A passport photo of a baby is hard to get. Babies don't follow instructions, they move all the time, and getting them to look straight at a camera with a neutral expression is close to impossible. These tips help.
The rules are slightly relaxed
- Babies under 1 year old don't need their eyes open in most countries
- A slight, natural expression is usually accepted for young children
- Mouth slightly open is generally OK for infants
- Head support or a hand holding the baby is acceptable if not visible
- Background rules stay the same: plain white or light-coloured
Lay the baby down
The easiest way to photograph a baby for a passport is to lay them on a white sheet on a flat surface, then photograph from directly above.
- Spread a plain white sheet over a flat surface
- Smooth out wrinkles, which cast shadows
- Lay the baby on their back, face up
- Stand directly above and photograph straight down
- Keep the lighting even (near a window works well)
- Take lots of photos, so you get one with the baby looking up
Or use a car seat
For slightly older babies who can hold their head up, place them in a car seat with a white sheet draped behind it. The car seat holds the baby upright, and the sheet provides the background. Photograph from directly in front at the baby's eye level.
Tips by age
Newborns (0–3 months)
Laying the baby down works best. Take the photo when the baby is calm and awake; after a feed is often a good time. Most countries do not need the eyes to be open.
Infants (3–12 months)
Either lay-down or car seat method. Use a toy or noise above the camera to attract their gaze. Be patient and take lots of photos.
Toddlers (1–3 years)
Can often sit in a chair or on a lap (keep the adult hidden). Make it a game: ask them to look at a sticker on the camera.
After the photo
Once you have a usable photo, use CropPass to crop and resize it to your country's requirements. The tool works the same way for baby photos as adult photos.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies need to have their eyes open in passport photos?
For babies under 1 year old, most countries do not require the eyes to be open. The US, UK, Australia, and Canada all make this exception for infants. For toddlers over 1, eyes should ideally be open and looking toward the camera.
How old does a baby need to be for a passport photo?
Babies need a passport photo at any age, even newborns. There is no minimum age for passport photos. The photo just needs to clearly show the child's face against a plain background.