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IRCC upload specs — photo dimensions and file-size QC for RCICs

IRCC upload specs — photo dimensions and file-size QC for RCICs

IRCC will not chase a 12 MB passport PDF. The portal just refuses the upload while your ITA clock runs.

Direct answer

QC every client scan against the current IRCC file-size table and the photo specification for that application. Use Hivi-X approve/reject so the client resubmits. Hivi-X does not auto-validate IRCC limits.

File size depends on the account

IRCC Help Centre — file size limit (verify live) has listed:

Online account typePer-file limit (as published on that answer)
IRCC secure account4 MB
Permanent Residence Portal4 MB
Online citizenship application4 MB
Asylum portal4 MB
IRCC Portal / newer IRCC Portal5 MB

If the table changes, follow IRCC — not this article.

Digital photos are a separate spec

For permanent resident style photos, IRCC's photo page has required:

  • Dimensions in a stated pixel range (examples: 715×1000 to 2000×2800)
  • File size 4 MB or less
  • JPEG/JPG (PNG mentioned in some digital-photo notes — confirm)
  • Professional digital photo or scanned professional print
  • Not a picture of a paper photo taken with a phone

Reject glare, non-white backgrounds, and cropped faces. The same failure modes show up on citizenship and PGWP photos — always open the spec sheet for that form.

Formats

iPhone HEIC is a frequent reject. Convert to JPEG/PDF before approve. Multi-page civil-status documents should be one PDF under the size cap, not 14 WhatsApp images.

Where Hivi-X fits

Item-level reject with a reason (“over 4 MB — rescan greyscale 300 dpi”) is faster than a portal error at 11 p.m. on day 59. Pair with ITA 60-day workflow and incomplete application QC.

Official sources

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General information only. Not immigration advice. Hivi-X is document-collection software — not a licensed immigration consultant. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CICC or IRCC. Verify all requirements against current IRCC guidance and each client's profile.

Answers are general operational information only — not legal, tax, regulatory, clinical, privacy, immigration, or professional advice. Requirements vary by matter, client, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the IRCC upload file-size limit?
It depends on the account. IRCC Help Centre answer 1123 lists examples such as 4 MB per file for the IRCC secure account, Permanent Residence Portal, and online citizenship, and 5 MB for some IRCC Portal versions. Always check the live table.
What digital photo specs does IRCC use for PR-style photos?
IRCC's permanent resident photo page has listed JPEG, about 715×1000 to 2000×2800 pixels, and 4 MB or less, with a scanned professional photo allowed but not a phone picture of a paper photo. Confirm the page for the application type you are filing.
Does Hivi-X enforce IRCC megabyte limits?
No automated IRCC validator in v1. Your reviewer rejects oversized or non-compliant files on the checklist so the client resubmits a compressed or recropped version.
Which formats does IRCC accept?
Commonly PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, DOC, DOCX — verify the help-centre answer for the account you use. Do not assume a HEIC from an iPhone will upload.
Should I compress files myself?
You can reject and ask the client to recan at 200–300 dpi, or compress in your office and upload to the checklist as the approved version — as long as text and photo quality remain readable for an officer.

Collect complete immigration client files without the chase

Hivi-X helps Ontario RCICs collect passports, police certificates, employer letters, and IRCC forms with reusable checklists, the my-id.ca client portal, self-hosted AI summaries, and exportable PDF packages for your client file archive — alongside your immigration CRM.

IRCC File Size and Photo Specs QC for RCICs | hivi-x Docs