US Passport (Child) Photo in New Zealand

51 × 51 mm · white background · U.S. Department of State

$11.99 digital file

Take my US Passport (Child) photo

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against U.S. Department of State on 12 October 2026.

About this photo

For an US Passport photo for a child, the U.S. Department of State sets the print size at 51 x 51 mm. The background must be plain white or off-white, evenly lit and free of shadows. Your head, chin to crown, should measure 25 to 35 mm on the print. You can take it at home on a phone: have someone stand a couple of metres away at eye level rather than holding the phone yourself. Taken in the last 6 months. There is no upload step: the photo is handed in as a print with the paper application. Send us any clear picture and you get a US Passport photo at these measurements, background included, checked before checkout.

Photo requirements

US Passport (Child) photo requirements
Photo size51 × 51 mm
Digital fileJPEG
Backgroundwhite, also accepted: off-white
Head size50–69% of the photo height (25–35 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
ExpressionNeutral, mouth closed, eyes open
GlassesNot allowed
Head coveringsAllowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face must be clearly visible.
Head positionFacing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
ChildrenPlace the child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or over a covered car seat; No other person in the photo; the child must face the camera with a neutral expression; It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open; all other children must have their eyes open.
Other rulesTaken in the last 6 months; Plain white or off-white background free of shadows, textures or objects; Face the camera directly, head not tilted, eyes open, mouth closed; No uniforms, camouflage, headphones or wireless devices; Original, unedited photo without filters

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background
Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera
Illustration of an accepted child photo: the child is alone in the frame with no hands or toys visible
Child alone in the frame, no hands or toys

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing
No smiling with teeth showing
Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is wearing glasses
No glasses
Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background
No shadows on the face or background
Illustration of a rejected child photo: an adult hand is visible holding the child
No adult hands in the frame

How it works

  1. 1. Take or upload a photo

    Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.

  2. 2. We size and check it

    We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.

  3. 3. Download and use it

    Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about US Passport (Child) photos

What size is a US Passport (Child) photo?

US Passport (Child) photos are 51 × 51 mm. The head should fill 50–69% of the photo height (25–35 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a US Passport (Child) photo need?

A plain white background (off-white is also accepted), with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in a US Passport (Child) photo?

No. Glasses are not allowed in US Passport (Child) photos. Remove all eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses, unless a signed doctor's note explains a medical reason.

Can I smile in a US Passport (Child) photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face must be clearly visible.

Can I take a US Passport (Child) photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by U.S. Department of State. PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

Are there special rules for babies and children?

Place the child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or over a covered car seat; No other person in the photo; the child must face the camera with a neutral expression; It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open; all other children must have their eyes open. The child must be alone in the photo, with no hands, toys or dummies visible.

How much does a US Passport (Child) photo cost in New Zealand?

$11.99 for the digital file, paid once. It includes a print-at-home sheet you can print at any photo shop.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: U.S. Department of State

Read the rules on the authority's website: U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov).

Rules last checked against U.S. Department of State on 12 October 2026.

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Take my US Passport (Child) photo