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Photos for citizenship application

Cell

Star Member
Jul 21, 2017
112
30
Canada
Category........
CEC
Job Offer........
Yes
Hi,
I have a pretty dumb question, but I'll ask anyway. :rolleyes::D

I'm getting ready my citizenship application, which requires me to send 2 photos along with all the documentation. I would like to know what they will be using those photos for (i.e. if I will get a citizenship certificate/ID or something like that with those photos).

The reason for my question is that I got my photos, but I really look terrible. If those photos are not going to appear in any final citizenship document or if they will ask me again for new pictures once I'm about to become citizen (as they did for the permanent residency application), I will just submit them and who cares.

However, if the pictures that I'm about to send will be on the citizenship document/ID that I will get once I get citizenship and will be there forever, I will rather get new photos to send with my documents.

Thanks :)
 

ahmed5

Hero Member
Sep 7, 2014
693
40
Canada
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
1224
App. Filed.......
24 - 12 - 2014
Nomination.....
PER 21 - 03 - 2015
AOR Received.
11 - 05 - 2015
IELTS Request
8 ( send with application )
Med's Request
06 - 08 - 2015
Med's Done....
11 - 08 -2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
13 - 10 - 2015
VISA ISSUED...
18- 10 - 2015
LANDED..........
09 / 02 / 2016
It will be used for citizenship certificate
 

jc94

Hero Member
Mar 14, 2016
830
163
It will be used for citizenship certificate
As per the link above by @Cell there is no photo on the certificate. They include one (of the two) photos in the envelope that the certificate comes with - presumably to check they're giving it to the right person, but there is nothing actually on the certificate.

I actually checked online how the citizenship certificate looks like:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/documents.html

It seems like there is no photo on it. Did you already got yours? How long did it take for you to get your citizenship certificate after you took the oath at your citizenship ceremony?
You get the certificate at the ceremony, so about 30 mins after you take the oath depending upon how many people are there and where you are in the order.
 

Cell

Star Member
Jul 21, 2017
112
30
Canada
Category........
CEC
Job Offer........
Yes
Thank you so much for your reply, @jc94! You saved me 20 bucks for a new picture.;)

I was worried that after 4+ years spent waiting to get the citizenship I could have ended up getting a perpetual document with that horrible picture :eek: :D
 

jc94

Hero Member
Mar 14, 2016
830
163
Thank you so much for your reply, @jc94! You saved me 20 bucks for a new picture.;)

I was worried that after 4+ years spent waiting to get the citizenship I could have ended up getting a perpetual document with that horrible picture :eek: :D
Where are you spending $20? Here in Ontario Toronto loves to charge $20 (or $30 at Walmart :eek:) but if you look outside the core areas it's $15 or goto Brampton and it's $7.95 ;) And photos from there were fine for everyone I know.
 

Cell

Star Member
Jul 21, 2017
112
30
Canada
Category........
CEC
Job Offer........
Yes
I got it at Jean Coutu in Montreal, it's 14.99 + taxes, plus another $2 + taxes if you want a digital copy (which I asked just because I might be using it for something else, but it's not necessary for citizenship), and the total was about $19.50.

I'm pretty sure there are also other places where I could have got them for cheaper, but usually in the pharmacies they take a lot of pictures for immigration documents and passports, so it's a bit more of a guarantee that they won't be refused. Plus, Jean Coutu offers a warranty on the result of the picture; if it's rejected, they take you one more for free, and provide a $20 gift card as additional compensation. Some other pharmacies and photo services (but not all), offer something similar.

When I applied for PR, I read on this forum that many people got their photos rejected, so I feel it's better to go to a place that knows what they are doing.
 

ahmed5

Hero Member
Sep 7, 2014
693
40
Canada
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
1224
App. Filed.......
24 - 12 - 2014
Nomination.....
PER 21 - 03 - 2015
AOR Received.
11 - 05 - 2015
IELTS Request
8 ( send with application )
Med's Request
06 - 08 - 2015
Med's Done....
11 - 08 -2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
13 - 10 - 2015
VISA ISSUED...
18- 10 - 2015
LANDED..........
09 / 02 / 2016
As per the link above by @Cell there is no photo on the certificate. They include one (of the two) photos in the envelope that the certificate comes with - presumably to check they're giving it to the right person, but there is nothing actually on the certificate.
They gave me my certificate in a plastic cover and inside was the photo.
 

jc94

Hero Member
Mar 14, 2016
830
163
I got it at Jean Coutu in Montreal, it's 14.99 + taxes, plus another $2 + taxes if you want a digital copy (which I asked just because I might be using it for something else, but it's not necessary for citizenship), and the total was about $19.50.

