What size is the US baby passport photo?

Printed, 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). The head takes 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026. This page makes a 602 x 602 pixel JPEG file (the printed size at 300 dpi).

Do my baby's eyes need to be open in the US baby passport photo?

A baby's eyes don't have to be fully open, and a newborn's may be closed. All other children must have their eyes open.

Can my baby smile in the US baby passport photo?

The child's facial expression must be neutral and the child must face the camera. A baby's eyes need not be entirely open; the State Department's manual also accepts head tilt for infants.

Can my baby wear a hat in the US baby passport photo?

Not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible.

How recent must my US baby passport photo be?

Taken in the last 6 months. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026.

Can I take my US baby passport photo at home?

The official rules, as checked on 4 November 2026, ask for no photographer or studio, so a photo taken at home can meet them if it meets every rule on this page.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The photo is read and checked in your browser, and any file is saved on your device. The page tells our server only that a photo was checked, that it passed, or that a file was saved; never the photo, your face or any measurement. It finds where your face is in the photo; it never recognises who you are.

How is the head measured?

The page finds your chin and eyes in the photo and estimates the top of your head from your forehead, since hair hides it: the dashed line shows the estimate. If it is not at the top of your head, move it with Top of head and the checks follow.

Will my photo be accepted?

Only the issuing authority decides. A photo that passes every check here meets the published size, head and background rules as checked on 4 November 2026; you confirm the rest, such as glasses, expression and how recent the photo is.

Save the print sheet: a 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photo at 300 dpi with as many copies as fit and thin lines to cut along. Have it printed at 100% (actual size) on 4 x 6 inch photo paper at a photo lab or shop, then cut out the copies you need.

What does buying your US baby passport photo add?

Your US baby passport photo, €6.99: the exact 602 x 602 px file, the 4 x 6 in print sheet, the acceptance report, the Detail check, unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document for 30 days. Pay only once your photo passes. Refund if the authority rejects it. Paid once, with no subscription. In the Detail check our AI model, run in the EU, checks glasses, expression, shadows and more if you choose to send it the photo. Without buying you can check any photo and save a small preview with a watermark.

Passport, visa and ID photos · United States

US baby passport photo: check and make yours

Your US baby passport photo, checked against the official rules, framed and sized, ready to print. Official size: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). Background: plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures or objects; for a baby, a plain white or off-white sheet, or a car seat covered with one. Rules read on travel.state.gov on 4 November 2026.

Take or choose a photo of your baby
We check it against the official rules and frame it
Download the exact file and a print sheet

Take the photo Choose a photo

Free check. Your US baby passport photo, €6.99, only once it passes: the ready file and print sheet, unlimited retakes for 30 days. Refund if the authority rejects it.

Your photo: 602 x 602 px

Your photo stays on your device: nothing is uploaded, and no face is recognised.

Before you take it

Lay your baby on a plain white sheet, or seat them against a plain white wall.
Face a window or soft light: even light on the face, no shadows on it or behind.
Phone at eye level, about 1.5 m away: ask someone, or hold it at arm's length.
A neutral face, looking straight at the camera.

Check and make your photo

Drop a photo here, or choose one JPEG, PNG or WebP

The first photo loads the face finder and the background outline from this site, about 15 MB, once.

Guide lines Dashed: top of head. Solid: chin.

The official rules don't allow edited photos, so we only frame and resize yours: never its background.

Adjust the framing

Zoom

Left or right

Down or up

Top of head The top of your head is an estimate: move the dashed line to it.

See every measurement

Check	Measured	Result

Your US baby passport photo

€6.99

The exact 602 x 602 px file, ready to print
A 4 x 6 in print sheet for any photo shop
The acceptance report
Detail check of glasses, expression, shadows and more (opt-in: our AI model, run in the EU)
Unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document, for 30 days
Refund if the authority rejects it

Choose a photo first.

Pay only once your photo passes: the button turns on once it passes every check. One payment, no subscription. Rejected by the authority? Email us the rejection within 30 days and we refund you in full. While you pay, your photo waits in this browser on this device for up to 24 hours: it is never uploaded.

A small copy with a watermark, to look at before you buy. Not a file to send.

Before you download, confirm

Only you can see these: we never judge them from the photo.

The baby's expression is as the rules ask (Expression, below). The light on the baby's face is even, with no shadow on the face or behind the baby. The baby is the only person in the photo, and no parent's face is in it. No hands and no pacifier block any part of the baby's face. The baby faces the camera. Any car seat or support behind the baby is covered with a plain white or off-white sheet or blanket. The photo was taken in the last 6 months.

The face finder and the background outline run in this page from files served by this site (sources and licences). They find where a face is in the photo; they never recognise who it is.

Meets the published spec as checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government.

For an adult or older child: US passport photo

The rules at a glance

For the U.S. passport for a baby or young child (printed photo with Form DS-11), as the official rules state them.

Size: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches)
The file we make: 602 x 602 pixels
Background: Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures or objects; for a baby, a plain white or off-white sheet, or a car seat covered with one.
Head size: 50% to 69% of the photo's height, chin to top of head
Expression: A neutral face, looking straight at the camera.
Taken: In the last 6 months
Edits: None allowed by the official rules (“Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters.”): we only frame and resize.

