Last reviewed: September 4, 2026

DS-160 Photo for Babies and Infants

The size, background, and format requirements are identical to an adult photo — square, 600×600 to 1200×1200 px, plain white or off-white background. Three rules are relaxed specifically for infants:

Eyes do not need to be open. Many newborns will not open their eyes on command; a photo with eyes closed or partly closed is accepted for infants.
The expression does not need to be neutral. Adults are held to a neutral or slight-smile standard; this is not enforced for babies.
No adult may appear in the frame, but an adult's hand or arm may support the baby if it cannot be seen — commonly done by laying the baby on a white sheet or blanket, photographed from directly above.

What still applies, and what most often goes wrong

No other person visible. A parent's hand supporting the baby's head from below or behind, out of frame, is fine. A visible arm, shoulder, or the parent's face is not — this is the single most common rejection reason for infant photos.
No pacifier, toy, or object in frame.
No car seat, bouncer, or seat visible — even the edge of one at the frame's border can cause rejection.
Head must still fill 50–69% of the image height. This is the hardest part for a very young infant, since it usually means photographing close up.

A method that works for most newborns

Lay the baby on a plain white sheet or blanket, on a flat surface, with nothing else visible in frame.
Photograph from directly above, straight down, so the baby's face fills the frame at roughly the same proportion an adult's would.
Use natural daylight from a window rather than an overhead flash, which tends to wash out and flatten an infant's face at close range.
Take several photos — infants move constantly, and getting one frame with a clear, unobstructed, well-lit face usually takes several attempts.
Crop to a perfect square afterward, centered on the face, then check size and file weight with the DS-160 photo tool.

Frequently asked

Can the baby's eyes be closed in the photo?

Yes. This exception exists specifically because infants and very young babies frequently cannot keep their eyes open on command, and consular guidance accounts for it.

Can I hold my baby's head in the photo?

Not visibly. A hand or arm supporting the baby from below or behind, entirely out of frame, is acceptable. If any part of an adult is visible — a hand at the edge, a shoulder, an arm — the photo is typically rejected for containing another person.

Does the baby need a neutral expression?

No. Unlike adult photos, a baby's expression — crying, yawning, mid-motion — does not need to be neutral. The other requirements (background, size, no other person, no objects) still apply in full.

What if my baby will not stay still long enough for a clear photo?

Photograph from directly above while the baby lies on a flat white surface; this angle is far easier to get a still, clear shot from than a face-level angle, and most families need several attempts regardless.