For the printed-photo route, an SCIS application uses two identical photos measuring 50 x 70 mm. The face must measure 31 to 36 mm from chin to the natural top of the head, against a plain white or light-coloured background.
Indigenous Services Canada also offers its own SCIS Photo App for direct digital submission. PhotoID is useful for preparing the separate printed format; it does not replace the official digital-submission app.
Printed photo size
50 x 70 mm
Two identical, unaltered photos on high-quality photographic paper.
Face height
31 to 36 mm
Measured from the chin to the natural top of the head.
Digital route
Use the official SCIS Photo App when submitting the photo directly from a phone. PhotoID should not be used as a substitute for that submission flow.
Use PhotoID when you plan to provide printed photos with the application. The app guides capture, checks common image issues, and prepares the 50 x 70 mm output for printing.
Use PhotoID's built-in camera with the phone at eye level, even front lighting, and a plain white or light-coloured background. Continue in the same app flow for framing, image checks, and printed-format export.
Indigenous Services Canada is the final authority for the application. Its guidance separates the official digital route from the printed-photo route and explains the current capture, background, expression, and print requirements.
Primary source
Verify the current requirements and choose the correct submission route on the Government of Canada page before applying.
Read the official SCIS photo guidance| Printed photo size | 50 mm wide x 70 mm high (2 x 2 3/4 inches) |
|---|---|
| Face height | 31 mm to 36 mm, from chin to natural top of head |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 12 months |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed |
| Printed copies | Two identical, unaltered photos |
| Paper | Plain, high-quality photographic paper |
Provide two identical, unaltered 50 x 70 mm photos. They must be printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper. Add the applicant's name and the date taken to the back of one photo; check whether a guarantor must also sign and date it.
For direct smartphone submission, follow the official SCIS Photo App instructions. That app handles the government submission path. PhotoID's preset is intended for preparing the separate printed-photo option.
Choose the 50 x 70 mm preset, capture inside PhotoID, review common issues, and export the result for the printed application route.
Select the Canada Indian Status Card preset for the 50 x 70 mm printed format.
Use the built-in camera with the phone level and the face square to the lens.
Check lighting, background, face position, and image clarity before export.
Prepare the 50 x 70 mm result, then print it on high-quality photographic paper.
A printed Secure Certificate of Indian Status photo must be 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, or 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches.
For the printed route, the face should measure between 31 mm and 36 mm from the chin to the natural top of the head.
No. Indigenous Services Canada provides its own SCIS Photo App for direct digital submission. PhotoID can help prepare the separate 50 x 70 mm printed-photo route, but it does not replace the official SCIS Photo App.
The photo must have been taken no more than 12 months before the application is submitted and must reflect the applicant's current appearance.
The official guidance requires the applicant's full name and the date the photo was taken on the back of one photo. A guarantor's signature and date may also be required, depending on the application route.
Use the Canada Indian Status Card preset, review common image issues, and export the printed-photo format.
For direct digital submission, use the official SCIS Photo App.
