A baby needs their own passport photo for a U.S. passport application. The photo must show the baby’s full face against a plain white or off-white background, with no other person visible. The State Department allows a baby’s eyes to be not entirely open; the eyes-open rule applies to other children.
The goal is a clear photograph of your child, not a perfectly posed studio portrait. A simple setup and a few calm attempts usually work better than elaborate props or editing.
A safe, simple setup at home
Lay the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet on a safe, flat surface. Keep the sheet smooth around the head and avoid folds that create dark shadows. Position the camera above the baby so the full face points toward it.
The State Department also describes covering a car seat with a plain sheet for a photo. Use any setup only as directed by the equipment’s safety instructions and keep the baby supervised throughout. Do not leave a sheet-covered seat or a photo setup arranged for sleep.
Use gentle, even light. Try a time when the baby is comfortable and settled, and pause if they become upset. A rushed session can produce a tightly scrunched face or a turned head that is harder to photograph clearly.
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- Safe support: Use a safe setup and supervise throughout.
- Plain sheet: White or off-white; avoid folds that cast shadows.
- Full face visible: No pacifier, blanket, adult face or hand in view.
- Natural photograph: Retake rather than erase a hand or replace the background.
A baby’s eyes need not be entirely open; other children must have eyes open.
What must be visible?
- The full face, facing the camera.
- A clear view without a pacifier, blanket or toy covering the mouth or cheeks.
- No parent’s face, hand or supporting arm in the image.
- A plain background without a pattern or dark shadow.
- A natural image without retouching, filters or AI changes.
If you need to support the baby in a way that will appear in the photo, change the setup or ask a photographer experienced with infants. Do not plan to erase your hand afterward.
Do a newborn’s eyes have to be open?
The official passport photo guidance for babies and toddlers says it is acceptable if a baby’s eyes are not entirely open. It does not create a general exemption for older children to close their eyes or face away from the camera.
Aim for the clearest, most natural view you can capture. Avoid forcing the eyelids open or manipulating the baby’s face to achieve a particular expression.
Size, print quality and recency
The paper photo is 2 by 2 inches, just as for other U.S. passport applicants. It must be in color, recent and printed on photo-quality paper. Check the current official sizing examples before printing a tightly cropped image of a small face.
Do not use a hospital keepsake image unless it independently satisfies all the requirements. A photo can be sentimental, beautifully lit and still have the wrong angle, background or framing for a passport.
Babies change quickly, so take the photo close enough to the application that it is a good representation of the child. The general government recency limit is six months.
Check the photograph in this order
Start with the face and the real background, then check the print. That prevents spending time sizing an image that needs to be retaken anyway. The situations below are preparation examples, not photographs that have received government approval.
| What is in your original image? | Decision before printing |
|---|---|
| Baby faces the camera; eyes are partly open; face is clear | The baby-eye exception may apply. Continue checking the remaining requirements; partly open eyes do not excuse a turned or obscured face. |
| Baby’s face is clear but a supporting hand is visible beside it | Change the physical setup and take another photo. Removing the hand digitally is not the solution. |
| Blanket is white but a fold makes a dark line behind the head | Smooth or replace the background before another attempt. |
| Baby is crying, has a pacifier or has a hand across the mouth | Pause and try again when the face is unobstructed and the expression is suitable. |
| Original looks clear, but the print is blurry or incorrectly sized | Check the printing process before retaking an otherwise suitable original. |
The photo is only one part of the child application
Parents must also arrange citizenship and relationship evidence, identification and the required consent. A good photo does not replace any of those documents. Read how the under-16 passport application works and prepare DS-3053 when an absent parent needs to consent.
Compare with real official examples, not a generated portrait
Open the State Department’s photo examples and find Babies and toddlers. Compare the examples showing a clear forward-facing child, a hand blocking the face, a pacifier and another person in the image. Our featured scene explains the setup; it is not an application-ready photo or evidence of acceptance.
Before taking an infant to a photo service
- Ask whether the location photographs infants who cannot sit independently.
- Confirm whether you need a printed U.S. passport photo or a different country’s visa format.
- Ask how the original image will be captured without a visible parent or digital background replacement.
- Arrange the visit before leaving home, and keep the consent/application appointment separate from the photo booking.
For a child’s U.S. passport application, the photo accompanies an in-person application; producing a digital picture does not make the child eligible for online passport renewal. If the photograph is ready but the family documents are not, use the repeat child application checklist before booking acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Can the baby wear a headband?
Avoid decorative headwear and anything that obscures the face. Religious or medical coverings have separate official requirements.
Can I digitally remove the background or a parent’s hand?
No. Change the setup and take another original photo.
Can someone help with the whole application?
Contact our child passport team about preparation and available expediting options. Confirm photo-service arrangements before visiting with an infant.
Tell us your destination, departure date and application status. Call first to arrange a visit to our Los Angeles office.
Call (310) 913-7804