US Baby & Newborn Passport Photo
Babies need a passport photo too — even newborns. You can take it at home: lay your baby on a white sheet, snap from above, and let the tool crop it to the 2×2 inch US specification.
🔒 100% in your browser — your photo is never uploaded
1. Choose a photo — front-facing, even light, plain light background.
2. Adjust — drag to move, slider to zoom.
3. Optional: replace background
⚠️ Many authorities reject photos that are digitally altered. For the safest result, take the photo against a plain light wall and skip this step.
Background editing is disabled for this photo type because the issuing authority prohibits edited or background-replaced photos. Use a real plain wall.
4. Checks
- Waiting for a photo
Automated checks are guides only — they can't judge expression, glasses, shadows or focus.
5. Download (free)
Requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital output (this tool) | 600 × 600 px JPEG |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25.4–34.9 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | 28.6–34.9 mm |
| Background | plain white or off-white (a white sheet works) |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 6 / 20 |
| Background editing | avoid; optional tool available |
Official source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html. Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Same size rules as adults
A child's US passport photo uses the adult specification: 2×2 inches, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head, colour, plain white or off-white background, taken within the last six months. The State Department relaxes only a few points for infants: it is acceptable if a baby's eyes are not fully open, but no other person may be in the photo.
Two setups that work
- White sheet on the floor or bed. Lay your baby on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet and stand directly above. Use daylight from a window to avoid hard shadows — no flash from straight above, which causes shadows around the head.
- Car seat covered with a white sheet. This supports the head and keeps the baby upright. Make sure the sheet is flat behind the head and the straps are not visible near the face.
What gets baby photos rejected
- A parent's hand, arm or shoulder in the frame (crop tightly, or support from behind the sheet).
- Pacifiers, toys, bottles, or a hat and headband.
- Shadows on the background from the person taking the photo.
- Head turned to the side or tilted strongly.
- Patterned blankets or a coloured background.
Tips for a fussy baby
Take a burst of 20–30 photos right after a feed when the baby is calm; pick the sharpest one with the face pointing straight up. Use the zoom slider to bring the head into the 1–1 3/8 inch range — the blue lines show the minimum and maximum head height measured from the chin. Infants grow fast, so a photo taken more than a few weeks before applying may no longer look like them; the State Department can ask for a new photo.
Applying for a child under 16
Children under 16 must apply in person with Form DS-11, usually with both parents present. Bring one printed 2×2 photo — the 4×6 sheet gives you spares.
How to make a US baby passport photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a plain white or off-white (a white sheet works) background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 30 mm tall on a 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green — the eyes must sit inside the green band.
- Download the 600×600 px JPG for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 6 photos to print.
FAQ
Does my baby's eyes need to be open in a passport photo?
For infants it is acceptable if the eyes are not fully open, but all other children must have their eyes open.
Can I hold my baby for the passport photo?
Your hands and body must not appear in the photo. Use a white sheet or a covered car seat instead.
What size is a US baby passport photo?
2x2 inches with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall, the same as adults.
Can a newborn get a passport?
Yes. Newborns need their own passport and their own photo, submitted with Form DS-11 in person.