The DS-3053 is the consent statement the U.S. Department of State uses when a child's legal parent or legal guardian cannot appear in person for the child's passport application. It is used together with Form DS-11, and the non-applying parent or guardian signs it under oath before a passport authorizing officer or a notary. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original form is published by the Department of State at eforms.state.gov.
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What is DS-3053?
Form DS-3053 is the U.S. Department of State statement of consent on which a child's non-applying legal parent or legal guardian, under oath, agrees to the issuance of a U.S. passport to the child. Its printed title is "Statement of Consent: U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child."
The form is used with a U.S. passport application, Form DS-11, when one or both legal parents or legal guardians cannot appear in person with their minor child. Both parents or guardians may also use it to authorize a third party to apply for the child's passport on their behalf. A separate notarized written statement containing all the details in the form may be submitted instead of it.
The form has four sections: the child (Section 1), the adult applying in person with a child under 16 (Section 2), the statement of consent with the non-applying parent's or guardian's address and contact details (Section 3), and the oath, identifying documents and the officer's or notary's certification (Section 4). The consent is unconditional about passport validity and travel, and it covers both a passport book and a passport card unless Section 3 says otherwise.
The Department states that the information is collected to establish two-parent consent for applicants under 16, or one-parent consent when the Department requests it for applicants aged 16 or 17. The form carries OMB Control No. 1405-0129, expiring 10-31-2027.
Who needs to file DS-3053?
The main group is the legal parents or legal guardians of a child under 16 who cannot appear in person with the child at the DS-11 application. They complete Sections 1 to 3 and, as the "affiant(s)," sign Section 4 in front of a passport authorizing officer or notary.
- Children under 16: both legal parents or guardians must appear in person with the child. If one or both cannot, they submit this form or a separate sworn statement of consent.
- Third parties: both legal parents or guardians may use the form to authorize another adult, named in Section 2, to apply for the child.
- Children aged 16 and 17: awareness by one legal parent or guardian is required. The passport authorizing officer keeps discretion to ask for written consent, and the form has a box to check for age 16 or 17.
- Institutions or entities granted guardianship: they submit the court order and other documents listed under Required documents, with this form or a separate statement.
Consent may not be required if the parent or guardian shows sole authority to apply, such as the other parent's death certificate, a court order granting sole legal custody, or a birth certificate listing only one parent. The passport authorizing officer or notary must not be related to the affiant.
When to file DS-3053
Use Form DS-3053 whenever a child's passport application on Form DS-11 will be made without one or both legal parents or legal guardians present. The form has no separate due date: it goes in with the child's DS-11 application.
Timing matters because the consent is valid for 90 days from the date signed by the passport authorizing officer or notary. If it expires before the passport application for the named child is submitted, new consent is required. The affiant must wait to sign Section 4 until the officer or notary asks, and the affiant's date and the officer's or notary's date must match.
Documents you need
- A clear photocopy of the front and back of the valid government-issued photo identification that each affiant presented to the passport authorizing officer or notary.
- Form DS-11, the U.S. passport application, which this consent accompanies.
- For guardianship by an institution or entity: a certified court order granting it guardianship; photocopies are not acceptable.
- For guardianship by an institution or entity: a signed statement on its letterhead authorizing a specific person to apply, naming the child and the authorized individual(s).
- For guardianship by an institution or entity: a photocopy of the authorized individual's employee photo ID verifying employment with the institution or entity.
- Only if consent may not be required: evidence of sole authority, such as the other parent's death certificate, a court order granting sole legal custody, or a birth certificate listing only one parent.
- Optionally, when the second parent cannot be reached: Form DS-5525 or a written statement made under penalty of perjury explaining in detail why, submitted for consideration.
How to fill out DS-3053
Start with a clean form
Type or print legibly in black ink only. If you make an error, complete a new form rather than correcting it.
Enter the child's details in Section 1
In 1a, enter the child's name as it appears on the DS-11, in LAST, FIRST MIDDLE order. In 1b, enter the birthdate as MM-DD-YYYY, and check the box if the child is age 16 or 17.
Identify the applying adult in Section 2
In 2a, enter the name of the adult who will appear in person with the child, in LAST, FIRST MIDDLE order. In 2b, check one: Legal Parent, Legal Guardian or Third Party.
