DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16
Form DS-3053 lets a parent or guardian who cannot appear in person consent to a passport for a child under 16. Fill in the official PDF below, then have it notarized and submit it with the child’s application.
This is the genuine DOS PDF, unmodified. Source: DOS official page.
What is DS-3053?
Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent, is the State Department form used when a child under 16 applies for a U.S. passport and one parent or guardian cannot appear at the application appointment. Both parents or guardians normally must authorize a minor’s passport, so the absent parent completes this form to give written consent instead.
The form must be signed before a notary public, and it is submitted with a photocopy of the front and back of the ID the consenting parent presented to the notary. The consent applies to a specific child and application; the State Department expects a recently executed form, so do not sign it far in advance of applying.
Who files DS-3053?
- A parent or guardian who cannot attend the in-person passport appointment for a child under 16
- Parents applying for a child’s passport when work, distance, or deployment keeps one parent away
- Guardians providing consent along with evidence of their custodial status
- Applying parents who must attach the absent parent’s notarized consent to Form DS-11
How to fill out DS-3053
- Fill in the child’s name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the application.
- Complete the consenting parent or guardian’s information.
- Sign the form before a notary public; the signature must be notarized to count.
- Make a photocopy of the front and back of the ID shown to the notary and attach it to the form.
- Download the PDF and give it to the applying parent, who submits it with the child’s DS-11 application at a passport acceptance facility.
Quick fill DS-3053 on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open DS-3053 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
How recent does the DS-3053 need to be?
The State Department expects the notarized consent to be recent when the application is submitted; a form signed long before applying can be rejected. Check the current time limit at travel.state.gov, and have it notarized close to the appointment date.
What if the other parent cannot be located or refuses to consent?
DS-3053 does not fit that situation. Form DS-5525, Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances, exists for cases where the other parent’s consent cannot be obtained, and sole legal custody can be shown with court orders instead.
Does the child still have to appear in person?
Yes. Children under 16 must appear in person with the applying parent or guardian when the DS-11 is submitted. The DS-3053 only replaces the absent parent’s appearance, not the child’s.