All the official rules and sources

Printed size: 51 mm wide, 51 mm tall (2 x 2 inches)
This page makes: A 602 x 602 pixel JPEG file (the printed size at 300 dpi)
Head height: 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head
Background: plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures or objects; for a baby, a plain white or off-white sheet, or a car seat covered with one
Glasses: Not stated on the official page
Expression: The child's facial expression must be neutral and the child must face the camera. A baby's eyes need not be entirely open; the State Department's manual also accepts head tilt for infants.
Head covering: not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible
Taken: In the last 6 months
Colour: Colour only

no other person in the photo; a parent's face cannot be in an infant's photo
the child's full face visible: no hands or pacifier blocking the face
no shadows on the child's face
head may be discreetly supported, e.g. a car seat with a white or off-white blanket behind the child
no filters, retouching or digital changes
print: matte or glossy photo-quality paper, no scans or photocopies

For: child passport application in person (Form DS-11).

Official source: travel.state.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

Submit 1 color photo taken in the last 6 months.

Use a plain white or off-white background free of shadows, textures, or objects.

The correct printed size of a passport photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm).

The size of your head in the printed photo must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 - 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Print your photo on matte or glossy photo-quality paper.

Do not submit photocopies or digitally scanned photos.

Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters. We check all photos to ensure they were not digitally enhanced or altered.

A friend or family member

For background, place your child on a plain white or off-white sheet. You can also cover a car seat with the sheet, then place your child in the car seat for the photo.

Make sure there are no shadows on your child's face.

No other person can be in the photo.

The child must face the camera.

The child's facial expression must be neutral.

The child’s full face must be visible.

It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open.

The child's pacifier blocks a portion of the face.

Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Official source: fam.state.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

(CT:CITZ-136; 01-12-2026)

Infants pose a particular challenge. The goal is the best likeness that can reasonably be obtained:

It is acceptable if the infant's eyes, particularly a newborn's, are partially or completely closed;

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

A parent’s face cannot be in the photograph of the infant.

The photograph must be in color;

The facial image size should be no less than 1” (about 2.54 cm.) and no more than 1 3/8” (about 3.5 cm.), measured from the top of the head (not the hairline or the applicant's hair) to the bottom of the chin (not including facial hair).

Digital manipulation and/or retouching of the facial image on photographs is not acceptable.

Meets the published spec as checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government. Rules change: check the official page before you apply.

How to use it

Lay your baby on a plain, light sheet, or seat them against a plain, light background, facing the camera with even light on their face and no hands in view.
Tap Take the photo and follow the outline and the tips on screen, or choose a photo you have. The page finds your face and frames it to the rules.
Fix anything the page lists, each with its own tip. Adjust the framing if you need to, and move Top of head if the dashed line is not at the top of your head.
Tick what only you can confirm.
Save the file, or the print sheet to print at 100% on 4 x 6 inch photo paper.

Questions

What size is the US baby passport photo?: Printed, 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). The head takes 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026. This page makes a 602 x 602 pixel JPEG file (the printed size at 300 dpi).
What background does the US baby passport photo need?: Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures or objects; for a baby, a plain white or off-white sheet, or a car seat covered with one.
Do my baby's eyes need to be open in the US baby passport photo?: A baby's eyes don't have to be fully open, and a newborn's may be closed. All other children must have their eyes open.
Can my baby smile in the US baby passport photo?: The child's facial expression must be neutral and the child must face the camera. A baby's eyes need not be entirely open; the State Department's manual also accepts head tilt for infants.
Can my baby wear a hat in the US baby passport photo?: Not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible.
How recent must my US baby passport photo be?: Taken in the last 6 months. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026.
Can I take my US baby passport photo at home?: The official rules, as checked on 4 November 2026, ask for no photographer or studio, so a photo taken at home can meet them if it meets every rule on this page.
Is my photo uploaded?: No. The photo is read and checked in your browser, and any file is saved on your device. The page tells our server only that a photo was checked, that it passed, or that a file was saved; never the photo, your face or any measurement. It finds where your face is in the photo; it never recognises who you are.
How is the head measured?: The page finds your chin and eyes in the photo and estimates the top of your head from your forehead, since hair hides it: the dashed line shows the estimate. If it is not at the top of your head, move it with Top of head and the checks follow.
Will my photo be accepted?: Only the issuing authority decides. A photo that passes every check here meets the published size, head and background rules as checked on 4 November 2026; you confirm the rest, such as glasses, expression and how recent the photo is.
How do I print it?: Save the print sheet: a 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photo at 300 dpi with as many copies as fit and thin lines to cut along. Have it printed at 100% (actual size) on 4 x 6 inch photo paper at a photo lab or shop, then cut out the copies you need.
What does buying your US baby passport photo add?: Your US baby passport photo, €6.99: the exact 602 x 602 px file, the 4 x 6 in print sheet, the acceptance report, the Detail check, unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document for 30 days. Pay only once your photo passes. Refund if the authority rejects it. Paid once, with no subscription. In the Detail check our AI model, run in the EU, checks glasses, expression, shadows and more if you choose to send it the photo. Without buying you can check any photo and save a small preview with a watermark.