Baby Passport Photo: US Requirements and At-Home Tips

US baby passport photo requirements

The US Department of State does not publish a separate photo size for infants. A baby passport photo still needs to meet the standard US passport photo format, with a few practical considerations for newborns and young children.

Set up a safe at-home photo spot

Choose a time when your baby is calm and awake. Natural daylight near a window usually works better than direct sun or a ceiling light because it reduces harsh shadows around the head.

• Lay a plain white or off-white sheet on a safe, flat surface.
• Smooth out wrinkles and remove patterned blankets, toys, clips, and pacifiers.
• Stand directly above the baby so the camera is parallel to the face.
• Keep both of your hands out of the frame. If support is needed, reposition the baby and try again.
• Take many photos quickly; one calm, well-lit frame is enough.

How to take a baby passport photo at home

1. Clean the camera lens and turn off beauty filters, portrait effects, and heavy image enhancement.
2. Place the baby on the plain background with the head visible and centered.
3. Use even light, then take several photos from above without zooming too far in.
4. Pick a photo where the face is clear, the background is plain, and no other person is visible.
5. Upload the image to Passport-Selfie's US passport photo generator to crop it to the 2x2 format and prepare a printable or digital result.
6. Before submitting, check the final photo size, head size, background, and print quality.

Common baby passport photo mistakes

• A visible parent or hand: no supporting person can appear in the passport photo.
• Patterned background: blankets with texture, stripes, or toys can cause rejection.
• Pacifier or toy in the mouth: remove anything that blocks the face.
• Heavy shadows: move closer to soft daylight or rotate the setup until the face is evenly lit.
• Wrong crop: the final photo must be 2 x 2 inches with the baby's head correctly sized.
• Low-quality print: use photo-quality paper if you submit a printed photo.

Digital and print options for a baby passport photo

If your application process accepts a digital upload, keep the file clean and uncompressed. Do not send it through messaging apps that may reduce quality. If you need a printed photo, create a 4x6 print-ready sheet and order it as a standard photo print without crop or zoom.

For printing help, see the 4x6 passport photo printing guide, or use the pharmacy-specific guides for CVS passport photo printing and Walgreens passport photo printing.

Baby passport photo FAQ

Can a newborn passport photo be taken while lying down?

Yes. Lying the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet is usually the easiest and safest setup, as long as the background is plain and no other person appears in the photo.

Do a baby's eyes need to be open in a US passport photo?

Try to use a photo with the eyes open and the face visible. For very young infants, practical tolerance may vary, so take several photos and use the clearest one that best follows the official requirements.

Can I hold my baby for a passport photo?

You can support your baby between shots, but no part of you can be visible in the final photo. If a hand, arm, or shoulder appears, retake the photo.