Baby photo rules · Passport · United States
US passport photo for your baby.
A US passport photo is 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), with the head 25.5–35 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white or off-white background. Up to 12 months, eyes may be closed, a slight head tilt is accepted, and the photo may be taken lying down. You hand in one printed photo. Official source: U.S. Department of State.
What this document requires
- Print size
- 51×51 mm
- Background
- White recommended
- Off-white
- Submission
- Printed
- Official source
We don't replace the background — shoot on one of these.
Each row links to the authority's own page. TotShot is independent of every authority listed.
Rules for babies and children
Up to 12 months
- Eyes may be closed
- A slight head tilt is accepted
- May be photographed lying down, from above
At every age
- Looking straight at the camera
- Neutral expression
- Mouth closed
- Head 25.5–35 mm from chin to crown
- No smaller head size is published for babies, so a newborn's head has to fill the adult size.
- Alone in the photo
- No hands, arms or supports in the frame
- No dummy, bottle or toys
- Taken in the last 6 months
A frame in the document's proportions, with the eye line where the rules put it and the head outline at typical proportions. The eye line for this document, with the head drawn at typical proportions.
Any photo of your child, straight on. It is resized on your device, measured on our servers, and not kept.
What we check here
- Head height, crown to chin
- Eye line
- Head turned, tilted or leaning
- Eyes, mouth and gaze, by the age rules for this document
- Face centred in the frame
- Even light on the face
- Too dark or too bright
- Sharpness
- Background: colour, shadows, creases
What we don't check here
- Other objects in the frame
- Print format
The app checks these when you shoot.
How to take a US passport photo at home
- Spread a smooth, plain white or off-white sheet on the floor or a firm bed, close to a window with soft daylight — no flash, no overhead light.
- Lay your baby on their back and shoot from directly above, phone parallel to the floor. A photo taken lying down is accepted up to 12 months. Keep every hand out of the frame.
- Check the photo before you print: TotShot measures the head, eye line, pose and background against the US passport rules.
Questions parents ask
Can my baby's eyes be closed in a US passport photo?
Yes, up to 12 months. After that, the eyes must be open.
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), with the head 25.5–35 mm from chin to crown. A baby's head has to fill the same share of the photo as an adult's — the hardest part of a baby photo to get right.
Can I take a US passport photo of my baby at home?
Yes. A photo you take yourself is accepted as long as it meets every rule — the final decision is always the authority's. You hand in one printed photo.
Can I hold my baby for the photo?
Not in the frame — no hands, arms or supports may show. Lay your baby on a plain sheet and shoot from above instead: holding a baby up pushes the shoulders up and tilts the head, and a hand that slips into the frame gets the photo refused.
Does my baby have to look at the camera?
Yes, at every age. A baby's glance lasts about half a second, which is why TotShot plays a sound to catch it and takes the shot itself.
What background does a US passport photo need?
Plain white or off-white, evenly lit, with no shadows, creases or pattern. White is the safest choice. TotShot doesn't replace backgrounds — authorities refuse a photo whose background was replaced — so shoot on a sheet of the right colour.
Final acceptance is always the authority's decision.