Where Do I Get Canadian Passport Photos in Atlanta?

Unacceptable passport photos are the most common reason the Canadian government rejects passport applications and renewals submitted from its citizens living abroad.

Canada has detailed requirements for obtaining a new passport or renewing an existing one which include strict passport photographs guidelines. More than 60 percent of Canadians have a passport, and the government issues more than five million each year. While those living in Canada can visit a government passport office or a government-run Service Canada Centre, applications can be more difficult for those living in other countries. 

More Canadians who live abroad reside in the United States than in any other nation. “The Canadian diaspora in the United States is comprised of approximately 3.3 million individuals who were either born in Canada or reported Canadian or French-Canadian ancestry, according to tabulations from the U.S. Census Bureau 2016 ACS,” the Migration Policy Institute stated. In fact, Canada is also the third largest country of origin for H-1B workers (behind India and China). Canadians accounted for one percent of the 365,700 H-1B petitions for high-skilled temporary workers approved by the U.S. government in fiscal 2017. 

While most U.S.-based Canadians live in New York City, California, and Florida, there are 18,200 Canadians living in Georgia, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics. About 13,000 live in the Atlanta metropolitan area, primarily in the counties of Fulton (3,200), Cobb (2,500), Gwinnett (1,800) and DeKalb (1,300).   

For Canadians in Georgia and other states, passport photos add an extra layer of complexity to the process. Facial recognition technology has substantially impacted how passport photos are formatted in recent years. The technology requires sharp, clear photos of your features that comply with international standards for facial recognition systems. In 2013, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (the agency that replaced Passport Canada as the issuing entity) began issuing biometric passports. Also knowns as electronic passports or e-passports), the 36-page books carry data chips with personal information and a digital facial image. 

“Our requirements for passport photos are different from those in the United States and other countries,” the Canadian government states on one of its passport websites, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html. “Photos for Canadian passports must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio. They must also comply with all of our photo requirements. If they don’t, we will reject your application.”  

Passport Photo Requirements 

Canadians living the United States and Bermuda can mail their passport applications to the Passport Program office in Gatineau, Quebec. (For urgent situations, you can also appear at a Canadian government office in the U.S.) In other countries, applicants must visit the local Canadian embassy or consulate. 

Passport applications require a variety of documentation, such as proof of citizenship. However, most experts agree the photo requirements cause applicants the most issues and delays.

There are significant differences between Canadian and U.S. passport photos. Canadian passport photos must be 50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide X 2-3/4 inches long), while U.S. photos measure 2 inches by 2 inches (51x51 millimeters). The Canadian application photo also cannot be more than six months old – a new rule introduced in 2015.

Detailed requirements and examples can be found on the Canadian government’s website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html. Here are some of the highlights of those requirements:

  • Submit two identical, unaltered photos.
  • The back of one photo must contain the applicant’s name, plus the address of the studio and the date the photograph was taken. 
  • The dated photo must also normally contain a signed statement from a guarantor certifying that the photo is a true likeness of the applicant. Guarantors are typically an adult family member residing at the same address. {NOTE: Adult passport renewals using the Simplified Renewal application do not require a guarantor.}
  • Photos should be clear, sharp, and well-lit, taken against a white or light-colored background, without any shadows, reflections, or glare. 
  • The applicant must maintain a neutral express with eyes open; mouth closed but not smiling; face and shoulders straight to the camera; and subject centered in the shot.
  • Glasses can be worn if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses. Tinted glasses are now allowed.
  • The height of the face must measure between 31 mm (1-1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1-7/16 inches) from chin to top of head. 

Children’s photos follow the same rules as adult applicants. They may only show the child’s head and shoulders – no visible hands by child or parent. Newborn photos can be taken with the infant seated in a car seat with a white blanket draped behind the baby’s head.

Obtaining Your Passport Photo

Again, you must use a professional photographer for your passport photos. Since the Canadian requirements significantly different from U.S. rules, we do not advise using a chain retail store, as most are geared to domestic requirements and many have no experience with Canadian regulations. For Atlanta area residents who live or work on the Northside of Atlanta, we recommend Advanced Photo & Imaging https://www.advphoto.com, a portrait studio near our office in Sandy Springs.

Visa Supply can also create your photos. You can make an appointment with our experienced passport photographer, Zana Sabre. We charge $25 to take a compliant passport photo. For Canadians living outside the metro area, you can take a digital photo that meets the requirement above and email it to our office. Then we can print the photo to match government requirements, and then FedEx the photos back to you. The charge for this service is $25 plus shipping.

To schedule a photo session or to obtain more information about obtaining a Canadian passport, you can make an appointment through our website, https://www.visasupply.com, or just call our office at 404-682-5445.