Guidelines for TCard Portrait Photos

Portrait Photo Guidelines

The portrait photo on your TCard is used by staff at the university to verify your identity. Therefore, portrait photos must follow strict guidelines. 

Your Portrait Photo must… 

  • be a colour photo from shoulder to above your head, with your entire face horizontally centered looking at the camera.
  • be clear, evenly lit, with no other objects or people present, and your entire face unobstructed by hair, shadows or other objects.
  • represent your current appearance without any photo editing or enhancements.
  • resemble the image on your identity / legal status documentation. It is okay to smile.

Acceptable Portrait Photo

Unacceptable Portrait Photos

Other objects visible.

Not facing camera.

Other objects visible.

Photo of a photo.

Photo is not in colour.

Shadows obstructing face.

Photo is grainy and unclear

Photo is edited

Documentation Photo Guidelines

The TCard Office requires documentation to verify your identity and confirm your legal status. Therefore, your documentation must follow strict guidelines.

Your identity and legal status documentation must: 

  • Be unexpired 
  • Be in colour
  • Be unaltered 
  • Have a name exactly matching your name in U of T’s record system
    • If it does not match, or you need to change the name in the system, contact your registrar or HR office.
  • Have a date of birth exactly matching your date of birth in U of T’s record system.

To determine what documentation you need to submit, please visit our documentation tool