I'm pretty sure there are also other places where I could have got them for cheaper, but usually in the pharmacies they take a lot of pictures for immigration documents and passports, so it's a bit more of a guarantee that they won't be refused. Plus, Jean Coutu offers a warranty on the result of the picture; if it's rejected, they take you one more for free, and provide a $20 gift card as additional compensation. Some other pharmacies and photo services (but not all), offer something similar.

When I applied for PR, I read on this forum that many people got their photos rejected, so I feel it's better to go to a place that knows what they are doing.
Well I wouldn't read too much into the warranty, almost everyone I've seen offers that and I know people who have indeed had photos taken there and gotten their money back (and then waited 2 months for a passport). The key is to use a place that you know is good.

I had my photos for application taken there only after I knew my friend had used them for his application photos and they've done passport photos for three of us as well and all okay.

They gave me my certificate in a plastic cover and inside was the photo.
Yes, but it's not attached to the certificate, I believe they just use it to confirm they are handing it to the right person. There is no actual photo on the certificate itself, just personal details like name and date of birth. Same thing a birth certificate has really and of course birth certificates don't have a photo for obvious reasons either :)
 

ahmed5

Hero Member
Sep 7, 2014
693
40
Canada
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
1224
App. Filed.......
24 - 12 - 2014
Nomination.....
PER 21 - 03 - 2015
AOR Received.
11 - 05 - 2015
IELTS Request
8 ( send with application )
Med's Request
06 - 08 - 2015
Med's Done....
11 - 08 -2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
13 - 10 - 2015
VISA ISSUED...
18- 10 - 2015
LANDED..........
09 / 02 / 2016
Well I wouldn't read too much into the warranty, almost everyone I've seen offers that and I know people who have indeed had photos taken there and gotten their money back (and then waited 2 months for a passport). The key is to use a place that you know is good.

I had my photos for application taken there only after I knew my friend had used them for his application photos and they've done passport photos for three of us as well and all okay.



Yes, but it's not attached to the certificate, I believe they just use it to confirm they are handing it to the right person. There is no actual photo on the certificate itself, just personal details like name and date of birth. Same thing a birth certificate has really and of course birth certificates don't have a photo for obvious reasons either :)
Yes it is not fixed.
 

crosstheangel

Newbie
May 18, 2020
8
2
Guys, the one who took my photos told me he did not need to sign it but he did stamp on my 2 photos - It's pro passport photos so the stamp has the address and studio name but is the photographer's name also required?
Plus, I know I have to print my name on the back but do I need to sign in the guarantor's place?

Thanks
 
Last edited:

shazahsan

Hero Member
May 17, 2017
352
203
Kitchener, ON
Guys, the one who took my photos told me he did not need to sign it but he did stamp on my 2 photos - It's pro passport photos so the stamp has the address and studio name but is the photographer's name also required?
Plus, I know I have to print my name on the back but do I need to sign in the guarantor's place?

Thanks
Either the photographer's name (if an individual) or the studio name is required. So if it's a store or studio you got them from, the studio name and address are required and that should be fine.
Plus the date the photos were taken.
No, you don't need to sign them but you do need to write your name on the back.
Here are the specifications for citizenship photos: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/citizenship-application-photograph-specifications.html
 
Last edited:
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varlam

Hero Member
Dec 6, 2020
332
108
Either the photographer's name (if an individual) or the studio name is required. So if it's a store or studio you got them from, the studio name and address are required and that should be fine.
Plus the date the photos were taken.
No, you don't need to sign them but you do need to write your name on the back.
Here are the specifications for citizenship photos: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/citizenship-application-photograph-specifications.html
i got my photos from costco for 6.99, just found out that only one of the photos is stamped. do i need to go back to costco and ask to stamp the second on as well? any ideas on it?

TIA