Name the non-applying parents in Section 3
In blank spaces 1) and 2), print the full name of each legal parent or legal guardian who cannot appear in person. Use only space 1) if one person is consenting.
Limit the consent only if needed
The consent covers both a passport book and card. To restrict it, write "Issue passport book only" or "Issue passport card only" on the line provided.
Add address and contact details
For each non-applying parent or guardian, enter street address, city, state or country and ZIP code, phone and email. Check the box if the address for 2) is the same as 1).
Stop before Section 4
Do not sign the oath yet. The affiant(s) sign only when a passport authorizing officer or notary asks them to.
Complete the Section 4 identification
For each affiant, mark Driver's License, Passport, Military or Other, then enter name, ID number, place of issue, issue date and expire date as shown on the ID presented.
Sign before the officer or notary
Each affiant signs and dates in front of the passport authorizing officer or notary, who adds a signature, date, location and seal. The dates must match, and the officer or notary must not be related to the affiant.
Review, download and attach the ID copy
Check Sections 1 to 3 for accuracy, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Attach a photocopy of the front and back of the photo ID shown to the officer or notary, and keep within the 90-day validity.
How to submit DS-3053
Form DS-3053 has no filing address of its own. It is presented with the child's U.S. passport application, Form DS-11, by the adult applying in person with the child.
- Sign before an officer or notary: the non-applying parent(s) or guardian(s) sign Section 4 only in front of a passport authorizing officer or notary, who completes the certification, seal, date and location.
- Attach identification: include a clear photocopy of the front and back of the valid government-issued photo ID shown to the officer or notary.
- Outside the United States: in certain countries the form must be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate and cannot be notarized by a local notary public. Check the embassy or consulate webpage.
- Questions: travel.state.gov, the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793) or [email protected].
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing Section 4 before the passport authorizing officer or notary asks you to; the form says to stop there and wait.
- Dates that differ between the affiant's signature and the officer's or notary's signature; the two dates must match.
- Having the form notarized by someone related to the affiant; the officer or notary must not be related.
- Leaving out the photocopy of the front and back of the government-issued photo ID shown to the officer or notary.
- Correcting an error on the form instead of completing a new one; the form says not to correct.
- Filling it out in a color other than black ink when printing and writing by hand; the form calls for black ink only.
- Submitting the DS-11 application more than 90 days after the officer's or notary's signed date, when new consent is required.
- Using a local notary in a country where the form must be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Submitting institutional guardianship consent that places conditions on the passport's validity or travel; new consent is required.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form DS-3053 used for?
Form DS-3053 is the Department of State statement of consent for a child's passport. A legal parent or guardian who cannot appear in person signs it under oath so the DS-11 application can go forward with the other parent, guardian or an authorized third party.
Do I need a DS-3053 if both parents go to the passport appointment?
No. The form is used when one or both legal parents or legal guardians cannot appear in person with a child under 16. Both must otherwise appear with the child to apply for the passport.
Does the DS-3053 have to be notarized?
Yes. The non-applying parent or guardian signs Section 4 in front of a passport authorizing officer or notary, and the officer or notary completes the certification. Do not sign beforehand, and the officer or notary must not be related to you.
How long is a DS-3053 valid?
Consent is valid for 90 days from the date the passport authorizing officer or notary signed. If it expires before the child's passport application is submitted, new consent is required.
Can I fill out Form DS-3053 online?
You can complete the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not submit it to the Department of State; you still sign before an officer or notary and present it with the DS-11 application.
Is consent needed for a 16- or 17-year-old?
Not always. For children 16 and 17, awareness by one legal parent or guardian is required, and the officer may ascertain it without the form. The officer can still request written consent, and Section 1 has a box for ages 16 or 17.
Can I limit the DS-3053 consent to a passport book or card?
Yes. The consent covers both a passport book and card unless you write "Issue passport book only" or "Issue passport card only" in Section 3. The consent is otherwise unconditional on passport validity and travel.
What if the other parent cannot be reached?
Consent may not be required if you show sole authority, such as a death certificate, a sole legal custody order or a birth certificate listing one parent. You may also submit Form DS-5525 or a written statement under penalty of perjury explaining why.
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