Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent for Child Passport (2026)
The notarized parental consent form required when one parent cannot appear in person for a minor child's passport application.
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What is Form DS-3053?
Form DS-3053, officially titled “Statement of Consent: Issuing a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16,” is the notarized consent form completed by a parent or legal guardian who cannot appear in person when applying for a U.S. passport for their minor child.
U.S. passport law requires both parents (or legal guardians) to consent to the issuance of a passport for a child under 16. The standard process is for both parents to appear in person with the child at a passport acceptance facility along with the completed Form DS-11. When one parent cannot make this appearance, DS-3053 serves as the absent parent's notarized written consent.
DS-3053 is a supporting form — it is never submitted alone. It accompanies a properly completed DS-11 (the actual child passport application) and is presented at the child's acceptance facility appointment by the parent who is appearing in person.
Key Facts About DS-3053
- Free form — No government fee for the form itself
- Notarization required — Must be signed in front of a notary public
- 3-month validity — Only valid for 3 months from notarization date
- ID copy required — Photocopy of absent parent ID must be included
- Used with DS-11 — Never submitted standalone
- For minors under 16 — Not used for passports for ages 16+
When DS-3053 is Required
⚠️ DS-3053 is required when ONE parent or legal guardian cannot appear in person at the passport acceptance facility with the child. If BOTH parents cannot appear (or the missing parent cannot be located, is incapacitated, or has a court-recognized special circumstance), use Form DS-5525 instead.
Common DS-3053 Scenarios
- Work travel: One parent is traveling for work and cannot reschedule the child's appointment
- Military deployment: Active-duty parent stationed away from home base or deployed overseas
- Illness or hospitalization: Parent is medically unable to appear in person
- Living abroad: One parent permanently lives outside the U.S. while the child resides with the other parent in the U.S.
- Divorced or separated parents (joint custody): Custodial parent applies; non-custodial parent cannot or will not appear but consents
- Different states: Parents live far apart and only one can travel to the acceptance facility
How to Fill Out DS-3053
The DS-3053 form must be completed in BLACK INK only. Do NOT sign the form until you are in front of a notary public.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Download the latest version. Get DS-3053 from eforms.state.gov. Older versions may be rejected.
Step 2: Enter the absent parent's information. Full name, date and place of birth, current mailing address, daytime phone number, and relationship to the child.
Step 3: Enter the child's information. Full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, sex.
Step 4: Enter the appearing parent's information. The parent who WILL appear at the acceptance facility — their full name and relationship to the child.
Step 5: DO NOT sign. The signature line must remain blank until you are physically in front of a notary public.
Step 6: Time your notarization carefully. The form is only valid for 3 months from the notarization date. Schedule your child's acceptance facility appointment first, then notarize DS-3053 within 3 months of that appointment.
Notarization Requirements
What You Need at the Notary
- The completed DS-3053 form — Filled out in black ink, signature line blank
- Government-issued photo ID — Unexpired U.S. driver's license, state ID, military ID, or current passport
- Notary fee — Typically $5-$15 per signature, varies by state and venue
Where to Find a Notary
Notaries are widely available at banks (often free for account holders), UPS Stores, AAA offices, FedEx Office locations, law firms, libraries, courthouses, and many shipping/business service centers. Mobile notaries can come to your home for a higher fee — useful for parents with health issues or extreme schedules.
Notarizing while overseas: If the absent parent is outside the U.S., DS-3053 can be signed in front of a U.S. consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Foreign notaries may also be used, but their seal must be authenticated (apostille or consular certification) before submission.
⚠️ Critical Notarization Rules
- Sign in front of the notary, not before — A pre-signed form will be rejected
- 3-month window — DS-3053 expires 3 months after notarization
- Same person on form and ID — Names must match exactly
- Original notarized form required — Photocopies of the notarized form are not accepted
- Notary seal must be visible — Smudged or partial seals can cause rejection
When DS-3053 is NOT Required
Sole Legal Custody
If you have sole legal custody (not just physical custody), submit a certified copy of the court order awarding you sole custody. Joint custody does not qualify — only sole legal custody waives the two-parent consent requirement.
Deceased Parent
If one parent is deceased, submit a certified copy of the death certificate when you appear in person with the child. No DS-3053 required.
Special Family Circumstances
If the absent parent cannot be located, is incapacitated, or there are other special circumstances preventing consent, you must use Form DS-5525 with supporting documentation instead of DS-3053.
Both Parents Appearing in Person
The standard, simplest path: both parents appear together with the child at the acceptance facility. No DS-3053 needed — both parents simply sign DS-11 in front of the acceptance agent.
Using DS-3053 With DS-11
DS-3053 is never submitted alone. It accompanies the child's DS-11 application and supporting documents at the in-person acceptance facility appointment.
Complete Child Passport Submission Checklist
- Form DS-11 — Completed but NOT signed (must sign in front of acceptance agent)
- Child's evidence of U.S. citizenship — Certified birth certificate or prior passport
- Child's photo identification (if 12+) — School ID, library card, or similar
- Both parents' photo IDs — Front and back, photocopied
- Evidence of parental relationship — Child's birth certificate listing parent names, adoption decree, or court order
- Notarized DS-3053 — From the absent parent (within 3 months)
- Photocopy of absent parent's ID — Both sides, clear and legible
- One passport photo of the child — 2x2 inches, taken within last 6 months
- Application fees — $100 child book + $35 execution fee = $135 total (routine)
Child Passport Fees (2026)
| Service | Fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book (routine) | $100 + $35 execution = $135 | 6-8 weeks |
| Passport book (expedited) | $135 + $60 = $195 | 2-3 weeks |
| Passport card (routine) | $15 + $35 execution = $50 | 6-8 weeks |
| Both book + card (routine) | $115 + $35 = $150 | 6-8 weeks |
Child passports are valid for 5 years (not 10 like adult passports).
Frequently Asked Questions About DS-3053
When is Form DS-3053 required?
Who must sign DS-3053?
How do I get DS-3053 notarized?
How long is DS-3053 valid after notarization?
Do I need to include ID with DS-3053?
What if I cannot locate the other parent?
What if I have sole legal custody?
What if the other parent is deceased?
Can DS-3053 be signed outside the United States?
Does DS-3053 expire if my child's appointment is delayed?
Need Your Child's Passport Fast?
Our child passport specialists handle DS-3053 verification and DS-11 expediting. Get your child's passport in as little as 3 business days.
Start Child Passport Service →Professional Child Passport Expediting
How We Help With Child Passport Applications
- DS-3053 review before submission — We catch notarization issues, expired forms, and ID problems
- 3-day expedited processing — Hand-delivered to the State Department
- Document verification — Birth certificate, parental ID, and consent form pre-check
- Acceptance facility guidance — Help finding nearby facilities and booking appointments
- Special circumstances support — Sole custody, deceased parent, missing parent cases
- FedEx return shipping — Tracked and insured delivery
Additional Passport Resources
The main child passport application — required with DS-3053
When the absent parent cannot be located or is incapacitated
Expedited passport service for minors under 16
Browse the complete library of U.S. passport forms
Specialized photos for infants, toddlers, and children
Find a nearby acceptance facility for your appointment
Speak with child passport specialists: (800) 860-8610