Can a newborn’s eyes be closed?
Yes. U.S. guidance makes an exception for infants, especially newborns. Closed eyes alone should not be treated as an automatic failure.
The exception has a specific scope
Apply infant guidance to an infant photograph. Do not carry it over to every older child or to a different country's application. An eye-opening rule, an eye-line position guide and whether the face is visible are three different questions.
What still needs attention?
- Can you see the full face clearly?
- Does the photograph show only your child?
- Is the background plain and light, without objects or distracting shadows?
- Is the original sharp enough to print without inventing detail?
How our checker handles it
Choose “Newborn” or “Infant” to see the infant guidance. The tool does not claim to verify whether eyes are open, and it does not open them digitally. Our age labels help present guidance; they do not establish a government age threshold.
Face location can also be less reliable for a tiny or sleeping baby. If automatic location fails, you can position the guides manually. A model's uncertainty is not itself evidence that the photograph is unacceptable.
If an upload or checker complains
Keep the original and inspect the complete error message. Image-quality or face-location warnings may need separate attention. Consult the actual passport authority if its submission process or instructions are unclear; an independent tool cannot override that authority.