IRCC document upload size limits, and how to fit them
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a file size limit for every document you upload, and the limit depends on which online account you’re using. Here’s the full list from IRCC’s help centre and the quickest way to get a large scan under it.
Last checked against the official sources: 20 October 2026
| Online account | Limit per file | Accepted file types |
|---|---|---|
| IRCC secure account | 4 MB | .jpg, .png, .doc, .tiff, .pdf |
| IRCC Portal (original and new version) | 5 MB | .jpg, .png, .doc, .docx, .tiff, .pdf |
| Online citizenship application | 4 MB | .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff, .pdf |
| Asylum portal | 4 MB | .jpg, .png, .tiff, .doc, .docx, .pdf |
| Permanent Residence Portal | 4 MB | .pdf (application forms and supporting documents), .jpg, .jpeg, .doc, .docx, .png |
IRCC also warns that, depending on what you’re applying for, the limit can be as low as 2 MB. Always check the limit shown next to each upload slot in your account.
Scan or photo over the limit?
This opens the compressor at 4,000 KB, which fits every account above. Choose 2,000 KB if your application shows a 2 MB limit.
Don’t compress IRCC’s own application forms
Use the compressor for supporting documents: passport pages, birth and marriage certificates, bank statements, police certificates, photos of documents and so on. Don’t run IRCC’s fillable application forms (the IMM forms) through any compressor, flattener or “print to PDF”. Many of them contain validation data that must stay intact. Complete, validate and save them exactly as the form’s instructions say, and upload them as they are.
How to get a document under the limit
- Start from a sensible scan. IRCC suggests scanning at a lower resolution, such as 96 DPI. For documents with small print, 150 to 200 DPI in greyscale is a good balance between clarity and size.
- Crop away empty space around the document, and remove blank or irrelevant pages.
- Save multi-page documents as one PDF if the upload slot accepts a single file, then compress that PDF.
- Compress to the limit shown for your account, for example 4,000 KB or 2,000 KB. For PDFs, the compressor first tries changes that keep the text selectable, and only turns pages into images if it has to.
- Open the result and zoom in to check every name, date and number is readable before you upload it.
Why “4 MB” needs a little room
Systems don’t agree on what a megabyte is: some count 1,000,000 bytes, others 1,048,576. The compressor treats 1 KB as 1,000 bytes, so a 4,000 KB result is 4,000,000 bytes or less and passes either way. Avoid aiming for exactly 4,096 KB.
Official sources
- Is there a file size limit for documents I upload to my account? IRCC Help Centre
- What file formats can I upload to my account? IRCC Help Centre
- My documents are too large to upload. How do I reduce the file size? IRCC Help Centre
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. We check these rules regularly, but they can change at any time, so confirm them on the official pages above before you submit.
Questions
What is the IRCC file size limit for uploads?
It depends on the online account. IRCC’s help centre lists 4 MB per file for the IRCC secure account, the online citizenship application, the asylum portal and the Permanent Residence Portal, and 5 MB per file for the IRCC Portal. For some applications the limit can be as low as 2 MB, so check the limit shown in your account.
Can I compress my IRCC application forms?
It’s safest not to. Many IRCC application forms contain validation data that compression or flattening can damage. Complete, validate and save the forms as their instructions say, and compress only your supporting documents.
What file types does IRCC accept?
Most IRCC accounts accept PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF and Word files, with small differences between accounts. The Permanent Residence Portal needs application forms and supporting documents as PDF. The table on this page lists each account.