DS-3053 Form: Get It and Get It Notarized
Applying for your child’s passport but the other parent can’t be there? You need Form DS-3053, notarized. Get the official form and notarize it online in minutes. Enter your email to start.
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 parent cannot appear in person. Because U.S. law requires both parents or guardians to consent, the absent parent completes the DS-3053 and has it notarized.
When you need a DS-3053
- Your child (under 16) is getting a passport and only one parent can attend the appointment
- The other parent needs 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.
- You must include a photocopy of both sides of the absent parent’s government-issued photo ID.
- The consenting parent shows their ID to the notary during the session.
- A notarized DS-3053 expires 90 days after the notarization date, so time it close to the appointment.
- It goes with the child’s DS-11 application at the in-person acceptance facility.
How it works
- 1. Get the official form – enter your email above.
- 2. Fill it out, but do not sign until you are with the notary.
- 3. Notarize it online over secure video, in minutes, from any state. We connect you right after you get the form.
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 one parent is absent. A child travel consent form is for the trip itself. Many families need both.
Can I notarize the DS-3053 online?
Yes. The consenting parent signs in front of a commissioned notary over secure video, from any state.
Do I need the other parent’s ID?
Yes. A copy of both sides of the absent parent’s photo ID must go with the form.
More free notarizable forms
DS-3053 is an official U.S. Department of State form. This page helps you obtain and notarize it and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of State, and is not legal advice. After you get the form, you will be connected with our online notary partner to complete the notarization; NotarEase NYC may earn a referral credit at no extra cost to you. Confirm current requirements at travel.state.gov.