Photo requirements for a firearms licence

Find out what size your photo needs to be and other requirements for your possession and acquisition licence application.

We'll reject your photo if it doesn't meet our requirements. If rejected, a new submission will be required, causing a delay in the processing of the application.

Photo requirements for an online application Photo requirements for a paper application

Photo specifications

Make sure your photo:

is the right size
has the quality we need
captures a neutral facial expression
reflects how you look now (the photo must be less than 12 months old)

Size

Your digital photo must meet the following criteria:

Must be 45 mm wide by 57 mm high (1 3/4 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches high)
Your head in the photograph must be at least 30 mm (1 3/16 inches) high
Photo file type must be JPG or JPEG
Photo must not be smaller than 200 KB or larger than 6 MB
Photo must be in portrait (vertical) orientation.

Image quality

Your photo may be in colour or in black and white.

They must:

be clear, sharp and in focus
have uniform lighting and no shadows, glare or flash reflections
show a clear difference between your face and the background
show your natural skin tone
be printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper:
- We don't accept photos that are printed at home or photos that are printed on heavy weight paper.
be an original photo that is not altered in any way

Facial expression

The photo must show a neutral expression. This type of photo helps us confirm your identity and prevent fraud.

A neutral facial expression means that:

your eyes are open and clearly visible
you're looking straight at the camera
your mouth is closed
you're not smiling or frowning

Appearance and posture

Your photos must show how you look now. This means that your photos must be taken no more than 12 months before you submit your application.

Your photos must also:

show your face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera, not tilted in any direction
have a plain white or light-coloured background
be in portrait (vertical) position
be a photo of you only (no group photos)

Note

We recommend using a digital passport-type photo (if you have had passport photos taken, please submit the digital file).

Names and signatures needed on back of the photo

On the back of the photo:

the applicant must clearly write:
- name of the applicant
your guarantor must:
- clearly write his full name
- sign the back of the photo

Note

If you are submitting your photo with a licence renewal application, a photo guarantor signature is not required.

Tips for taking photos

If you're in a wheelchair: Photo must be taken against a plain white background. If your wheelchair has a headrest, a plain white covering should be placed over it. This makes your facial features and the edges of your face clear against the background.
If you have headwear or nasal cannula: Your headwear or a nasal cannula may appear in a photo if worn for medical reasons. Your eyes must remain clearly visible.
Why can't I smile in my photo?: It is recommended that the photo be taken with a neutral expression. This help us confirm and prevent fraud.

We accept photos with:

glasses:
- Your eyes must be clearly visible.
- There must be no glare on the lenses.
hair down or up:
- Your hair must be off your face, so that the edges of your face are visible.
hats and head coverings worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons:
- Your full face must be clearly visible.
- The head covering must not create shadows on your face.
a wheelchair, if you place a white blanket behind your head:
- Your facial features and the edges of your face must both be clearly visible.

We don't accept photos with:

sunglasses or tinted eye glasses:
- This includes prescription lenses, even when your eyes are clearly visible.
red-eye effect or red-eye alterations
hats and head coverings not worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons
shadows:
- lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows:
  - around your ears
  - in the background
  - across your face or shoulders