How to Take a Baby Passport Photo at Home
Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and take the photo from directly above in even daylight, or seat the baby in a car seat covered with a white sheet. Only the baby should be in the frame: no hands holding the head, no pacifier or toys. Infant rules differ by country — some relax the eyes-open or neutral-expression rules for newborns — so check the official source for your document.
Step by step
- Lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet, or cover a car seat with a white sheet
- Use daylight from a window and avoid flash, which causes shadows and red eyes
- Take the photo from directly above so the face is straight, not at an angle
- Make sure no hands, pacifier, toys or other people are visible
- Take several shots and pick one with the eyes open and the head straight
- Upload it to the photo tool, which crops it to the official size and makes the background plain white
What is usually relaxed for babies
Many authorities accept that newborns may not look straight at the camera or keep a fully neutral expression, and some accept eyes that are not fully open for very young infants. These exceptions are country-specific; the size, head proportion and plain background rules still apply.
FAQ
Do a baby's eyes need to be open in a passport photo?
Usually yes, but some countries relax this for newborns. Check the official source for your passport or visa.
Can I hold my baby for the passport photo?
Your hands and body must not be visible. Lay the baby on a white sheet or use a car seat covered with a white sheet instead.