Passport and visa photo for a child and baby: complete 2026 guide
Lay the baby on a plain light-coloured sheet and photograph from above: only the child in the frame, with no hands, toys or dummy. The size is 35×45 mm for the EU/Schengen or 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) for the USA. For children under 1, the eyes may not be fully open.
Key points
5 points- Only the child must be in the frame — no parents, hands, toys, bottle or dummy.
- For babies under 1, the "eyes open" requirement is relaxed: the UK, USA and Schengen accept photos with partially or fully closed eyes.
- The baby is laid on a plain light-coloured sheet (UK — light grey or cream, USA — white or cream) and photographed strictly from above.
- Photo size: 35×45 mm for EU and Schengen countries; 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) for the USA, where the head takes 25–35 mm (1–1⅜ inches) from chin to crown.
- The head may be supported by hand, but the hand must NOT appear in the frame; for children under 5–6, a neutral expression and looking at the camera are not required.
In brief: how a child's photo differs from an adult's
All countries apply the same basic requirements to a child's photo as to an adult's (full face, plain light background, sharpness, no shadows), but make official allowances for babies: the eyes may not be fully open, a neutral expression and looking at the camera are not required for the youngest, and the head may be supported — the main thing is that the hand stays out of the frame.
Rules that apply everywhere (UK, USA, Schengen)
- Only the child in the frame. No parents, brothers or sisters. The UK explicitly requires: "Children must be on their own in the picture". USA: "No other person can be in the photo".
- No objects. Toys, a bottle, a dummy (pacifier) are prohibited. UK: "Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies". USA: a hand or dummy covering the face leads to rejection.
- Full face, the face fully visible. No stray shadows on the face or background.
- Plain light background. The simplest way for a baby is to lay them on a clean light-coloured sheet.
How to photograph a baby: the technique
The official advice from the UK and USA is identical: lay the child on a plain light-coloured sheet and take the photo strictly from above. UK: "Children under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet. Take the photo from above." The USA allows you to cover a car seat with white or cream fabric and place the child in it. Support the head with your hand from below — the hand must not appear in the frame (UK: "your hand must not be visible in the photo").
Age allowances by country
| Authority | Photo size | Eyes | Expression / gaze |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICAO 9303 | sets the technical portrait standard; size — by country | specific age exceptions are set out in national rules (below) | baseline standard, relaxed by national rules for babies |
| UK (HMPO) | 35×45 mm (head 29–34 mm) | under 1 — not required to be open | under 6 — not required to look at the camera or have a neutral expression |
| USA | 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), head 25–35 mm | a baby's may not be fully open; other children — open | neutral expression |
| Schengen / EU | 35×45 mm | for a baby under 1 even closed eyes are accepted | under 5 a neutral expression is not required |
The USA clarifies verbatim: "It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open" — that is, the allowance applies only to the very youngest.
Practical tips
- Catch the moment. Take many shots — then choose the best one, where the eyes are as open as possible and the mouth is closed.
- Light — daylight, diffused. Avoid flash straight into the face and side shadows.
- No glare from glasses (if the child wears them) and no headwear.
- Check the head size and margins before printing — this is the most common reason for rejection.
Do not guess the cropping and size manually. Upload the shot to the Anfas.Pro photo editor — the tool will crop it to 35×45 mm or 2×2 inches itself, check the background and head position, and tell you whether the photo will pass.
06Questions
4 answers01Can I hold the baby in my arms during the photo?
No. Only the child must be in the frame. You may support the head with your hand from below, but the hand must not appear in the frame (UK: "your hand must not be visible in the photo"). The simplest way is to lay the baby on a light-coloured sheet and shoot from above.
02What if the baby will not open their eyes?
For children under 1 this is acceptable. The UK, USA and Schengen countries accept baby photos even with partially or fully closed eyes. For older children the eyes must be open.
03Is the photo size for a child the same as for an adult?
Yes, the size is the same: 35×45 mm for EU and Schengen countries, 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) for the USA. In the USA the head must take 25–35 mm (1–1⅜ inches) from chin to crown.
04Can I give the child a dummy or toy to soothe them?
Only out of frame. In the photo itself a dummy (pacifier), bottle and toys are prohibited, because they cover the face and lead to rejection. UK: "Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies".
07Official sources
- GOV.UK — Get a passport photo (rules for babies and children)
gov.uk - U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos
travel.state.gov - ICAO Doc 9303 Part 7 (Machine Readable Travel Documents)
icao.int - 8 FAM 402.1 Passport Photographs
fam.state.gov
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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