United States / minors
Baby & Newborn Passport Photo Requirements
Yes, babies need their own passport photo — and yes, it can be taken at home. The format rules are the same 50.8×50.8mm as adults; the hard part is getting a newborn to cooperate.
What changes for a newborn
- Eyes open is preferred but not strictly required for very young infants — a photo with eyes closed is evaluated case by case; take many shots to get one with eyes open.
- No one else in the frame. The standard trick — laying the baby on a white sheet and shooting from above — works, but check the edges: no parent hands, no shadows of the person holding the sheet.
- Head size still applies. The 50–69% head-height band is measured on the baby’s head, which is proportionally larger — you may need the camera closer than for an adult.
- Plain expression is impossible to force. A neutral or naturally relaxed face is fine; wait for a calm moment (often right after feeding).
The lay-down method
- Put a plain white sheet over a firm surface (a changing table or the floor).
- Lay the baby on its back; the sheet should fill the whole frame behind the head.
- Shoot from directly above in soft daylight; avoid your own shadow.
- Frame head and shoulders; check no sheet wrinkles cross the face.
Format after the shot
Once you have a usable photo, the formatting work is identical to adults: upload it to the maker — background removal to pure white, crop to 50.8×50.8mm, pre-check and a print sheet with exactly 4 photos for about $0.35.
Both parents may need to be present
For a child under 16, passport application rules require consent from both parents or guardians — the photo is only one part of the application.