Photographing a baby for a passport is genuinely hard — they can't sit up, hold still, or follow instructions. The good news: the U.S. Department of State relaxes a few rules for infants while keeping the core specifications the same. Here is exactly what's required and how to actually capture it.
Do the same size rules apply to babies?
Yes. A baby's passport photo must still be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in color, with a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months. The head should fall within the standard 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) chin-to-crown range where possible, though the State Department accepts that infant head size makes exact framing difficult.
Does my baby need to have their eyes open?
For newborns and infants, the State Department makes an exception: the baby's eyes do not have to be fully open. This is the single most important relaxation — it's the rule that makes a sleeping-newborn photo acceptable. The baby should still be facing the camera, and there should be no pacifier and no toys in the photo.
How do I hold the baby without breaking the rules?
No one else can appear in the photo — no hands supporting the head, no parent in the frame. The official, accepted technique is to lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet or blanket and photograph straight down from above. This keeps the background plain and supports the head without any hands showing. Make sure the sheet is smooth and free of shadows and folds.
Alternatively, drape a plain white sheet over a car seat and photograph the baby in it, again ensuring nothing but the baby and the white background appears in the frame.
What about expression, hands, and clothing?
There should be no other people, hands, or objects visible. The baby's face must be unobscured — keep hair, blankets, and hands away from the face. A neutral expression is preferred but not strictly required for infants. Dress the baby in normal clothing that contrasts with the white background (avoid all-white outfits).
Lighting tips that actually work
Use soft, even, natural light — photographing near a window during the day works well and avoids harsh flash shadows. Photographing from directly above with the baby lying down lets you control both lighting and background at once.
Quick infant photo checklist
- 2 x 2 inches, color, white/off-white background, within 6 months
- Eyes open preferred but not required for newborns
- No hands, no other people, no pacifiers or toys in frame
- Lay baby on a plain white sheet and shoot straight down
- Face unobscured, even lighting, no shadows
Because infant photos are easy to get subtly wrong — a stray hand, a shadow from a blanket fold, a head turned too far — it pays to validate the shot before printing. Snapassport checks a baby photo against the official U.S. passport specification and flags issues like background, framing, and obstructions before you submit.