Passport Photo Tool
U.S. Baby Passport Photo
A U.S. baby passport photo must be a recent color photo with the baby alone in the image, a plain white or off-white background, even lighting, the full face visible, and no filters, retouching, AI edits, or background replacement. Use a white sheet or a covered car seat to keep the baby supported without showing another person.
Official-rule shortcut
Requirements Summary
| Photo size | 2 x 2 inches for printed U.S. passport photos |
|---|---|
| Head position | Baby's head centered and fully visible, with the face looking toward the camera as much as possible |
| Background | Plain white or off-white sheet, wall, or covered car seat with no texture, objects, or shadows |
| Lighting | Even light across the face and background, with no harsh shadows, blur, grain, or washout |
| Expression | Full face visible with no pacifier, bottle, toy, hand, hat, or parent covering the face |
| Digital changes | Original photo only, with no filters, retouching, background replacement, or AI changes |
Reviewed against U.S. State Department passport photo guidance. Last reviewed June 20, 2026.
Fast workflow
How to get it done
- Choose a calm moment after feeding or a nap, then take a new color photo in soft, even light.
- Lay the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or place the baby in a car seat covered with a plain white or off-white cloth.
- Stand above the baby or position the camera straight on, keeping the full head visible and centered.
- Remove pacifiers, toys, blankets near the face, hats, headbands, and anything else that blocks facial features.
- Upload the original photo to PassportSnapper before printing so background, shadows, head position, face visibility, quality, and no-edit risks can be checked.
- Download the compliant output for your application type, then print on photo-quality paper for a paper application or use the digital file where eligible.
Rejection risks
Common mistakes
- A parent's hand, arm, shoulder, or face is visible in the photo.
- The baby is in a patterned blanket, textured sheet, dark car seat, or background with shadows.
- A pacifier, bottle, toy, hat, bow, blanket, or hand covers part of the face.
- The photo is blurry because the baby moved or the camera was too close.
- The head is cropped, tilted too far, off-center, too large, or too small for the final 2x2 photo.
- The image was retouched, filtered, AI-edited, background-replaced, scanned, screenshotted, or compressed through text message.
Quick answers
FAQ
Can I hold my baby in a U.S. passport photo?
No. The baby must be the only person visible in the photo. Lay the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or use a car seat covered with a plain white or off-white cloth.
Do infant eyes need to be open for a passport photo?
For infants, the State Department says it is acceptable if the baby's eyes are not entirely open. The safer photo still has the face clearly visible and the baby looking toward the camera as much as possible.
Can my baby wear a pacifier, hat, or bow?
No. Remove pacifiers, hats, bows, toys, blankets near the face, and anything else that blocks the baby's face or changes the natural appearance.
Can PassportSnapper make the baby photo background white?
No. PassportSnapper validates and formats the real photo. Take the photo on a real plain white or off-white background because State Department rules do not allow background replacement or AI edits.
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