Newborn Passport Photo — How to Photograph a Baby Under One
A newborn’s passport photo follows the same rules as an adult’s, with three explicit relaxations for the very young: babies do not have to have their eyes open, children under six need not look at the camera or hold a plain expression, and you may support a baby’s head with your hand — as long as the hand is not visible. This guide covers the 0–12 month case specifically. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026.
The 15-second answer
- On their own: no other people, no toys, no dummies.
- Eyes: under one, they may be closed. Under six, no need to look at the camera or stay neutral.
- Support: you may steady the head with a hand — the hand must not appear in the photo.
- Lying down: under one, lay the baby on a plain light-coloured sheet and shoot from above.
- Technical: colour, clear, unaltered, at least 600 × 750 px, 50KB–10MB.
- Fresh: taken in the last month.
The three relaxations for babies
The official rules state them plainly. “Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression”, and “children under one do not have to have their eyes open”. Crucially for newborns, “you can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo”. These exceptions exist because a newborn cannot hold a pose — but the photo still has to look like the baby and nothing else.
Lying flat, shot from above
For the youngest babies, the official method is a flat lay: “children under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet” and you should “take the photo from above”. A plain sheet satisfies the background rule — the photo must be “taken against a plain light-coloured background” and “be in clear contrast to the background”. Avoid patterned blankets and busy bedding; see the backgrounds guide for what counts as plain.
The general rules that still apply
The baby’s photo must still meet every ordinary requirement. It must contain no other objects or people, show the child facing forwards, with no head covering (unless religious or medical), nothing covering the face, no shadows on the face or behind them, and no red eye. It must be clear and in focus, in colour, and unaltered by computer software, sized at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall and between 50KB and 10MB. A new passport also forces a new photo, taken in the last month. These are the same points covered in the how to take a passport photo guide.
Newborn vs baby vs toddler photos
This page is for the 0–12 month case. Once a child can sit and hold a pose, the practical challenges change: see the general baby passport photo guide and the baby and toddler photo guide for the sitting-age approach. If you are applying for a US passport, pair this with the first US passport checklist; for the photo rules of an older child, the expression guide covers the neutral-face requirement.
60-second newborn check
- ☐ Baby alone — no hands, toys or dummies visible
- ☐ Lying on a plain light-coloured sheet, shot from above
- ☐ Eyes may be closed (under 1); no need to look at camera (under 6)
- ☐ Colour, in focus, unaltered, ≥ 600 × 750 px, 50KB–10MB
- ☐ No shadows, no red eye, plain background, clear contrast
- ☐ Taken within the last month
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a photo for a newborn's passport?
Yes. Every passport needs its own photo, taken in the last month, and you must get a new photo whenever you get a new passport.
Does a baby have to have their eyes open?
Children under one do not have to have their eyes open in the photo, and children under six do not have to look directly at the camera or hold a plain expression.
Can I hold my baby's head for the photo?
Yes. You can support a baby's head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.
How should I photograph a baby lying down?
For children under one, lay the baby on a plain light-coloured sheet and take the photo from directly above.
Can the baby be holding a toy or a dummy?
No. Children must be on their own in the picture, and babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
What technical rules apply to the photo?
It must be clear, in focus, in colour, unaltered, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB, against a plain light-coloured background with no other people or objects.
Official source: gov.uk — Get a passport photo (photos-for-passports), including the “Photos of babies and children” rules, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official page, quoted verbatim).
Related: the baby passport photo and baby and toddler photo guides, how to take a passport photo, the backgrounds guide, and the first US passport checklist.