Baby and newborn passport photos at home
Quick answer
Lay your baby on their back on a plain white or light sheet and take the photo from directly above, or use a car seat covered with a white sheet; no other person, hand or toy may be visible. Many countries relax the rules for babies: the US accepts partly closed eyes, and the UK does not require open eyes under age 1.
Updated October 4, 2026
A baby needs their own photo for their own passport or visa, and most rules are the same as for adults: the right size, a plain background and nobody else in the picture. Because newborns cannot sit up or hold a pose, most authorities allow a few exceptions.
The rules that change for babies
- Eyes: the US accepts partly closed eyes for infants, and the UK and the Indian OCI card do not require open eyes under age 1. New Zealand and Japan still ask for open eyes.
- Mouth and expression: Australia allows an open mouth under age 3, South Korea a slightly open mouth up to 36 months, and the UK does not require a plain expression under age 6.
- Support: the US and the UK allow the head to be supported, as long as the hand is not visible.
- No dummies: the UK and Ireland do not allow dummies (pacifiers), and toys must stay out of the frame.
Sheet or car seat?
Lying on a sheet and photographed from above: the UK and New Zealand mention a plain light-coloured sheet, Japan a white sheet and Ireland a plain white surface. A car seat covered with a white sheet is accepted for US passports and visas. Canada mentions a car seat with a white blanket behind the head, but Canadian passport photos must be taken by a commercial photographer.
Rules for babies and children by document
Summarised from each document's official source; open a document for its full rules and source link.
| Document | Babies and children |
|---|---|
| US Passport Photo | Child alone in photo; no other person (parent's hands/face must not be visible); plain white/off-white sheet or covered car seat; infants' eyes may be partly closed; head may be discreetly supported; neutral expression, full face visible. |
| US DV Lottery Photo | Separate individual photo required for spouse and every eligible child (unmarried, under 21), same specs; baby on white sheet or white-covered car seat, no other person in photo, eyes open. |
| UK Passport Photo | Child alone in picture; babies no toys/dummies. Under 6: need not look directly at camera or have plain expression. Under 1: eyes need not be open; head may be supported by a hand that is not visible; lie on plain light-coloured sheet, photo taken from above. |
| Ireland Passport Photo | Infants who cannot support themselves: lying down on plain white surface; no supporting hands/arms visible; no soothers/pacifiers; child not smiling, mouth not open; online cropping tool may be used for 0-36 months. |
| New Zealand Passport Photo | Baby: lay on plain light-coloured sheet, photograph from above, entire face visible with eyes open, no other people/objects. |
| Japan Passport Photo | Infants who cannot sit may be photographed lying on a white sheet from directly above. No part of a helper may appear; eyes must be open; beware of motion blur. |
| Australia Passport Photo | Children under 3 may have mouth open; no one else visible (no parent's hands); babies otherwise same rules. |
| South Korea Passport Photo | Same standards as adults; no toys or guardians visible; newborns/infants (36 months or younger) may have the mouth slightly open. |
| India OCI Card Photo | Babies under one year need not have eyes open; for children under 10 face height and eye position can be relaxed; child must be alone (no chair backs, toys, other people), mouth closed. |
| Netherlands Passport Photo | Children under 6 are exempt from: eyes on a horizontal line, head not tilted, shoulders straight, neutral look, looking straight into the camera, mouth closed. Any support must not be visible (hand under clothing). Child with eyes closed: not allowed. Age <=10: chin-to-crown 19-30 mm. |
| Poland Passport Photo | Children up to 5: may have eyes closed, mouth open or unnatural expression; face uncovered (no hair/toy), head straight, light uniform background, no other persons. Mouth closed required above age 5. |
| Canada Passport Photo | Same specs as adults; no hands visible; newborns allowed some range of facial expression; newborn may be photographed in car seat with white blanket behind head. |
| Türkiye Passport Photo | Biometric photo required for every age group (NVİ FAQ). Small children: no other persons or objects in the photo. Biometric data taken from age 7, signature from 12. |
How to take a baby passport photo at home
- Prepare the background Spread a plain white or light sheet without creases on a bed or the floor, or cover a car seat with a white sheet.
- Use soft daylight Work near a window in daylight, without flash, so there are no shadows on the face or the sheet.
- Lay your baby down Lay your baby on their back with the head straight and the whole face visible. Keep toys, dummies and hands out of the frame.
- Shoot from directly above Hold the phone parallel to the sheet, straight above the face, and take several photos so you can choose the best one.
- Crop to the exact size Upload the photo to the Ovalight Studio to crop it to your document's size, then download the file or the print sheet.
Questions
Does a newborn need a passport photo?
Yes, for their own passport or visa. Türkiye, for example, requires a biometric photo for every age group, and the US Diversity Visa lottery needs a separate photo of every eligible child.
Do my baby's eyes need to be open?
It depends on the country: the US accepts partly closed eyes for infants, and the UK and the Indian OCI card do not require open eyes under age 1, but New Zealand and Japan ask for open eyes.
Can I hold my baby for the photo?
Only if you cannot be seen. The US and the UK allow you to support the head with a hand that does not appear in the photo; a sheet or a covered car seat is easier.
Can I take a Canadian baby passport photo at home?
No. Canada requires passport photos taken by a commercial photographer, also for babies.
Make your photo at home
The Ovalight Studio guides you to the right shot, crops your photo to the exact size and checks it against the rules for your document.