DS-3053 Statement of Consent: When You Need It and How to Fill It Out
Complete guide to the DS-3053 form — the Statement of Consent for U.S. passport applications for minors when one parent can't be present.
Summary: Form DS-3053 is the U.S. Department of State’s Statement of Consent used when one parent or legal guardian cannot appear in person for a child’s passport application. The non-applying parent or guardian must sign it before a notary or passport authorizing officer, and a photocopy of the ID shown to the notary must be submitted with it. In most cases, it must be used within 90 days of notarization. Fill out your DS-3053 for free here.
What Is the DS-3053 and When Do You Need It?
U.S. law requires both parents or legal guardians to consent before a child under 16 can receive a passport. When both parents can show up at the passport acceptance facility together, they each sign the DS-11 (the actual passport application) in person, and consent is handled right there.
The DS-3053 is the standard form when one or both parents or guardians with legal authority cannot appear in person. The non-applying parent fills out the DS-3053, has it notarized, and the form gets submitted alongside the child’s DS-11 by whichever parent or authorized third party does show up.
Common reasons one parent can’t attend:
- Distance. Parents live in different cities or states.
- Work or scheduling conflicts. Both parents can’t align the same time slot at the passport office.
- Military deployment or overseas work. One parent is stationed or working abroad.
- Travel. One parent is already outside the country while the child needs a passport issued domestically.
- Third-party application. Neither parent can attend, so both complete a DS-3053 authorizing a grandparent or other trusted adult to submit the application.
One important distinction: the DS-3053 is for a parent who consents but can’t be present. If you cannot obtain the other parent’s notarized written consent, because they can’t be located, have refused, or other special circumstances apply, a different form, the DS-5525, may be needed. More on that below.
A note on age: The standard two-parent consent requirement applies to children under 16. For 16- and 17-year-olds, a passport authorizing officer may request written parental consent in some cases, but the process differs, check the State Department’s current guidance for that age group.
Who Fills Out the DS-3053?
In most cases, the non-applying parent, the one who won’t be at the passport appointment — completes and signs the DS-3053. They’re the one saying: “I consent to this passport being issued, but I can’t be there in person.”
There’s a second scenario that catches people off guard: both parents authorizing a third party. If neither parent can visit the acceptance facility — maybe both work schedules conflict with post office hours, or both parents live overseas — each parent fills out their own DS-3053 naming the same third party. A grandparent is the most common choice. The third party then brings both notarized DS-3053 forms, along with ID photocopies from each parent’s notarization, when they submit the child’s DS-11.
One more scenario: if you’re the applying parent and have sole legal authority, you may not need a DS-3053 at all. A court order granting sole legal custody, a birth certificate listing only one parent, or a death certificate may substitute for the absent parent’s consent. If the custody situation is ambiguous or contested, consult an attorney before assuming you can skip the other parent’s consent.
How to Complete the DS-3053: Section by Section
The current form (version 10/2024) is two pages. Here’s what each section covers.
Child’s Information
The form asks for the child’s full legal name and date of birth. This must match the DS-11 application exactly — a mismatch, even a missing middle name, can delay processing.
Adult Applying in Person
This section identifies the parent or authorized third party who will appear at the passport acceptance facility with the child. If you’re the applying parent, you fill this out. If a grandparent or other adult is submitting the application on both parents’ behalf, they’re identified here.
Non-Applying Parent or Guardian’s Information
This section covers the parent completing the DS-3053 (the one who won’t be present):
- Full legal name
- Mailing address
- Phone number and email address
Oath/Affirmation
This is the sworn consent statement at the core of the form. Do not sign this section before appearing before the notary or passport authorizing officer. The State Department’s instructions require you to stop here and wait until you’re in front of the notary. Also: the notary or passport authorizing officer who witnesses your signature cannot be a relative of the affiant.
The Notarization Requirement
This is non-negotiable. The DS-3053 must be signed and notarized — or signed before a passport authorizing officer. An unnotarized form will not be accepted.
Timing matters. The DS-3053 must be used within 90 days of the date the notary or passport authorizing officer signs it. Notarize within 90 days of your passport appointment, not months ahead. If the appointment gets rescheduled past that window, you’ll need a fresh notarization.
Two ways to get it notarized:
In person. Visit any commissioned notary public — banks, UPS stores, AAA offices, and shipping centers typically offer notary services. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
Remote Online Notarization (RON). If the non-applying parent is in a different city or state, Remote Online Notarization can resolve the logistics problem in many cases. The parent connects via live video with a Florida-commissioned notary, verifies their identity through knowledge-based authentication and ID scanning, and signs the document digitally. The session takes about 15 minutes. Florida Translate’s RON service costs $25 per document plus $5 for ID verification per signer. If you use RON, bring a printed copy of the electronically notarized form to the passport facility — the State Department requires it.
Parents outside the U.S.: A parent abroad may be able to use RON if permitted under state law, but some countries require notarization at a U.S. embassy or consulate instead. Check with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for country-specific requirements before scheduling.
RON is particularly useful for military families with a deployed parent or divorced parents in different states.
Need your DS-3053 notarized? Florida Translate’s Remote Online Notarization connects you live with a Florida-commissioned notary. No in-person appointment, done in about 15 minutes.
