UK Baby Passport Photo

Official UK Baby & Child Passport Photo Rules (HMPO)

Getting a baby to sit still in a photo booth is hard, so many parents take the photo at home. HM Passport Office (HMPO) relaxes some rules for babies and young children:

Relaxed Rules for Babies & Children

• Babies under 1 year old: Do not need to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, as long as your hand is not visible in the photo. They can lie on a plain light-coloured sheet, photographed from above.
• Children under 6 years old: Do not have to look directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
• Children of all ages: Must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.

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Tips for Photographing Babies at Home

1. Lying Down Method: Place your baby on their back on a plain light-coloured sheet, such as cream or light grey. Stand directly above and take the photo looking down.
2. Car Seat Method: Cover an infant car seat with a plain light-coloured sheet, place your baby in the seat, and take the photo from eye level.
3. Natural Daylight: Position near a window on an overcast day or with indirect lighting to avoid harsh flash reflections.
4. Use Phone Settings: Read our guide on how to take a passport photo on iPhone for optimal camera and burst-mode settings.

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Baby Photo Checklist

Accepted for Infants ✅	Common Infant Rejections ❌
Child on plain light background	Parent's hands, arms, or fingers visible in crop
Head and shoulders clearly in frame	Dummy, bottle, or toy in mouth / picture
Good natural overhead lighting	Shadows cast across the baby's face
Single digital file formatted to 600×750 px	Another child or adult visible in background

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Printing Baby Passport Photos for Paper Applications

First-time child passport applications often use paper application forms submitted via the Post Office Check & Send service, which require 2 identical printed photos (and countersignature).

Instead of struggling with a photo booth, generate a 4×6″ printable sheet with up to 8 infant photos using our free passport photo print template generator. You can print it at Boots or Tesco for around 15p.

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Related UK Passport & Photo Guides

• UK Passport Photo Size & Requirements — Full adult and child HMPO rules
• UK Passport Photo Checker — Online compliance test
• Digital Passport Photo for GOV.UK — Online upload rules
• Passport Photo Print Template Generator — Free 4×6″ print sheet creator
• Passport Photo at Home DIY Guide — Complete guide to home photo setups
• Passport Size Photo Studio — Create compliant photos in seconds

PixPassport is an independent service and is not affiliated with HM Passport Office or GOV.UK. Rules checked against GOV.UK passport photo guidance in October 2026.