Mouth open, only one ear showing, non-white background. This photo is one of our passport photo “fails”
Ever tried to get a passport photo for a baby? It is not an easy task, I can assure you. The strict photo requirements for Australian passports have obviously been put in place by a non-parent as they include a range of essential features that, given a baby’s inability to co-operate with instructions can take an eon co-occurring. These include among other things that the baby must:
Look directly at the camera.
Have a closed mouth.
Not be held in arms. (Are they kidding?)
Be in front of a white background
Oh, and as an extra bonus both ears must be showing.
In addition the photo must demonstrate specific proportions of head size versus background.
As a consequence of the difficulty in meeting these criteria many commercial passport photographers will decline to photograph babies. I kid you not, it took us seventy-seven attempts to get Bub one’s first passport photo right. While it may take some time, here is how to do it:
Use a digital camera, place the baby on a white towel or sheet and shoot a stream of images. Use a toy directly behind the camera to get your baby’s attention. By taking a stream of images you will find that eventually one fulfills the criteria. There are photo development consoles that have a passport photo operation which then sizes the photo according to the correct proportions. Alternatively you can upload the photo online to a website which performs the same task.
Make sure that you commence the passport application process well ahead of your scheduled departure. Always take a couple of copies of your passport photos with you overseas just in case you need to replace your passport. Ensure all family member’s passports have at least six months validity from your planned date of return to Australia. For further information on how to apply for an Australian child’s passport access this website.
For more travel tips jump on over to Suitcases and Sippy Cups or Walking on Travels for Travel Tips Tuesday.
My goodness, it sounds like Australia might be stricter than the USA. Getting my babies’ passport photos was always challenging. In the USA, I was allowed to kneel on the ground in front of the backdrop and then hold the baby facing forward over my head so that my hands barely showed in the photo. The passport office lady told me about trying to photograph one baby who just wouldn’t wake up so that his eyes would be open.
Glad to hear the USA is a little more flexible. The Aussie mob were very strict – baby has to be hands free AND can’t be propped up in a bouncer etc.
Good grief! Written by a non-parent indeed. What’s even funnier is that by the time the baby uses the passport, they probably wouldn’t even look like the picture anymore.
Absolutely. The passport photo lasts for 5 years so my four year old is unrecognisable in his.
We have the same rules in Canada and some commercial photographers will not take passport photos for infants because of these strict guidelines. We spent about a good hour with a passport photographer last year just trying to get the perfect picture of our 1 year old son.
We aren’t allowed to hold our children either so we held him at arms length under his armpits against the white background while the photographer snapped away. Definitely a good workout for my arms 😉 I wish they would be a little more flexible but I think the photos last for 5 years now for children in Canada (used to be 3)
You were very lucky to find a passport photographer that would try for 1 hour! I just realised my firstborn will need a new passport. Even though he is not 5 until June, in order to get a visa we have to upgrade. I will be very sad to stop using that baby passport.