Child document photo rules for passports and visas
Older children follow the same biometric photo standard as adults. Younger ones get some relief from the neutral-expression rule — but the age at which that relief starts and stops is set country by country, and the thresholds do not line up.
Quick answer
Same biometric size; the age thresholds differ by country
Same 35 × 45 mm size for Schengen, 2 × 2 inches for USA, 35 × 45 mm for UK, 45 × 35 mm for India. Eyes open and looking forward, mouth closed where the country asks for it — the UK waives both under 6, Australia allows an open mouth under 3, and the Schengen visa sheet grants no age exemption at all. No props, no toys in frame, no parent visible.
How "child" is defined
There is no common set of age brackets — each country draws its own lines, and they do not match. Australia relaxes the mouth-closed rule under 3. The UK waives the plain expression and eye contact under 6, and the eyes-open rule under 1. Germany publishes separate photo templates for ages 6–9 and 10 and over. India needs a printed photo only for children under 4, because from 4 the photo is captured at the centre. Russia does not issue the internal passport until 14 at all. Read your own country's threshold rather than a general one.
The hardest part of a child document photo is not the geometry — it is keeping the child still long enough to capture a sharp frame with eyes open and looking forward. Studios that specialise in newborn and infant photography are usually significantly faster than the standard high-street passport-photo service.
Child photo rule by route
| Country / route | Size | Expression rule for under-6 |
|---|---|---|
| USA passport | 2 × 2 inches | Eyes open; an infant's eyes need not be entirely open. |
| UK passport | 35 × 45 mm | Under 6: no need to look at the camera or hold a plain expression. Under 1: eyes may be closed. |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45 mm (member-state convention; the EU sheet gives a 35–40 mm width) | No age exemption is published — eyes open, neutral expression and mouth closed apply to children too. |
| Germany passport | Digital capture since 1 May 2025 (paper photo no longer accepted in Germany) | BMI templates split at ages 6–9 and 10+; applications at German missions abroad still take a 45 × 35 mm paper print. |
| France passport / ID card | 35 × 45 mm | Background must be light blue or light grey — white is forbidden; head bare, neutral expression, mouth closed. |
| China passport | 33 × 48 mm | Eyes open, no parent visible. |
| India passport | 45 × 35 mm — only for children under 4; from 4 the photo is captured at the PSK | White background, face 80–85% of the frame, eyes open, natural expression. |
| Canada passport | 50 × 70 mm | Eyes open; photos printed at home are not accepted — two identical prints from a commercial photographer. |
| Australia passport | 35 × 45 mm (do not trim a larger print) | Under 3: the mouth may be open. From 3: eyes open and neutral expression. |
| UAE Emirates ID | 35 × 45 mm | Eyes open, parent must not appear in frame; ICP also bars hands above shoulder level. |
| Russia internal passport | 35 × 45 mm | Not a child document — the internal passport is first issued at 14, so adult rules always apply. |
| Japan passport | 35 × 45 mm | Eyes must be open; a parent's finger in frame, large bows or hairbands all make the photo unusable. |
No parents in frame
Every listed authority requires the child to be photographed alone. A parent holding the child or a parent's hand visible in the frame is the single most common reason a child passport photo is rejected. Use a plain car seat or a chair against a plain wall.
Getting a 4-year-old to look at the camera
A small toy held just above the camera lens at the photographer's eye level reliably gets a 2–5 year old to look forward. The toy must not appear in the frame. A short reset between attempts works better than long takes.
Sleeping infants and toddlers
A sleeping baby passes on fewer routes than parents expect — the US State Department and HMPO accept it, most others do not (see the baby guide). For children over one year, the eyes must be open everywhere. If the child cannot stay awake during the appointment, reschedule rather than submit a closed-eyes photo.
Frequently asked questions
My child won't hold a neutral expression — will the photo be rejected?
It depends on the country and the age. The UK asks for no plain expression at all under 6, and Australia allows an open mouth under 3. The Schengen visa photograph sheet publishes no age exemption, so there the neutral rule applies to children as well. Check the row for your route in the table above before you decide the frame is unusable.
How often does a child passport photo need to be updated?
Child passports are issued for shorter validity periods than adult passports (typically 5 years against 10), and the photo is the main reason. The recency windows differ sharply: the UK asks for a photo taken in the last month, while USA, Canada and Australia allow six.
Can my child wear glasses?
In several countries this is not advice but a rule. Canada does not accept glasses in a child's photo even with prescription lenses, and Australia does not accept glasses at all without a medical certificate. Take them off.
Related guides
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