DS-3053 Statement of Consent
Once you complete the fields below, your DS-3053 statement of consent is automatically prepared with everything the U.S. Department of State requires. After you click Continue to secure payment, it is uploaded and ready, and you are taken straight into your online notarization session.
Form DS-3053, officially the “Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Child Under Age 16,” is the U.S. Department of State form used when a child under 16 is applying for a passport and one or both parents/guardians cannot appear in person. Because U.S. law requires both parents or guardians to consent, the absent parent(s) complete this statement of consent and have it notarized.
When you need this
- Your child (under 16) is getting a passport and one or both parents cannot attend the appointment in person
- The non-applying parent(s) need to give written, notarized consent from wherever they are
What you must know (this trips people up)
- It must be notarized, not just signed or witnessed, and you do not sign until you are with the notary.
- A copy of the front and back of each non-applying parent’s government-issued photo ID is captured during the notarization session and returned with the document.
- The signed date of the affiant(s) and the notary must match.
- The consent expires 90 days after the notarization date, so time it close to the passport appointment.
- It goes with the child’s DS-11 application at the in-person acceptance facility.
How it works
- 1. Fill it out. Enter the child’s information, the adult who will appear in person, and the non-applying parent(s)’ details.
- 2. Pay securely. Your completed statement of consent is automatically prepared and attached to your notarization session.
- 3. Notarize online. Your signature and the notary’s verification are completed live, over secure video, in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DS-3053 the same as a child travel consent letter?
No. The DS-3053 is for getting a passport when a parent is absent. A child travel consent form is for the trip itself, once the child already has a passport. Many families need both.
Do I need the other parent’s identifying information?
You’ll list the non-applying parent(s) here, and each brings a valid photo ID to their own notarization session, since each affiant is verified individually by the notary.
Does this need to be notarized?
Yes. The consenting parent(s)/guardian(s) sign in front of a commissioned notary over secure video, from any state, not before.
Can I notarize it online?
Yes. Paying takes you straight into your online notarization session, with your prepared document already attached.
How long is the consent valid?
90 days from the date the notary signs. If it expires before the passport application is submitted, new consent is required.
Can I download the notarized document right after my session?
Yes. As soon as your notarization session ends, you are emailed the completed, notarized document so you can download it right away. Make sure to save it within 7 days.
More free notarizable forms
DS-3053 is an official U.S. Department of State form. This document is prepared to include all information called for on that form and is intended to be submitted in lieu of it, as the form’s own instructions permit. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of State and is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements at travel.state.gov. Your signature and the notary’s verification are completed live during your online notarization session, not on this page.
DS-3053 and child passport guides
Read these before you sign anything.