Wondering what to wear for passport photos in Canada? The safest choice is a solid, medium-to-dark top that creates clear contrast with the required white or light-coloured background. Navy, charcoal, forest green and medium blue photograph well. Avoid white clothing, keep your face fully visible and choose an outfit that looks like your normal everyday appearance.
This guide separates official Government of Canada passport-photo requirements from practical photographer recommendations, so you know what can affect acceptance and what simply helps you look your best. It applies to printed passport photos and the newer digital photos used for eligible online renewals.
What Should You Wear for a Canadian Passport Photo?
Wear clean, comfortable clothing that you would normally wear in public. Your shoulders appear in the finished 50 mm × 70 mm photo, so the colour and neckline matter more than the rest of the outfit.
- Choose a solid navy, charcoal, dark green or medium-blue top.
- A simple crew neck, V-neck, blouse or collared shirt usually photographs well.
- Avoid white or very pale clothing that can disappear into the background.
- Keep hair and accessories from covering the edges of your face.
- Bring a second top if you are unsure about colour or contrast.
For the complete size, lighting, expression and background specifications, read our Canadian passport photo requirements for 2026.
Official Rules vs. Photographer Recommendations
The Government of Canada passport photo requirements focus on whether your face is recognizable and the image is technically compliant. Your photo must show a clear difference between your face, clothing and the white or light-coloured background. The government specifically warns against white clothing because it can blend into the background and cause rejection.
Solid colours, simple necklines and minimal jewellery are photographer recommendations rather than separate government dress-code rules. Busy prints, large logos and reflective accessories are not automatically prohibited, but they can distract from the face or create glare and shadows. When the goal is a photo that remains on your passport for years, simple choices are usually better.
Best Colours to Wear for Passport Photos
The best colour is one that contrasts clearly with both your skin tone and the light background. Reliable options include:
- Navy blue: a dependable choice for most skin tones.
- Charcoal grey: neutral, professional and less severe than pure black.
- Forest green or muted burgundy: adds colour without overwhelming the face.
- Medium blue: works well when it remains clearly darker than the backdrop.
What Clothing Should You Avoid?
Avoid clothing that reduces contrast, hides your shoulders or makes the portrait look unlike your usual appearance. White is the most important colour to avoid because the official Canadian background is white or light coloured.
- White, cream and very pale beige tops
- Large reflective decorations, sequins or metallic fabrics
- Very large logos or extremely busy patterns
- Bulky collars, scarves or turtlenecks that reach the jawline
- Strapless tops that may make the shoulders appear bare after cropping
Uniforms and costumes are not listed as a separate prohibition in the current Canadian passport-photo rules. Still, everyday clothing is the clearest way to present your normal appearance and avoid an unnecessarily distracting result.
Can You Wear Makeup in a Canadian Passport Photo?
Yes. The Canadian requirements do not ban makeup, but the photo must reflect your current appearance and natural skin tone. Natural, familiar makeup is the safest choice. Avoid products that create heavy shine under studio lights or change the apparent shape of facial features.
- Use matte or satin-finish products to reduce glare.
- Choose makeup close to your usual everyday look.
- Avoid glitter, highly reflective highlighter and extreme contouring.
- Remember that filters, beauty effects and digital retouching are not allowed.
For more detailed advice, see our dedicated guide to makeup for a Canadian passport photo.
How Should You Wear Your Hair?
Your hair may be worn up or down. The official requirement is that it stays off your face so the edges of your face remain visible. Your eyebrows do not have to be completely uncovered, but hair should not hide your eyes, cheeks or jawline or cast shadows across your face.
Choose a hairstyle that feels normal for you and can stay in place for the short session. If you have long hair, placing some of it behind your shoulders often produces a cleaner outline. Natural-looking wigs are acceptable.
Can You Wear Earrings or Jewellery?
The current Canadian passport-photo page does not list ordinary jewellery as prohibited. Small stud earrings and a simple necklace are generally practical choices when they do not cover any facial feature or create glare or shadows.
Consider removing oversized hoops, long reflective earrings or facial jewellery positioned close to the eyes or mouth. This is a practical photography recommendation, not a claim that all jewellery causes rejection. If an accessory is part of how you normally look, ask the photographer to confirm that it does not interfere with lighting or facial visibility.
Can You Wear Glasses?
Yes—clear, non-tinted prescription glasses are accepted when your eyes remain clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not accepted, including tinted prescription lenses.
A professional photographer can adjust the lights and your glasses to control reflections. If glare cannot be eliminated, removing the glasses is usually the simplest option. Read our complete guide to glasses in Canadian passport photos.
Religious and Medical Head Coverings
Hats and fashion headwear are not accepted. A head covering worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons may be worn when the full face is clearly visible and the covering creates no shadow on the face. Medical headwear or a nasal cannula may require a signed letter of explanation with the application.
If you wear a white or pale head covering, tell the studio before the appointment so the photographer can maintain the required separation from the light background.
What Should Babies and Children Wear?
Choose a comfortable solid-colour outfit that contrasts with the light background. Avoid white clothing, bulky collars and hair accessories that cover the face. A child’s head and shoulders must be centred, and neither the parent’s hands nor the child’s hands may appear in the finished photo.
For a newborn, the Government of Canada allows the photo to be taken while the baby is sitting in a car seat with a white blanket placed over the seat behind the head. Some variation in a newborn’s facial expression is allowed. Parents who prefer a familiar environment can review our newborn passport photo guide.
Passport Photos for Seniors and People With Disabilities
Comfort and safety come first. Wear clothing that is easy to adjust around the shoulders and neck, and tell the photographer about mobility, posture or medical needs before the visit. A white covering can be placed over a wheelchair headrest to create the required background separation.
Green Day Photography offers passport photos for seniors and an accessible at-home passport photo service for clients who cannot comfortably travel to a studio.
Printed Photos and Online Passport Renewals
The outfit advice is the same whether you need printed photos or a digital file for an eligible online passport renewal. In both cases, the photo must be taken in person by a commercial photographer and must not be altered. A selfie, a scanned print, a replaced background or an AI-edited image is not acceptable for a Canadian passport application.
If you are unsure which format your application needs, bring the application instructions to your appointment. Our at-home passport photo service in Toronto and the GTA can provide professional lighting, a compliant backdrop and the required photographer information.
Quick Checklist Before Your Appointment
- Wear a solid medium-to-dark top.
- Avoid white clothing and reflective details.
- Keep hair away from the edges of your face.
- Use natural-looking, low-shine makeup if desired.
- Choose small, non-reflective jewellery.
- Make sure clear glasses have no glare, or remove them.
- Bring a second top if your first choice is pale.
Book a Professional Passport Photo in Toronto
Green Day Photography provides professional passport and ID photos in Toronto and across the GTA, including North York, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan and Newmarket. At-home appointments are available for adults, families, newborns, seniors and clients with mobility or medical needs.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Passport requirements can change, and final acceptance is determined by the Government of Canada. Check the official requirements before submitting your application.
Navy, charcoal, forest green and other solid medium-to-dark colours usually provide clear contrast with the white or light-coloured background. Avoid white clothing.
Small earrings are generally practical when they do not cover your face or create glare or shadows. The official passport requirements do not list ordinary jewellery as prohibited, but large reflective pieces are best removed.
Yes. Choose makeup that reflects your normal appearance and natural skin tone. Avoid highly reflective products, and remember that filters and digital retouching are not permitted.
Clear, non-tinted prescription glasses are accepted if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not accepted.
Avoid white clothing. The Government of Canada warns that it can blend into the required light background and lead to rejection because there is not enough contrast.
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