What the primary sources say
Two State Department documents govern baby passport photo rules.
travel.state.gov (updated December 15, 2025)
The State Department's public passport photo page was updated December 15, 2025 and includes explicit infant guidance with example photos. The exact wording: "It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open."
This is the operative public rule. It is simple and direct. There is no separate waiver application or acceptance agent discretion process. The eyes rule for infants is simply different from the rule for older children and adults — a relaxation, not a waiver.
8 FAM 402.1 (Foreign Affairs Manual)
The Foreign Affairs Manual is the internal guidance document that passport acceptance agents use at the counter. It contains three specific infant relaxations, quoted directly:
8 FAM 402.1: "(1) It is acceptable if the infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed; (2) The infant's head may be discreetly supported, e.g., a car seat with a white or off-white blanket behind the child. Head tilt is acceptable for infants; and (3) A parent's face cannot be in the photograph of the infant."
These three points define precisely what is relaxed and what is not. Everything else — the background, the face being fully visible, the absence of objects and pacifiers, and the no-other-person requirement — remains in full effect.
State Department compliant baby photos from home.
Create your baby passport photo →Complete specification table
Photo size | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Same as adult. Head height | 1 to 1-3/8 inches (25-35 mm) chin to crown. 50-69% of frame. Background | Plain white or off-white. No shadows, textures, or objects. No patterned blankets visible. Eyes | Infant: partially or completely closed is acceptable. 6+ months: should be open. 1+ year: fully open required. Expression | Neutral or natural relaxed expression. No crying, no wide smiling. Slightly open mouth acceptable for very young infants. Tongue slightly visible at rest is acceptable if not deliberately extended. Head tilt | Acceptable for infants under 12 months. Not acceptable for children over 1 year. Head support | Discreet support permitted per 8 FAM 402.1. Hands below shoulders and not covering the face are accepted. Parent's face must not appear. Full face visible | Required at all ages. Chin to crown must be clearly visible. No shadows or obstructions. Other people | No other person visible in any form: no face, no hand prominently in frame, no shadow. Clothing | Plain everyday clothing. No hooded onesies. No bibs covering the chin. No hats or headbands. No uniforms. Objects | No pacifiers in mouth. No toys. No bottles. No visible car seat structure or straps. Validity | Children under 16: 5 years. Not the standard 10-year adult passport.
The eyes rule: what it actually means at each age
The eyes rule is the single most misunderstood aspect of infant passport photos.
Newborns (0 to 3 months)
Eyes partially open, mostly closed, or completely closed are all acceptable. The State Department says directly: "It is acceptable if the infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed." Do not wake a sleeping newborn to get an eyes-open shot. A calm, sleeping baby with a relaxed face is often the easiest and best photo subject. The overhead floor sheet method — baby lying flat on a white sheet, photographed from directly above — works perfectly for sleeping newborns.
Older infants (3 to 12 months)
Eyes should be at least partially open, though the fully open requirement does not strictly apply until 12 months. At this age babies begin making consistent eye contact and respond to sound and motion. A second person standing just behind the camera holding a familiar toy or making a sound at lens level draws the baby's gaze to the correct position. Use burst mode and take 20 or more frames, then select the one where the eyes are most open.
Toddlers (12 months to 3 years)
The infant relaxations no longer apply. Both eyes must be fully open, looking directly at the camera, with a neutral expression. This is the most difficult age group: old enough to be interested in the phone but not old enough to follow instructions. The full adult standard now applies but cooperation cannot be instructed. The high chair method works best at this age.
Children (3 to 15 years)
Full adult standard. Both eyes fully open, neutral expression or natural closed-mouth expression, face directly forward. The main challenge is expression: children of this age often smile reflexively when a camera appears. A slight natural closed-mouth expression is acceptable. A wide smile showing teeth is not. Standing against a white wall with a parent holding their attention from behind the camera is the most reliable setup.
Clothing and accessories: rules most guides miss
The general clothing rules (no uniforms, everyday clothing) apply to babies and children. Several infant-specific rules are not obvious and cause common rejections.
Hooded onesies are not permitted
A hood counts as a head covering under the passport photo rules, even when the hood is down. The accepted rule is no head coverings unless for religious or medical reasons. A hooded onesie with the hood down may still show the hood fabric around the shoulders and neck, which acceptance agents may flag. The safe choice is non-hooded clothing for the passport photo session. Plain bodysuits, t-shirts, or any top without a hood are fine.
Bibs must be removed
A bib covering the chin partially obscures the lower face, which causes rejection because the full face must be clearly visible from chin to crown. Remove any bib before taking the photo.
No pacifiers in the mouth
A pacifier in the mouth is an object partially covering the face and causes rejection. Remove the pacifier entirely before the photo.
Avoid white and very pale clothing
White or very pale clothing against a white background creates an indistinct boundary between the baby and the background. The automated checker needs to clearly identify the applicant's outline. Dress the baby in a color with some contrast against white: pale blue, soft yellow, light pink, or any non-white color.
Hair accessories
Headbands and hair accessories that sit on top of the head are head coverings and are not permitted. A small hair clip that simply holds hair in place without covering any part of the head may be acceptable, but anything resembling a headband is risky.
