Passport and visa photo for a child and baby: complete 2026 guide
In short. 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.
- 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.
Related guides
Official sources
Questions
- Can 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.
- What 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.
- Is 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.
- Can 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".