Can a baby’s eyes be closed in a passport photo?
Sometimes. The US accepts a baby’s eyes not fully open for a passport (not a visa) and the UK accepts closed eyes under age 1, but India’s passport portal requires eyes open, and Canada and Australia don’t say.
Rules checked on · official sources only
What each country says
| Country | Answer | Official quote | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesPassport | Yes, for a passport a baby's eyes may be not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open. | It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open. |
travel.state.gov | |
| United Kingdom | Yes, for children under one; their eyes do not have to be open. | Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo. |
gov.uk | |
| Canada | Not stated directly. A neutral expression means eyes open, but Canada allows some range for infant facial expressions in newborn photos. | We know that it’s difficult to get a neutral expression from your newborn. We do allow some range for infant facial expressions. |
canada.ca | |
| Australia | Not stated. The only relaxation for children under 3 is that their mouth may be open. | For children under 3 years old, their mouth may be open. But no one else can be visible in the photo. |
passports.gov.au | |
| India | No, per the portal: its guidelines for minors under 4 require the eyes to be open and clearly visible. | Show the applicants eyes open & clearly visible, - Should not have hair across the eyes. |
passportindia.gov.in (PDF) |
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Answers quote the official pages linked above. Not affiliated with any government. Final acceptance is up to the issuing authority.