Baby and newborn passport photos

The rules are more relaxed for infants than most parents expect. Here is exactly what is allowed, and a setup that works in five minutes at home.

What the rules allow for babies

US passport photos for infants follow the same size rules as adults, with a few exceptions written into the State Department's own manual for passport staff (8 FAM 402.1), which says the goal is “the best likeness that can reasonably be obtained”:

Eyes can be closed. It is acceptable if an infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed.
The head can be supported. For example, a car seat with a white or off-white blanket behind the child.
A slight head tilt is acceptable for infants.
No parent in the photo. A parent's face cannot appear. Keep hands and arms out of the frame too.

Everything else is the same as for adults:

2 × 2 inch color photo, head 1 to 1⅜ inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin
Plain white, off-white or light-colored background with no shadows or objects
Taken within the last six months, no filters or retouching of the face
No hats, bows or wide headbands (unless religious or medical), no pacifier, no toys in the frame

Method 1: Lay your baby on a white sheet

This is the easiest method for newborns.

Spread a plain white or off-white sheet on a bed or the floor, pulled flat so there are no wrinkles near the head.
Lay your baby on their back in the middle of the sheet, near a window with indirect daylight.
Stand over your baby and hold the phone directly above, parallel to the sheet. Keep the top of the baby's head toward the top of the phone so the photo comes out upright.
Check that your own shadow isn't falling across the baby's face. Shoot from slightly to the side of the light, and don't use flash.
Take several shots. Include the whole head and the top of the shoulders, with space around them.

Method 2: Car seat with a white blanket

Better for babies who can hold their head up a little. Drape a white or off-white blanket over the car seat so it fills the area behind the head, place the baby in the seat, and shoot from the front at the baby's eye level from about 3 to 4 feet away.

Sizing it correctly

Upload your best shot to the US passport photo tool. It finds the face, sizes the head to the 1 to 1⅜ inch rule, replaces the background with plain white and produces a 2×2 digital file plus a 4×6 print sheet. Everything runs on your device: the photo is never uploaded.

Two things to check with babies:

Photo sideways or upside down? Tap Rotate photo 90° until the face is upright.
Top-of-head line. Babies' heads are large relative to their faces, and a bald head on a white sheet can be hard to see. If the tool shows “Top of head estimated”, make sure the dashed top of head line sits at the top of the head and adjust with the Size and Up/down sliders.

The preview is free. The digital file and print sheet are $2.99, with a refund if the photo is rejected.

Common reasons baby photos get rejected

A parent's hand, arm or face visible in the frame
Shadows on the face from the person taking the photo
Toys, pacifier, blanket patterns or the car seat visible behind the head
Head too small in the frame (photo taken from too far away and not enlarged)

Do a baby's eyes have to be open in a passport photo?+

No. The State Department's manual says it is acceptable if an infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed. Older children must have their eyes open.

Can I hold my baby for the passport photo?+

A parent's face cannot appear in the photo. Supporting the baby's head discreetly is allowed, but keep your hands and arms out of the frame. Laying the baby on a white sheet or using a car seat covered with a white blanket avoids the problem entirely.

What size is a US baby passport photo?+

The same as an adult's: 2 × 2 inches, with the head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin.

Can my baby wear a hat or a bow?+

No. Hats and head coverings such as bows and wide headbands are not allowed unless worn for religious or medical reasons. Flat hair clips are fine if they don't cover the face or hairline.

Can a newborn use a pacifier in the photo?+

Take it out. Nothing should cover the face, and the photo must show a natural likeness.

How recent does the photo need to be?+

Taken within the last six months, and it must be a good likeness. Babies change quickly, so take a new photo close to when you apply.

Sources: US Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual 8 FAM 402.1, and travel.state.gov passport photos. Rules can change; check the official page before you apply.

More guides