Getting a passport photo of a baby can feel impossible. They will not sit still, they cannot hold their head up for long, and they certainly will not look at the camera on request. The good news is that the rules for very young children are more forgiving than the adult rules, and with the right set-up you can take a usable photo at home in a few minutes. This guide covers the set-up, the rules that are relaxed for infants and the ones that are not.
What the rules say for children
Here are the rules for an Irish child passport, taken from our document rules:
| Document | Photo size | Background | Head size | Expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Passport (Child) | 35 × 45 mm | white, also accepted: light grey, cream | 45–55% of the photo height (20–25 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair) | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
The Irish child passport photo page has the complete list, including the child-specific rules, and links to the Passport Service guidance. Other countries publish their own child rules, so check the page for the document you are applying for.
What is relaxed for babies
Babies and young children get some sensible flexibility. A baby under one does not need a neutral expression, so a little movement of the mouth is fine. The rules also accept that a very young child may not hold their head perfectly level, so a slight tilt is tolerated. The eyes should be open where possible, which is usually the hardest part, and the reason to take many photos and pick the right one.
What is not relaxed
Some rules apply to everyone, however young:
- The child must be alone in the photo. No hands holding them, no arms in shot and no other person visible, even partly.
- No dummies, bottles or toys in the frame.
- A plain, light background with no pattern and no shadows.
- The face must be clearly visible, without hats or hoods.
- No filters, smoothing or retouching.
The first rule causes the most trouble. Parents naturally hold their baby up for the photo, but a hand on the shoulder or behind the head means the photo will be refused. The set-ups below solve that problem.
Set-up one: the white sheet
For a newborn or a baby who cannot sit up, lay a plain white sheet or blanket on a bed or on the floor, smoothed flat so there are no creases. Lay the baby on their back in the middle of it. Stand over them and take the photo from directly above, holding the phone parallel to the sheet so the face is not distorted. Make sure your own shadow does not fall across the sheet; standing with the window to your side rather than behind you helps.
Set-up two: the car seat
A baby who is a little older can sit in a car seat or bouncer covered with a plain white sheet. The sheet hides the seat and gives you a plain background, while the seat supports the baby so nobody needs to hold them. Tuck the sheet so that it covers the headrest completely.
Set-up three: sitting up
Toddlers who can sit unaided can sit on a chair or the floor in front of a plain wall. Put a favourite toy or a parent's face just above the camera to attract their gaze, but keep everything out of the frame. Speaking softly or making a small noise at the moment you press the shutter often gets their eyes open and looking forward.
Light and timing
Use daylight from a window, and switch off coloured lamps. Avoid the flash, which startles babies and causes red eye. Choose a time when your baby is fed, rested and calm, often just after a nap. Take dozens of photos in burst mode if your phone has it; you only need one where the face is clear, the eyes are open and nothing else is in the frame.
Choosing the right shot
When you review the photos, zoom in and check each of these:
- Both eyes open, or as open as possible for a newborn.
- The face turned towards the camera, not to the side.
- No hands, toys or dummy anywhere in the picture.
- No shadows on the face or the background.
- Sharp focus around the eyes.
Let the software do the rest
Once you have a good photo, PhotoPass ID crops it to the child passport size, evens out the background and checks the measurable rules before you pay. The digital file costs $11.99. If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong, we fix it free or refund you in full under our Refund Policy. Final acceptance is decided by the passport authority.
Take my Irish Passport (Child) photo
A note on older children
From around school age, children are usually asked to follow the adult rules: a neutral expression, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera. The same tips for light and background apply, and a helper taking the photo at eye level makes it much easier. For adults and older children, our guide to taking a passport photo at home walks through the full process, and the child passport photo rules page lists every requirement.