Baby and Child Passport Photos

Babies and toddlers need their own passports, and getting a compliant photo of someone who cannot sit still or follow instructions can be the hardest part of the application. A little preparation makes it much easier.

Check your country's rules first

Most passport authorities apply the same basic standards to children as to adults: a plain, light background, the face clearly visible, a neutral expression and no other people in the shot. Many relax some rules for very young children. For example, UK guidance says babies under one do not need to have their eyes open, and US guidance accepts that infants may not have their eyes fully open. Always read the current official guidance for the country issuing the passport.

Set up the background

• Lying down: lay a plain white or off-white sheet on the floor or a bed and place your baby on their back on it. Take the photo from directly above.
• Car seat: drape a plain white sheet over the seat so none of the seat shows behind the baby's head.
• Older children: stand them in front of a plain, light-coloured wall.

Keep hands and toys out of the frame

No parent's hands, arms or fingers should be visible, and neither should dummies, toys or blankets. If you need to support your baby's head, position your hand under the sheet or out of the camera's view.

Light the face evenly

Use soft daylight from a window facing the baby rather than a camera flash, which can cause red eye or harsh shadows. Make sure there are no shadows on the face or behind the head; your own shadow is a common problem when shooting from above.

Head position and expression

The head should be straight, facing the camera, with the face filling the right portion of the frame for the required size. A neutral expression with the mouth closed is ideal, but most authorities accept that babies cannot hold a pose; aim for a calm moment rather than a crying or laughing one.

Timing tips

• Try shortly after a feed or nap, when your baby is calm and alert.
• Have a second adult attract attention from just behind the camera.
• Take lots of shots in burst mode and choose the best one.
• Remove hats, hair clips and bulky collars.

Crop and check

Once you have a good shot, it needs to be cropped to the correct size with the head at the right scale. A tool like My Passport Photo Maker can help you crop and format the photo for the required dimensions. Before submitting, compare the result with the official requirements once more.