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Guide · Updated October 27, 2026
Baby passport photo at home: how to take it
Short answer
- Yes, you can take a baby's passport photo at home with a phone.
- Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and take the photo from straight above. No hands, toys, pacifier or other person in the photo.
- For babies under 1, eyes that aren't fully open are accepted. The size rules are the same as for adults.
Baby passport photo rules
| Position | Lying on a plain white sheet, photo from straight above (or in a car seat covered with a white sheet) |
|---|---|
| Nobody else | No hands holding the baby, no parent, toys or pacifier visible |
| Eyes | Open if possible; under age 1, not fully open is accepted |
| Expression | Calm; no big smile or crying if you can avoid it |
| Size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square |
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of hair |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or patterns |
| Age of the photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Editing | None: no filters, retouching or background changes |
Official source: State Department photo requirements
Step by step
- Pick a time right after a nap or feed, when the baby is calm.
- Spread a plain white sheet on a bed or the floor near a window; avoid direct sun and flash.
- Lay the baby face up, head straight, and take the photo from directly above at the baby's face height. Take many shots.
- Keep a second adult out of the frame to get the baby's attention.
- Pick the sharpest shot with eyes open (if possible) and crop it to 2 × 2 inches. No editing.
Check your photo for free
Proud Look's photo tool checks your phone photo against the official rules for free and crops it to 2 × 2 inches. It never edits you or the background: no AI, no retouching. Choose “US passport” and tick “It's for a baby under 1”. The digital file and a 4 × 6 print sheet cost $8.99; if a government office rejects the photo, you get a free new photo (within 90 days) or a full refund (notice within 90 days).
A government officer always makes the final decision; no service can guarantee acceptance.