2"×2" Rules verified Sep 30, 2026

Baby passport photo: take it at home in minutes

A baby’s US passport photo follows the adult rules (2 × 2 inches, plain white or off-white background, full face visible) with two exceptions: the eyes may be partly or fully closed, and the baby can lie down. Lay your baby on a plain white sheet, shoot from above, and keep hands and toys out of the picture.

Take your photo

Phone camera, webcam, or upload a photo you already have

Cropped to size and checked against every official rule
Pay only once it passes · Digital $11.99
Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons. Terms

US passport photo requirements

The official rules at a glance. We check each of them on your photo.

Photo size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), printed
Head size	1 to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm), chin to top of head
Background	Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects
Print	Colour, on matte or glossy photo paper
Glasses	Not allowed, unless medically needed (signed statement)
Expression	Neutral or a natural closed-mouth smile, both eyes open
Head covering	Religious or medical only, with a signed statement; one colour, full face visible
Taken	In the last 6 months

Verified against Passport photos - travel.state.gov on Sep 30, 2026.

What PassportOwl does

A photo booth in your pocket, with the official rules built in.

An owl coach while you shoot

Live tips on distance, light and head position, then the photo takes itself when everything lines up.

Every official rule checked

Background, head size, eye line, shadows, glasses and expression, measured against the government’s own numbers.

The exact file, ready to use

Cropped to the official size, plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store when the document needs prints, or prints mailed to you.

How to take it at home

About two minutes, with your phone or computer.

Lay your baby on a white sheet

A plain white or off-white sheet on a bed or the floor, no pattern, no wrinkles near the head. A covered car seat works too.
Light from a window

Daylight from the side of the room, not a flash. Make sure your own shadow doesn’t fall on the baby.
Shoot from straight above

Hold the phone parallel to the baby’s face. Baby mode switches to the back camera and guides you.
We check every rule

We crop to 2 × 2 inches and check the background, head size and that no hands or other people are visible. Retakes are free.
Print or get it mailed

Download the photo and the 4×6 sheet to print at a store for under $1, or have 4 prints mailed to you.

What gets a photo rejected

Officials check these. Most rejected photos break one of them.

Colour, sharp, not grainy or pixelated
Printed on matte or glossy photo paper; no photocopies or scans
Face the camera, head not tilted
Both eyes open, mouth closed
No filters, retouching or AI edits
No red eye
Even lighting, no shadows on the face
No uniforms or camouflage; no headphones
Infants: on a plain white or off-white sheet, no other person visible; eyes may be closed

Price

You see the result first and pay only when it passes. No subscription.

Digital photo

$11.99

The photo file plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store

Retakes free for 60 days
Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons.

Digital + 4 prints mailed

$16.95

Everything in Digital, and we mail 4 printed photos to you

At a store, for comparison

Walgreens $16.99
CVS $17.99
USPS $15.00
Walmart $7.64

From each store's website; prices vary by store. Checked Oct 4, 2026.

Made for

Parents of babies Baby mode guides a helper with the back camera while your baby lies on a white sheet. Renewing a passport By mail with a printed 2×2, or online with the digital file the form accepts. Visa and lottery applicants DS-160 and DV lottery files at the exact pixel size and file limit. Anyone short on time No trip, no line, no appointment. About two minutes at home.

Your photo stays private

No account needed
Photos deleted 72 hours after upload
Never used to train AI, never sold
Payments handled by Stripe; we never see your card number
An independent service, not affiliated with any government agency

Questions

Do babies need a passport photo?

Yes. Every US passport applicant, including newborns, needs a photo that meets the rules.

Can my baby’s eyes be closed?

For babies, yes. The State Department allows partly or fully closed eyes for infants. Older children need open eyes.

Can I hold my baby for the photo?

No hands or other people may be visible. Lay the baby on a white sheet, or use a car seat covered with a plain white sheet.

Does a pacifier have to come out?

Yes. Nothing may cover the face: no pacifier, bottle, toy or blanket over the chin.

Can the baby wear a hat?

No, unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement.

What if the photo is rejected?

If a passport office rejects it for a photo-compliance reason, we refund you in full and make you a new photo free.

How long does it take?

About two minutes to take the photo. The check takes a few seconds, and your file is ready to download as soon as you pay.

Do I pay before I see the photo?

No. You take the photo, we check it, and you see the result first. You pay only once it passes.

Can I retake the photo later?

Yes. Retakes are free for 60 days after you buy, from the link in your receipt.

Can I use my computer instead of my phone?

Yes. Use your webcam, upload a photo you already have, or scan the code to continue on your phone.

What happens to my photo?

It is deleted 72 hours after you upload it, together with every file made from it. It is never used to train AI and never sold.

How can I pay?

With a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, through Stripe. We never see your card number.

Is PassportOwl a government website?

No. PassportOwl is an independent service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency. You submit the photo with your application yourself.

Guides

Ready in about two minutes

See the result for free. Pay only when it passes.