In Canada, your health insurance card (also known as a care card) can prove your public health insurance. If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you will need this health card when you see a doctor or get medical services. It matters a lot in your daily life. For example, a doctor can accept a Quebec health card even when you are in other provinces. Health card requirements vary slightly in different provinces or territories, but applicants must provide a photo of themselves. If you have no idea about how to obtain a Canadian health card photo in Québec, follow the guidelines below and quickly get a compliant photo.

Canada Health Card Photo Requirements

RAMQ is responsible for the sound management of the Québec Health Insurance Plan. Wherever you need a health card photo, you should first know the specific RAMQ requirements. Otherwise, your application will be rejected by the institution because of inappropriate photos. Avoid situations where you will have to start over. Here are the photo specifications of the health insurance card:

  • The photo size should be 50 mm in height and 70 mm in width (2 ¾ in. by 2 in.).
  • The photo must be from the past 6 months, reflecting the applicant’s current appearance.
  • The photo should be in solid white or light coloured background.
  • The photo taken must be clear and focused.
  • The photo should be taken with a neutral facial expression, no smiling, visible and open eyes, and a closed mouth.
  • The photo should show a clear contrast between your face and the background.   
  • You should face the camera directly and center your shoulders.
  • You need to professionally print your photo on high quality photographic paper.
  • No tinted eyeglasses and head decorations, unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons.
  • No shadows, glare, or flash reflections in your photo.
  • No overexposed or underexposed photos.

How to Get Health Card Photo Online and Offline?

As you know all the requirements for a health card photo in Canada, you may be wondering where to get a Quebec health card photo. It will depend on the service point you choose, SAAQ service outlet or Health Network Service Point (CLSC), and you will provide a photo or have one taken on the site. Let’s help you get the right photo quickly.

Get Health Card Photos Offline

According to the SAAQ service outlet, you can have your health card photo taken on the premises. But you need to make an appointment online before you go there and avoid waiting in a long line for your photo to be taken.

CAA-Québec

Licensing agent

2012, rue Cyrille-Duquet

Québec, G1N 2E8

Weekdays Business Hours: 08:30 am to 04:00 pm (closed on weekends)

Call us at 1-800-361-7620.

Note: photo services are only available by appointment, so make an appointment before you go.

London Drugs

According to the Health Network Service Point (CLSC), you can provide your photo, which means you can go to the nearest pharmacy or the photographer taking your health card photos. London Drugs image technology provides you with a biometric and reliable health card photo to ensure it meets the required specifications. You can walk in and have your photo done quickly without making any appointments. Or you can upload a digitally-compliant ID photo on the official website and pick it up at the nearest London Drugs store for $0.49 CAD.

Walmart

Another professional photo shop helps you get qualified health card photos quickly. Walk inside the store to have your ID photo taken by experienced photographers, and get two printable compliant health card photos quickly. Or you can upload your digitally qualified photo to Walmart website or app, and pay $0.12 CAD to get your ID photo printed at the nearest Walmart. They also offer pick-up service on the same day and home delivery in 3 to 5 business days.

Get Health Card Photos Online

Suggestions on How to Take Health Card Photos at Home

Yes, you can take a health card photo at home, but you need to avoid making mistakes while shooting. Here are some tips to help you take the right card photo:

  • Make sure there is enough light on your face, no shadows.
  • Keep a neutral facial expression, no smiling or other obvious facial expression.
  • Visible eyes and face. If you are a lady, make sure all your hair is behind your face.
  • Choose a good background, solid white or light colored wall.
  • You are not allowed to embellish your bimetric ID photo too much. Just show a real you.

How to Get a Compliant Card Photo with AiPassportPhotos

Of course, you can take an ID photo yourself and use an online ID photo editor to help you get a compliant one. Here you can choose AiPassportPhotos, an AI technology photo tool that generates the right size photo that can comply with the Canadian Health Card photo specification in seconds. Once you have complied with the above requirements to take your ID photo at home, the next important step is to create a compliant one on AiPassportPhotos’ website. Check out the steps below and get your health card photo done.

  • Open AiPassportPhotos on your device.
  • Select Country-Canada and Quebec Health Insurance Card.
  • Upload the photo from your photo library. AI technology takes a few seconds to process.
  • AiPassportPhotos can automatically resize your photo, converting your photo into a compliant ID photo by adjusting the distance between the top and bottom of the photo.
  • Once done, you can get printable templates on your device. And it will verify that your health card photos comply with the official specifications.
  • When you get the templates, print them in local stores that offer print photo services.

AiPassportPhotos, a professional online photo ID maker, scans the face, light, eye visibility and positioning and intelligently crop your photo based on official requirements, giving you a 100% guarantee that your ID photo will not be rejected by the official.

How much does a ID/Health Card Photo Cost

A health card photo fee applies for having your photo taken, depending on which service point you go to and where you take the photo. The cheapest one is to take photos by yourself and use AiPassportPhotos to check your ID photos.

At what age do you get a picture on your Ontario health card

If you want a health card in Ontario, you must be at least 16 years old and have a picture on your health card that functions as a form of official government ID.

Concusion

So, you will find it easy to get a picture of a health card, won’t you? Just let the online photo tool – AiPassportPhotos do the job for you and keep your photos from being rejected. Now continue to apply for your health insurance card and get the benefit.

By Dolores Xiao

I am a content creator and marketer with over 5 years of professional writing experience. I hold a bachelor's degree in communications and have a natural curiosity about technology, as evidenced by my technology blog. As an avid traveler, I draw upon adventures in over 10 countries to inject unique cultural perspectives into my articles and social media campaigns. I thrive on developing engaging content that informs and inspires audiences.