Convert JPG and PNG photos to a PDF for IRCC
Add photos of your documents, put them in order and download one PDF sized for an IRCC upload field.
or drop them here. JPG or PNG, up to 100 MB in total.
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and you don't need an account.
Can I use my phone to scan documents for IRCC?
Yes. IRCC's help centre says you can make an electronic copy with a phone, a scanner or a digital camera. The officer has to be able to read every word, so the photo needs to be sharp and show the whole page.
Lay the document flat on a dark surface in daylight, with the whole page in the frame. Hold the phone straight above it so the edges stay square. Shadows from your hand and pages shot at an angle are the usual reasons a photo is hard to read. Turn off the flash if it leaves a white glare on glossy paper.
Why turn photos into a PDF?
IRCC accounts accept JPG and PNG files, so a single photo can go in as it is. The trouble starts with documents that have more than one page or more than one side. IRCC keeps one file per upload field, and if you upload a second file to the same field, only the last one is saved. IRCC's help centre suggests combining images into a PDF. For a passport or status in Canada document where both sides are needed, its sponsorship upload guidance asks for both sides in one file, and we'd do the same for any two-sided document.
The same applies to a translated document, which IRCC's Express Entry instructions say to upload with a scan of the original; our guide to IRCC translation requirements covers who can translate it.
This tool puts each photo on its own page of one PDF, in the order you set. Drag the photos into place, or use the up and down buttons, before you build the file.
Which page size should I choose?
A4 and Letter put each photo on a standard page with a margin, which prints cleanly if anyone prints your file. Fit to image makes each page the same shape as its photo. That avoids wide white borders around a landscape document, such as a certificate photographed sideways or a small card.
How do I keep the PDF under the IRCC limit?
Phone photos are large. The tool first scales each one down to a size that still reads clearly. With "Keep under 4 MB" switched on, it then lowers the image size and JPEG quality a step at a time until the PDF fits. That covers most IRCC accounts, and the IRCC Portal allows 5 MB.
Some application types allow as little as 2 MB. In that case, build the PDF here, then run it through Compress PDF with the 2 MB target.
IRCC's own advice for large images points the same way: take the photo at a smaller size, crop away empty space around the document and lower the image quality. Cropping the table or floor out of the shot before you add it also makes the page easier to read.
Will a sideways photo come out sideways?
No. Phones save the direction they were held when the photo was taken, and the tool uses it to turn each page upright. If a page still comes out the wrong way, rotate the photo in your phone's gallery and add it again.
Is the PDF ready to upload?
Open it and check every page is there, in order, and readable. If one page is blurry, retake that photo and build the PDF again. To join the result with PDFs you already have for the same field, use Merge PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Photograph or scan each page your instructions ask for, with the whole page in the frame and nothing cut off at the edges, then add the photos here in page order. IRCC's page on electronic copies for sponsorship applications accepts a phone, scanner or camera copy, asks for both sides of a passport or status document in one file when both are needed, and sets a 2 MB maximum per file. If your PDF is bigger, compress it to the 2 MB target.
Your phone's normal camera setting is enough. IRCC's advice for oversized images is to take the photo at a smaller size or scan at a lower resolution, and this tool also scales large photos down before it builds the PDF.
iPhones often save photos as HEIC, which most browsers can't open. On iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible for new photos, or export the photo as a JPG before adding it.
Yes. Most scanner apps can save straight to PDF, and you can upload that PDF as it is if it's under the limit. If the app saves JPGs, add them here to combine them.
No. The PDF is put together on your phone or computer, inside the browser. Your photos stay on your device the whole time.
Not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada. IRCC can change its rules, so check the instructions for your application before you upload.