photos get rejected is uneven lighting. Face a large window. If one side of your face is noticeably darker, add a white poster board or white sheet on the dark side to bounce light.

Avoid shadows on the background. Even though you're replacing the background, shadows on your hair and shoulders come from your original environment. Stand at least 30cm from any wall to minimise shadow transfer.

Clothing matters. Wear a top that contrasts with white. Dark colours work best. Avoid white or very light clothing, which blends into the white background.

Hair tidy and off face. Your full face from chin to forehead must be visible. Brush hair away from your face. For longer hair, ensure it doesn't cover your eyebrows.

Babies and children. Canadian passport photos for children follow the same background rules. For infants, lay them on a white sheet and photograph from above. Remove the sheet background afterward with the background removal tool.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Shadows on the background (even subtle ones)
• Face too large or too small in the frame
• Expression not neutral (smiling is the most common issue)
• Glasses visible (Canada removed the glasses exception in 2023)
• Background not uniformly white
• Photo out of focus or grainy
• Red-eye

Printing Your Passport Photo

If you need physical prints for a paper application:

• Print at exactly 50mm x 70mm (2" x 2.75")
• Use matte or semi-gloss photo paper
• Print at 300 DPI minimum
• Many home printers handle this well; alternatively, use a photo printing kiosk at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, or London Drugs
• Print two copies (required for applications)

Cost Comparison

The math is simple, especially for families. A family of four saves $50-80 by taking passport photos at home.

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