DS-3053 Statement of Consent: Notarizing Passport Consent for Minors

If you are applying for a U.S. passport for a child under 16 and the other parent cannot physically appear at the passport acceptance agent, the State Department requires Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16. DS-3053 has to be notarized — not merely witnessed — and it has to travel to the acceptance agent with a photocopy of both sides of the absent parent's government-issued ID.

This guide covers what DS-3053 is, why the two-parent consent rule exists, exactly what the State Department requires, and how to get the form notarized online in a single live video session without either parent traveling.

What is Form DS-3053?

DS-3053 is the federal consent form used when a U.S. passport is being applied for on behalf of a minor under the age of 16 and only one of the two parents or legal guardians is able to appear in person at the passport acceptance agent alongside the child.

The applying parent brings:

• The completed Form DS-11 (the passport application itself)
• The child
• The child's evidence of U.S. citizenship and relationship
• Their own valid ID
• The notarized DS-3053 signed by the non-applying parent, plus a photocopy of that parent's ID

Without a correctly notarized DS-3053, the acceptance agent will refuse to transmit the application. The State Department does not process the DS-11 without it.

Why two-parent consent exists

The two-parent consent rule is not bureaucratic overhead — it exists to prevent international parental child abduction. A passport is a travel document that can move a child across borders, and the United States is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Requiring both parents to consent (or, where only one can, to formally document consent under oath before a notary) materially reduces the risk of one parent removing a child from the country over the objection of the other.

This is also why the signature must be notarized. A notarized signature is sworn before a commissioned officer of the state who has verified the signer's identity and witnessed the act. A signature merely witnessed by a friend, relative, or even the acceptance agent carries none of that evidentiary weight and will be rejected.

When DS-3053 is required

You need DS-3053 when all three of the following are true:

• The passport applicant is under 16
• Both parents or legal guardians are alive and have custodial rights
• Only one of them can appear in person at the acceptance agent with the child

If both parents can appear in person, no DS-3053 is needed — both simply sign the DS-11 in front of the acceptance agent. If one parent has sole legal custody, is deceased, or cannot be located, DS-3053 is the wrong form — see the section below.

When DS-3053 is NOT the right form

• Sole legal custody: submit a certified copy of the custody order instead.
• Deceased parent: submit a certified death certificate.
• Parent cannot be located / exigent circumstances: file Form DS-5525 (Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances). This is a common point of confusion — DS-3053 presumes the absent parent is reachable and willing; DS-5525 does not.

What the State Department requires on DS-3053

Pulled directly from the form and travel.state.gov guidance:

• Full legal name of the minor child
• Date and place of birth of the minor child
• Full legal name of the non-applying (absent) parent
• Notarized signature of the non-applying parent
• Date of signature — must be within 90 days of DS-11 submission
• Photocopy of front and back of the non-applying parent's valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
• If the non-applying parent cannot appear in person in the U.S., the signature may be notarized by a U.S. consular officer abroad or by a commissioned RON notary

Acceptable forms of ID for the absent parent

The same ID standards as for a passport application apply to the DS-3053 signer. Acceptable IDs include:

• A valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or passport card
• An in-state driver's license issued at least 6 months ago
• A current government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
• A current U.S. military ID
• A current, valid foreign passport (for non-U.S. citizen parents)

Expired IDs, employer IDs from private companies, and library or club cards are not acceptable.

How DS-3053 interacts with Form DS-11

DS-11 is the passport application itself. It must be signed in person in front of the passport acceptance agent — never in advance. The applying parent brings the DS-11 unsigned, signs it at the counter, and hands it over along with the DS-3053 package.

So the order of operations is:

1. Absent parent signs DS-3053 in a notarized session (in person or RON)
2. Applying parent receives the sealed DS-3053 PDF and ID photocopies
3. Applying parent prints the DS-3053 package and brings it, plus an unsigned DS-11, to the acceptance agent with the child

Step-by-step: getting this notarized online

1. Download the current DS-3053 from travel.state.gov

Always pull the current PDF directly from travel.state.gov. Do not reuse a form someone downloaded last year — the State Department revises these periodically, and an outdated form is a rejection. Confirm processing times and current requirements on travel.state.gov before scheduling, because those change regularly and we will not quote them here.

2. Fill in every field except the signature

Both parents' legal names, the child's full legal name and date of birth, and the non-applying parent's ID number should all be complete before the session. Do not sign the form yet — the non-applying parent must sign in front of the notary on the live video call.

3. Photograph the front AND back of the absent parent's ID

Before the session starts, take clear, legible photos (or scans) of the front and the back of the absent parent's government-issued photo ID. Save both files. You will need them attached to the final package you send back with the applying parent.

4. Book a RON session with a commissioned notary

The absent parent is the signer, so it is the absent parent who must appear on the audio-video session with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The applying parent does not need to be on the call. Schedule a time the absent parent can be in a quiet location with a reliable camera and microphone.

5. Complete the session and forward the package

During the call, the notary will verify the absent parent's identity via credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication, confirm they understand the consent, witness the signature, and apply a tamper-evident digital seal. After the session, forward to the applying parent:

• The sealed DS-3053 PDF
• The front-of-ID photo
• The back-of-ID photo

Do not print and rescan the sealed PDF — the cryptographic seal that validates the notarization is stripped when you rescan. Keep the file digital until the applying parent prints it for the acceptance agent.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Only photocopying the front of the ID. The State Department requires both sides. This is the single most common DS-3053 rejection reason.
• Using a witnessed (not notarized) signature. A friend, neighbor, or acceptance agent witnessing the signature is not sufficient. DS-3053 requires a notary.
• Signing the form before the session. The notary must witness the signature applied during the live audio-video call. A pre-signed form is void.
• Letting the form go stale. DS-3053 must be signed within 90 days of submission with DS-11. Sign too early and you will be starting over.
• Expired ID. An expired driver's license or passport for the absent parent will cause both the notarization and the downstream passport application to fail.
• Name mismatch. If the absent parent's legal name on the ID differs from the name on the DS-3053 (e.g., hyphenation, maiden name, suffix), correct the form before signing — or, if the discrepancy cannot be corrected, pair the DS-3053 with a name-change affidavit to bridge the gap.
• Using DS-3053 when DS-5525 is the right form. If the other parent cannot be located or you have sole legal custody, DS-3053 is incorrect. Use DS-5525 or submit the custody documentation instead.

Bottom line

DS-3053 is a short form with strict requirements. The State Department demands a notarized (not witnessed) signature from the absent parent, a photocopy of the front and back of that parent's government-issued ID, and submission within 90 days alongside an unsigned DS-11 at the acceptance agent. A commissioned RON notary can handle the signing and sealing in under 15 minutes, and the absent parent never has to leave home. Confirm current processing guidance on travel.state.gov before you book — and if the other parent cannot be located, look at DS-5525 instead.