Taking a passport photo of a newborn or infant is one of the harder photo tasks. The core rules are the same as for adults — 2×2 inches, plain white or off-white background, face the camera — but babies don't hold still, can't follow instructions, and often have their eyes half closed. The State Department explicitly allows parents to take the photo at home, and it even suggests a setup.
U.S. State Department Rules for Baby Passport Photos
Background: place the child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with the sheet and seat the child in it
No shadows on the child's face
No other person in the photo — no parent's hands or arms
The child must face the camera, with the full face visible (nothing blocking it — no hands, no pacifier)
Neutral facial expression
Eyes: it's okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open; all other children must have their eyes open
2×2 inches, head height 1–1⅜ inches — the same as adults
Three DIY Setups That Work
White Sheet on a Flat Surface (Newborns)
Lay a plain white or off-white sheet flat and place the baby on their back. Hold the phone directly above, parallel to the baby's face, so the camera looks straight at the face.
Use soft daylight from a nearby window; avoid casting your own shadow over the baby
Keep the sheet smooth — wrinkles and patterns show up as texture
Take many shots and pick the one where the face is straight and fully visible
Make sure no hands or arms of a parent are in the frame
Car Seat Covered With a White Sheet (Infants)
This is the setup the State Department suggests: cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and place the baby in it — it also keeps the baby's head supported. Get down to the baby's eye level and attract their attention from just behind the camera.
Only the background behind the head needs to be white — the sheet should cover the seat pattern
Have a second adult stand behind you making a sound or holding a colorful toy
White Wall (Toddlers)
For toddlers who can sit on their own, use the adult setup: plain white or off-white wall, daylight from a window, phone at the child's eye level, several feet away. Have someone stand right behind you to attract attention.
The Eyes-Open Challenge
For babies, the State Department accepts eyes that are not entirely open. For older children, both eyes must be open. Tips:
Take the photo after a nap, not when the baby is sleepy
Use burst mode and take many photos — at least one will catch open eyes
Make a gentle sound right before pressing the shutter
Hold a brightly colored toy just above the camera lens
Upload the best baby photo to the US Passport Photo page. The service detects the baby's face and crops the photo to 2×2 in with the head sized correctly, and you see the result before paying. It cannot fix what the State Department treats as a reason to retake the photo — a parent's hand in the frame, a pacifier, a busy background — and the State Department rejects digitally altered photos, so get those right when you take the shot.
Cost: $13 for the digital file and a print-ready 4×6 in layout — and you don't need to take a fussy baby into a busy pharmacy.
What Doesn't Work for Baby Photos
Holding the baby in your arms: no other person can be in the photo, and the child's face must not be blocked by hands
Pacifier or bottle: not acceptable if it blocks part of the face
Hat or hood: head coverings are only allowed for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement
Overhead light: creates shadows on the baby's face
Crib or patterned blanket in the background: the background must be plain white or off-white
Exaggerated expression or face turned away: the child must face the camera with a neutral expression
How Long Does a Baby Passport Last?
U.S. passports for children under 16 are valid for 5 years. A child's passport cannot be renewed — you apply in person with a new application (and a new photo) each time.
Bottom Line
You can take a compliant U.S. baby passport photo at home with a phone, a white sheet and some patience — a sheet-covered car seat is the easiest setup. Keep hands, pacifiers and patterns out of the frame when you shoot; sizing the photo to exactly 2×2 in is the part Photo-Visa.Online handles, for $13.