UK Baby Passport Photo: Requirements & DIY Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can children smile in a passport photo?

   • Under 6 years old: They do not need a neutral expression, but their mouth must be closed.
   • 6 years and older: They must follow adult rules: no smiling and a neutral expression.

2. Can children wear glasses in a passport photo?

   While allowed for medical needs, it is strongly recommended to remove glasses to avoid rejection. If worn, you must ensure:

   • There are no reflections or glare on the lenses.
   • The frames do not obscure the eyes.

3. Do babies need their eyes open for a passport photo?

   • Under 1 year old: Infants do not need to have their eyes open.
   • 1 year and older: The child’s eyes must be open and clearly visible, with no “red-eye” or shadows.

4. Who can sign a passport photo for a child?

   For some paper passport applications, one of your child’s printed photos must be signed by a
   countersignatory to confirm the child’s identity.

   Your countersignatory must:

   • Have known the adult who signed the application for at least 2 years
   • Be able to recognise the adult and confirm their identity (for example a friend, neighbour or colleague)
   • Be a person of good standing in their community or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession

   Your countersignatory cannot be someone who:

   • Is related to the adult who signed the application by birth or marriage
   • Is in a relationship with the adult
   • Lives at the same address as the adult

   If you are applying in the UK, the countersignatory must live in the UK and hold a current
   British or Irish passport.

5. How does your service verify pictures?

   Each image is checked against the official baby passport photo requirements listed here—by a trained UK expert. Also, there are rules for all ages from adults to very young children: say, a passport photo must be coloured and focused and can’t be edited or have any shadows or lighting defects—we’ll verify your photo against these standards as well.

   This way, we make sure that His Majesty’s Passport Office accepts your photo the first time.

   Plus, we give a money-back guarantee: if your picture is rejected (which is very unlikely), you’ll get a full refund.

6. How quickly will we get our photos?

   As for the digital copies, they will be ready almost instantly. You’ll be able to either download them on your device or have them sent to your email within a minute.

   In case you order printouts, they should be delivered to your address within 2-3 working days (but the digital copies will be sent to you instantly anyway).

7. What should a baby wear for their passport photo?

   Technically, there aren’t any strict rules, since HMPO doesn’t provide any specific dress code for little ones. Still, you should pay attention to the following:

   • Keep the Baby’s Clothes Neutral: Avoid anything too bright. The safest option here is to choose something of plain colour that makes a good contrast to the background.
   • Don’t Put on Any Headwear: Whatever the age, hats, bows or other head covers are strictly forbidden (the only exception is made for religious attire).
   • No Accessories: No toys, dummies or other similar objects are allowed.

8. Where to take a UK baby passport photo near me?

   You should have at least one of these options nearby:

   • Chain Store: Many supermarkets and convenience stores have a dedicated photo service (it’s best to phone ahead and make sure the place does provide such services).
   • Post Office: Whatever the branch, the photography service is only available as part of the Check & Send service (where the employee takes your photo and helps you to apply). This is more convenient but comes at an extra cost.
   • Photo Studio: For one, you can try a Jessops passport photo—they will definitely have all the means and conditions needed but can cost you more than the first two options.