Baby Passport Photo: How to Take a Newborn Passport Photo That Passes
Passport Photo Guide · Babies & Toddlers
Every baby needs a passport photo of their own, even a newborn. The rules are a little gentler than for adults, but the photo still has to show only your child, facing the camera, on a plain white background with no hands in sight.
US rules, with Canada's differences. Last checked October 14, 2026.
US baby passport photo rules
| Requirement | What the State Department asks for |
|---|---|
| Size | 2 by 2 inches, with the head 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top, the same as for adults |
| Background | A plain white or off-white sheet under your child, or over a car seat |
| Other people | No other person in the photo, including a parent's hands |
| Pose | The child faces the camera with the full face visible |
| Expression | Neutral, not exaggerated |
| Eyes | A baby's eyes do not have to be entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open |
| Lighting | No shadows on the child's face, which is easy to get wrong when shooting from above |
| Blocking the face | Nothing in front of the face: no pacifier, toys or hands |
Two ways to set up the photo
- On a sheet. Lay your baby on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet. The sheet supports the head and becomes the background. Watch for your own shadow when you lean over to take the photo.
- In a car seat. Cover the car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and seat your child in it. This also supports the head, and works well for babies who are not lying still.
Tips that make it easier
- Pick the right momentA fed, rested baby is a calmer model. Many parents come right after a nap or a feed.
- Dress in a colorPlain clothing in a soft color stands out against the white background. An all-white outfit can blend into it.
- Get their attention above the cameraHold a toy or make a sound just above the lens so your child looks straight ahead, then take it away before the shot.
- Keep everything off the faceTake out the pacifier, move hands and blankets away, and smooth back any hair over the eyes.
- Take many framesBabies move. Take several photos and choose the one that is sharp, centred and free of shadows.
ThisPix · Midtown Manhattan
Bring your baby to the studioStudio lighting removes the shadows that most home baby photos have, and our photographers take their time until they get a frame that meets the rules. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Book a baby passport photo212-753-4671Common reasons baby photos are refused
These come straight from the State Department's examples of unacceptable baby and toddler photos.
- A parent's hands or another person in the photo
- A pacifier blocking part of the face
- The child's hands over the face
- The child not facing the camera
- An exaggerated expression, like crying
- Shadows on the face
- A background that is not plain white or off-white
- A blurry photo
If your baby has another nationality
Many New York families apply for two passports. Baby rules differ by country, so check each one. Canada, for example, is stricter than the US about the eyes.
| United States | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2 × 2 in | 50 × 70 mm |
| Eyes | A baby's eyes need not be entirely open | Eyes must be clearly visible |
| Expression | Neutral | Mouth closed, with some range allowed for infants |
| Hands | No other person in the photo | No hands, the parent's or the child's |
| Car seat | Covered with a white or off-white sheet | White blanket over the seat behind the head |
| Full guide | US passport photos | Canadian passport photos |
While you are here, our baby and family portrait sessions capture the first months in the studio or at home in New York.
Questions, answered
Does a newborn need a passport photo?
Yes. Every child, including a newborn, needs their own passport and their own passport photo.
Can my baby's eyes be closed in a US passport photo?
For a baby, the State Department accepts eyes that are not entirely open. Older children must have their eyes open. Canada is different: the child's eyes must be clearly visible.
Can I hold my baby for the passport photo?
No. No other person can be in the photo, including your hands. Lay your baby on a white sheet or seat them in a car seat covered with a white sheet instead.
Can my baby have a pacifier?
No. A pacifier blocks part of the face, which is one of the State Department's examples of an unacceptable photo.
Can I take my baby's passport photo at home?
Yes. A friend or family member can take it, as long as it meets every rule. The hardest parts at home are even lighting without shadows and the correct head size, which is why many parents use a photo studio.
What should my baby wear?
Everyday clothing in a plain, soft color that contrasts with the white background. Avoid hats, unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
Where can I get a baby passport photo in Manhattan?
At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Sources. Requirements change, so always confirm with the issuing government before you apply. Last checked October 14, 2026.