Brazilian passport photo for young children

The Federal Police list gives three reasons for refusal. The face must not be partly covered by accessories, ornaments or decorations, so take off headbands, bows and hats. The photo must still identify the child, which a picture of a baby taken months ago may no longer do. And closed eyes are refused, unless the applicant is a newborn.

A white background is the hard part with small children. Lay a baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above, or seat a toddler on the lap of an adult covered with a white sheet, keeping the adult's hands and face out of the frame. Take many shots and choose one with open eyes and the whole face visible.

Use daylight from a window rather than a flash, which can startle a child and leave red eyes.

The Federal Police page does not give a head size for this photo. A sensible framing shows the whole head and the top of the shoulders, with the face upright and in the centre. Drag the frame until the head fills a good part of the height, then check the result at full size.

Glasses on a small child often reflect the light from a window, so a picture without them is usually clearer.

Have the file printed at a photo lab or kiosk on photographic paper. Send the single photo if the lab accepts a custom size, or use the sheet option and cut the two copies apart. Keep the print flat and clean so it reaches the appointment undamaged.

The rule is tied to age at the time of application. A child who has already turned five is no longer covered by this item of the document list, so check the age on the day of the appointment before you print anything. If the appointment falls close to the fifth birthday, ask the Federal Police which rule applies on that day.