CIT 0001 Photo Requirements: Getting the Right Size

Two printed photos, each exactly 50mm wide by 70mm tall, submitted with your CIT 0001. That is the short version. The long version matters because wrong-size photos are one of the most common reasons applications are returned, and the mistake is almost always the same: using US passport photos instead of Canadian citizenship photos.

US passport photos are 2 inches by 2 inches (about 51mm by 51mm). Canadian citizenship certificate photos must be 50mm by 70mm (2 inches by 2¾ inches). The width is nearly identical. The height is not: Canadian citizenship photos are almost 20mm taller.

If you live in the United States and walk into CVS, Walgreens, or a UPS store and ask for "passport photos," you will receive US-size 2×2 photos. IRCC's guidance is explicit: the application will be returned if the photos do not meet the citizenship photo specifications.

Canadian passport photos and Canadian citizenship certificate photos use the same 50mm by 70mm dimensions. So if you are already familiar with Canadian document photos, the specs are identical. The confusion only affects applicants in the US who are used to the American 2×2 format.

For paper applications, IRCC requires that at least one of your two photos include specific information written or stamped on the back:

• Your full legal name
• Your date of birth
• The photographer's or studio's name and address
• The date the photos were taken

This means a self-printed photo is not acceptable. You need a photographer or studio to produce the photos and document them. When you pick up your prints, check the back before leaving. Studios that specialize in Canadian immigration photos will stamp this information automatically, but confirm before you walk out.

The photos must have been taken within six months of your application submission date. A photo from two years ago, even if it still looks like you, will not pass.

If you submit your CIT 0001 through IRCC's online portal rather than by mail, you upload a single digital photo instead of two printed ones. The size and face specifications still apply, but the back-of-photo requirement does not. The digital file must meet IRCC's digital format requirements: minimum 420 by 540 pixels, at least 600 DPI, file size between 240KB and 4MB.

The face in the photo must measure between 31mm and 36mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head, not to the top of the photo frame.

This is one reason you cannot simply crop a US passport photo to make it taller: the original image does not include enough of the upper body. A correctly framed 50mm by 70mm photo captures more of the upper torso, so the face measurement fits naturally within IRCC's required range. Ask the photographer to frame you with slightly more space above and below than you would see in a typical headshot.

Applications are returned for photo issues when:

• Wrong size: 2×2 inches instead of 50mm by 70mm
• Missing back information: No studio name, no date, no applicant name
• Photos older than six months: The date on the back will be checked
• Glasses: IRCC has not accepted glasses in citizenship photos since 2017, regardless of prescription or lens type
• Digital alterations: Any editing, including brightness adjustments, contrast changes, or background removal, makes the photo unacceptable
• Shadows or glare: These obscure your features and will fail the review
• Non-white or non-light background: Blue, grey, or patterned backgrounds are rejected

Most US photo studios can produce the correct size if you give them the specifications directly. When you contact the studio:

1. Say you need Canadian citizenship certificate photos, not passport photos
2. Specify the dimensions: 50mm by 70mm, or equivalently 2 inches by 2¾ inches
3. Ask them to write or stamp your name, date of birth, studio name and address, and date taken on the back of one photo

FedEx Office, Walgreens, and CVS Pharmacy can typically produce custom-size photo prints. You may need to ask specifically for the non-standard dimensions. Print the photo specifications page from IRCC's official website and bring it with you. Photographers who see the official spec sheet will almost always get it right.

Some immigration-focused photo studios in major US cities cater specifically to Canadian document photos. A search for "Canadian immigration photos" plus your city name will surface local options.

Linda from Columbus mailed her CIT 0001 package in March and received a return notice three weeks later: wrong photo size. She had used her US passport photos from a CVS visit the year before. Getting correctly sized photos required another week, and she had to resubmit the entire package, restarting her place in the queue. The photos cost her under $20 to fix. The delay cost her months.

Clip both photos to the front page of your CIT 0001 form with a standard paper clip. Do not staple through the photos, punch holes in them, or fold them. Any damage to the photo surface will result in a return.

For a complete list of what goes inside the envelope, including documents, payment receipt, and copies, see our full guide on why IRCC returns applications and what to check before you seal the package.

MaplePass walks you through the document checklist before you submit, including flagging photo requirements for your specific situation. An eligibility check takes two minutes, and a complete guided application is $199.