Traveling with Children: Documents & Photos — Everything You Need to Know

The summer holiday is booked, excitement is building — and then you realize your child’s passport has expired. Or worse: that your child doesn’t even have one yet. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, here’s everything you need to know about travel documents and passport photos for children.

Own Passport: Mandatory Since 2012

Children used to be included in their parents’ passports. This practice was abolished in the EU in 2012. Since then:

• Every child needs their own travel document — whether baby, toddler, or teenager.
• For EU travel, a national ID card is often sufficient (available from birth in many EU countries).
• For travel outside the EU, a children’s passport or regular passport is required.
• Children’s passports (where available) have limited validity and aren’t accepted everywhere — a regular passport is the safer choice.

Recommendation

When in doubt, apply for a regular passport for your child. It’s recognized worldwide and is valid for 5–10 years (for children under 12 in Austria: 2 years, in Germany: 6 years).

Passport Photo Rules by Age

Children’s photos are the biggest challenge when it comes to passport pictures. Requirements differ by age — and by country.

Babies (0–1 Year)

Tip: Lay your baby on a white cloth or sheet. This gives you the light background automatically, and you can take the photo from above.

Toddlers (1–5 Years)

For toddlers, biometric requirements are somewhat more relaxed:

• A neutral facial expression is recommended, but a slight smile is often tolerated for children under 6.
• What matters most is that the face is frontal and fully visible.
• No pacifiers, toys, or hands in the frame.
• In Austria and Germany, children under 6 may have a slightly tilted head position — a perfect frontal shot isn’t strictly required.

Children (6–10 Years)

From age 6 onward, standard biometric requirements apply in most countries:

• Neutral facial expression
• Mouth closed
• Looking directly at the camera
• Even lighting

Teenagers (10 and Older)

The same rules as for adults apply — no exceptions.

Document Checklist for Family Travel

Before you head off on holiday, go through this list:

• Passport/ID card for every family member — valid and not expired
• Check validity: Many countries require at least 6 months remaining validity
• Visa if required (e.g., USA: ESTA; Turkey: e-Visa)
• Birth certificate of the child (some countries require it in addition to the passport)
• Consent letter from the other parent if traveling alone with your child
• Vaccination records (mandatory for some destinations)
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for EU travel
• Travel insurance with international health coverage for the whole family

Consent Letter for Solo-Parent Travel

If you’re traveling without the other parent, a written consent letter is strongly recommended. While it’s not legally required in every country, border officials regularly ask for it — especially when last names differ.

The letter should include:

• Full name and date of birth of the child
• Names of both parents
• Travel destination and dates
• Signature of the non-traveling parent
• Copy of the non-traveling parent’s ID

For separated parents or sole custody situations: bring a copy of the custody agreement or court order.

Taking Children’s Photos at Home — with PassphotoLabs

Going to a photo studio with a toddler is pure stress. The child cries, won’t sit still, and after the third attempt everyone’s patience is gone.

The better alternative: Take the passport photo at home — in familiar surroundings, at a calm moment.

How to Get the Perfect Child Photo with Your Smartphone

1. Prepare the background: White bedsheet, white wall, or light curtain.
2. Use natural light: Position yourself near a window — no direct sunlight, no flash.
3. Camera at eye level: Crouch down or lay the child down (for babies).
4. Get their attention: Have someone clap or make a sound behind the smartphone.
5. Take multiple photos: Shoot 10–20 pictures and pick the best one.
6. Upload the photo: Upload the image to PassphotoLabs.

PassphotoLabs automatically removes the background using AI, crops the image to biometric specifications, and checks whether it meets official requirements. All for just €4 — and with the optional validation for €1, you get the certainty that the photo will be accepted.

Why This Is Especially Useful for Children

• No time pressure: You can wait for the right moment.
• Familiar environment: Children are more relaxed at home.
• Unlimited attempts: It costs nothing to take 50 photos and choose the best one.
• Instant result: You’ll see within seconds whether the photo meets requirements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To make sure everything goes smoothly at the office, avoid these typical mistakes:

• Photo too old: Passport photos for children under 2 may be no more than 6 months old in Austria — for older children, 6–12 months.
• Child has changed too much: If your child has grown significantly or changed noticeably between the photo and the application, the office may require a new photo.
• Wrong format: Check the photo dimensions for your country (AT/DE: 35 × 45 mm, CH: 35 × 45 mm).
• Accessories in the frame: No hats, headbands, pacifiers, or toys.

Conclusion

Traveling with children requires a bit more preparation — but with the right checklist and a valid passport photo, the bureaucratic part is done quickly. Take advantage of the option to take your child’s photo stress-free at home and have it biometrically verified.

Create your passport photo now →