Age-by-age practical guide
Newborn (0-3 months) | Floor sheet method. Lay flat on plain white sheet, photograph from directly above. Sleeping is fine. Natural window light. Burst mode. | Eyes closed or partially open is explicitly accepted. Do not wake a sleeping baby. A relaxed sleeping face is often ideal. Young infant (3-6 months) | Car seat method (white blanket covering car seat) or floor sheet. Second person draws attention from behind camera. | Eyes should be at least partially open. Use burst mode to capture the best frame from 20+ shots. Older infant (6-12 months) | Car seat or high chair against white wall. Baby can sit with some stability. Second person with toy at lens height. | Eyes should be open. Cooperation is improving. This is the easiest infant stage. Toddler (12-24 months) | High chair against plain white wall. Restrains body without visible restraint. Use fast shutter (1/250s or faster on phone). Take 20-40 frames. | Full adult standard applies. Most challenging age. A familiar voice from behind the camera gives consistent eye contact. Young child (2-5 years) | Standing or sitting against white wall. Parent holds attention from behind camera. Take multiple frames. | Can follow simple one-word instructions. Say "look here" rather than "don't smile." Capture a relaxed moment between poses. School age (5-15 years) | Standing against white wall. Phone at eye level. Rear camera at 4 feet. | School portrait photos will be rejected: colored backgrounds, smiling with teeth, off-axis poses. Take a fresh photo for every passport renewal.
What is not relaxed, even for newborns
Understanding what the infant exceptions do not cover is as important as understanding what they do cover. The following requirements apply at every age, including day-old newborns:
Background: Plain white or off-white is still required. A patterned blanket, colorful sheet, or textured surface is not acceptable at any age.
Full face visible: Even for sleeping newborns, the full face from chin to crown must be clearly visible and unobstructed. A photo where the face is covered by blankets, hands, or angle is rejected.
No other person in the frame: The parent's face cannot appear at any age. This is one of the three explicit rules in 8 FAM 402.1.
No objects: No pacifiers, toys, or bottles in the frame at any age.
No visible car seat structure: The car seat method requires a white blanket covering all visible car seat elements. Only the baby and white background should be visible.
Photo must be recent: Taken within the last 6 months to reflect current appearance. Babies change rapidly. A photo taken 3 months ago may not look like the current baby.
[Full background guide: US passport photo background rules](/us/passport-photo-background-rules)
School portraits will be rejected
Every year, parents of school-age children submit recent school portrait photos for passport applications. School portraits are almost universally rejected because they violate multiple passport photo requirements simultaneously.
School portrait feature | Why it fails | What is required Colored or textured backdrop | School portraits use colored, patterned, or gradient backgrounds. | Plain white or off-white only. Smiling with teeth | School portrait photographers instruct children to smile broadly. | Neutral or natural closed-mouth expression. No visible teeth. Off-axis pose | School portraits often use a slight body turn toward the camera. | Directly facing the camera, head level. Studio lighting patterns | School portrait lighting creates deliberate highlights and shadows. | Even, uniform facial lighting. Uniform or school clothing | Some school portrait sessions are done in uniform. | No uniforms or clothing that resembles a uniform.
Take a fresh photo specifically for the passport application. The setup required (white wall, natural light, neutral expression) takes approximately 10 minutes and costs nothing if done at home.
[Full at-home guide: how to take a US passport photo at home](/us/how-to-take-passport-photo-at-home)
The DS-11 application: both parents and parental consent
Getting the photo right is the first step. The DS-11 application for a child under 16 has an additional requirement that catches many parents off guard at the acceptance facility.
For a first-time passport application for a child under 16, both parents or legal guardians must either appear together at the passport acceptance facility, or the absent parent must provide a completed, notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) with a photocopy of their valid photo ID. If one parent is deceased, their whereabouts are unknown, or they refuse to consent, Form DS-5525 (Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances) can be submitted instead.
Do not sign Form DS-11 before your appointment. The form must be signed in the presence of the acceptance agent. A pre-signed DS-11 for a minor applicant will not be accepted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not entirely, for infants. The State Department states: "It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open." The Foreign Affairs Manual (8 FAM 402.1) confirms: "It is acceptable if the infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed." This relaxation applies to babies. All older children must have both eyes fully open. There is no separate waiver process — the rule for infants is simply different.
8 FAM 402.1 states the infant's head "may be discreetly supported." Hands that are below the shoulders and not covering the face are generally accepted per the Foreign Affairs Manual. A hand that grips the head prominently, appears in the center of the frame, or partially covers the face will cause rejection. The parent's face cannot appear under any circumstances. The safest setups — floor sheet photographed from above, car seat covered with white blanket — eliminate the need for visible hand support entirely.
No. School portraits use colored or textured backdrops, show the child smiling with teeth, and often use off-axis poses. Every one of these features causes passport rejection. Take a fresh photo against a plain white wall with a neutral expression for every passport application.
Plain everyday clothing in any color except white or very pale (which blends into the background). No hooded onesies — a hood counts as a head covering. No bibs covering the chin, which partially obscures the face. No hats or headbands. No pacifiers in the mouth. No patterned blankets visible in the frame.
For Form DS-11, both parents must either appear together at the acceptance facility, or the absent parent must provide a completed, notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) with a copy of their valid photo ID. If the absent parent cannot be reached, Form DS-5525 is required. Do not sign Form DS-11 before the appointment — it must be signed in the presence of the acceptance agent.
Yes, for infants. A tongue slightly visible in a baby's natural resting position is generally accepted, provided the mouth is not wide open and the expression is otherwise neutral or relaxed. A deliberately extended tongue or wide-open mouth is not acceptable.
Children under 16 receive a 5-year passport, not the standard 10-year adult passport. A passport issued at 2 months of age expires when the child is approximately 5 years and 2 months old.
Lay the baby flat on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet on a firm surface. Photograph from directly above with the rear camera in burst mode. Natural window light on an overcast day produces the most even illumination. Take 20 or more frames and select the one where the face is most clearly visible. A sleeping newborn photographed in this position often produces the most usable result.
US passports have not allowed children on a parent's passport since 2001. Every traveler, including newborns, requires an individual passport for international travel. There is no minimum age for a US passport application.