The ID Photocopy Requirement
In addition to notarization, you must submit a photocopy — front and back — of the government-issued photo ID that the non-applying parent presented to their notary. This ID is notated on the form by the notary. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work. Without this photocopy, the acceptance facility may not process the application.
Common Scenarios
Divorced or Separated Parents
This is the most frequent DS-3053 scenario. Both parents still have legal custody (joint custody is the default in most states unless modified by court order), but they don’t live together. The parent who takes the child to the passport office brings the other parent’s notarized DS-3053 and the required ID photocopy.
If the divorce decree grants one parent sole legal authority over passport decisions, that parent should bring a certified copy of the court order instead of a DS-3053.
Military Deployment
An active-duty parent stationed overseas can complete the DS-3053 and have it notarized by a military notary (available on base at the JAG office) or through Remote Online Notarization. Military notaries are typically free, but availability varies by installation and operational tempo.
One Parent Living or Traveling Abroad
A parent outside the U.S. may be able to use Remote Online Notarization depending on their location and state law. That said, some countries require notarization at a U.S. embassy or consulate rather than through a local notary or RON provider. Check with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for requirements before proceeding. Consular notarization requires scheduling an appointment and may carry a fee.
Grandparent or Third Party Applying
When both parents authorize a grandparent to handle the passport application, each parent completes a separate DS-3053 naming the grandparent. Both forms need individual notarization. The grandparent then brings both notarized forms, photocopies of both parents’ IDs (the IDs each parent presented to their respective notary), the child, the DS-11, and all remaining documents (birth certificate, passport photos) to the acceptance facility.
DS-3053 vs. DS-5525: Which Form Do You Need?
- DS-3053 (Statement of Consent): The non-applying parent consents and wants the passport issued, but cannot appear in person. Standard form for logistical barriers — distance, scheduling, deployment.
- DS-5525 (Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances): Used only when you cannot obtain the notarized written consent of the parent or guardian with legal custody, and must explain the special circumstances. Requires documented evidence.
An important nuance on sole authority: In some situations, the DS-3053 isn’t needed at all. If the applying parent has sole legal authority — established by a court order granting sole legal custody, a birth certificate listing only one parent, or a death certificate — those documents may substitute for the other parent’s consent. The DS-5525 is for situations where you cannot obtain consent and none of those substitutes apply.
If you’re unsure which form applies, the DS-3053 page includes a detailed comparison. In situations involving custody disputes or an unresponsive co-parent, consult a family law attorney before filing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Signing before you see the notary. The oath/affirmation must be signed in front of the notary or passport authorizing officer — not before. A pre-signed form is invalid.
Submitting without notarization. The form gets returned and you lose your appointment slot. No exceptions.
Letting the 90-day window expire. If 90 days have passed since notarization, the DS-3053 is no longer valid. The non-applying parent will need to sign and notarize a new one.
Name mismatches between forms. The child’s name on the DS-3053 must match the DS-11 application exactly. Middle names, hyphens, suffixes — all must be consistent.
Forgetting the ID photocopy. You must submit a front-and-back photocopy of the ID the non-applying parent presented to their notary. Without it, the acceptance facility may reject the submission.
Not bringing a printed copy when using RON. Electronically notarized forms are accepted, but the State Department requires a printed copy at the passport facility. A digital file on your phone is not sufficient.
Assuming DS-5525 when a simpler document applies. If you have a sole custody order, death certificate, or single-parent birth certificate, you may not need either form. Check the State Department’s guidance or consult an attorney before choosing.
Step by Step: From Form to Passport Appointment
- Fill out the DS-3053. Use our free DS-3053 form filler to generate the form with your information pre-populated. Download the PDF and print it.
- Get the form notarized — but don’t sign it beforehand. The non-applying parent signs the oath/affirmation section in front of a notary or passport authorizing officer. For in-person notarization, visit any local notary with a valid government ID. For remote notarization, use Florida Translate’s RON service — done in about 15 minutes via live video. If using RON, print the notarized form before going to the passport facility.
- Prepare the ID photocopy. Make a front-and-back photocopy of the government-issued photo ID the non-applying parent presented to their notary.
- Gather the remaining passport materials. The applying parent or authorized third party needs: the child’s certified birth certificate, one passport photo (2x2 inches), the completed DS-11 application (do not sign it ahead of time — you sign at the facility), the notarized DS-3053, and the ID photocopy.
- Attend the passport acceptance facility. The child must be present, even infants. Submit all documents together. Current processing times vary; check the State Department website for up-to-date estimates.
Plan your notarization within 90 days of your appointment — not months ahead. If the appointment gets rescheduled past that window, you’ll need a fresh notarization.
Not What You Need?
The DS-3053 covers a specific situation: passport consent when a parent can’t be present. If you’re looking for something different:
- Child Travel Consent Form — Authorizes a minor to travel on a specific trip. Presented at borders and to airlines, not at passport offices.
- Notarized Translations — If the child’s birth certificate or other supporting documents are in a foreign language, they may need a certified translation for the passport application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? We're here to help.
Yes. The DS-3053 must be signed before a commissioned notary public or a passport authorizing officer. An unnotarized form will be rejected at the passport acceptance facility. You can get it notarized in person or, in many cases, through Remote Online Notarization (RON). If notarized electronically, bring a printed copy when you apply at the passport facility.