Tips for Passport Photos

If you make the right preparations, taking your passport photo will be an easy process.

In just a few minutes, you can pose for a photo, see it printed, stamped, dated and ready to bring to the passport office.

When you visit, you will be asked to stand in front of an illuminated white screen. One of our team members will take two photos using a camera with a small flash.

Then our computer will evaluate the photos to ensure the exposure, image dimensions, resolution, and other qualities are correct.

The computer has updated information about photo requirements for Canada and almost every country in the world, so don't worry, we've got you covered.

Your passport photo will look similar to this.

Because we use an illuminated white background, please make sure you do not wear a white shirt. Plain, solid colours are the best choice.

Clothing with visible corporate logos and writing are often be rejected by the passport office. Patterns are usually okay.

Articles of clothing with hoods or very high collars can cause problems because they may obscure part of your face or ears. Simple t-shirts, dress shirts, or similar are the best choices to ensure your photo gets accepted.

While it feels weird, please avoid smiling when your photo is taken. It helps to provide a clear view of your facial features.

Hairstyles are important too.

Government officials are not concerned with your personal hair choices. Instead, they worry about hair falling across your face and obscuring your identity.

If you have long hair, it helps to tie it back or tuck it behind your ears. As a guideline, please make sure no hair is touching your eyebrows.

Light hair colours are okay, but we may ask you to step away from the white background. The same is true for people without hair. For both, we are trying to avoid glares that may obscure details in your photo.

When you visit, please feel free to bring a comb or hairbrush. We have a washroom where you can check your hair in the mirror to make sure you are happy before the photo is taken.

Canada's passport is one of the most coveted travel documents in the world. For that reason, the rules about photos are strict.

For a new passport, you will need a so-called guarantor to sign the back of the photo. The guarantor is someone who has known you for a specific amount of time and can verify your identity.

The photos we provide will have a stamp on the back showing our business name and address, the date, and a place for the guarantor's signature.

The photo will be considered valid for six months after the day it is taken. After that, you will need to have a new photo taken.

If you need a photo for a U.S. passport, or any other country, we can help!

Our computer system allows us to prepare photos for countries around the world. If you are concerned about the requirements, give us a call and we will double check to be sure.

But the computer also lets us prepare photos for national identity cards, criminal records checks, visas, firearms licenses, international drivers licenses, and much more. You may be surprised by what we can offer.

All our photos come with a guarantee. If our photo does not meet the technical specifications outlined by the government, we will take it again until the photo is accepted by the authorities.

If you are applying for a visa or a new passport, there may be times when you need to send photos and other documents to an embassy, consulate, or government office.

Courier shipping with UPS provides you with speed and confidence that your documents will get to the right place.

You can track your documents from the time they arrive at our store to the moment they are delivered, and you can require a signature from the receiver.

We can even arrange a return shipment for your documents. When you visit us for your passport photo, bring your documents and the address, and we will arrange for the shipment.