If one parent cannot attend a child’s U.S. passport appointment, the State Department may accept Form DS-3053, sole-custody evidence or special family-circumstance documents. This guide explains what parents of children under 16 should prepare before applying.
For a U.S. passport application involving a child under 16, both parents or legal guardians generally must approve issuance of the passport. However, the State Department provides alternatives when one parent cannot appear at the appointment.
The documents required depend on why the parent is absent and whether both parents still share legal custody.
Form DS-3053 When One Parent Cannot Attend
If both parents have custody but one parent cannot appear in person, the absent parent can generally complete Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent.
The parent must sign the form before a certified notary and provide a photocopy of the front and back of the government-issued photo identification shown to the notary.
The State Department says Form DS-3053 must be submitted within 90 days of the date it is signed by the notary or passport-authorizing officer.
If the absent parent is outside the United States, notarization at a U.S. embassy or consulate may be required in some circumstances. Electronically notarized consent may also be accepted when permitted under applicable state law, but a printed copy must be submitted with the application.
When One Parent Has Sole Legal Custody
Form DS-3053 may not be necessary when the applying parent can prove sole legal authority to obtain the child’s passport.
Acceptable evidence may include a court order granting sole custody or sole permission to apply for the passport, a certified birth certificate or adoption decree listing only one parent, or a certified death certificate for the other parent.
A judicial declaration that the other parent is legally incompetent may also qualify.
What if the Other Parent Cannot Be Located?
If both parents retain custody but the applying parent cannot locate the other parent, the State Department provides Form DS-5525, Statement of Special Family Circumstances.
Officials may request additional evidence, such as custody records, incarceration documents or restraining orders, depending on the circumstances.
What if Neither Parent Can Attend?
A third party, such as a grandparent, may accompany the child when properly authorized.
Generally, both parents must provide notarized consent, which may be submitted using Form DS-3053, along with copies of their photo identification. If only one parent provides permission, proof that the parent has sole custody is also required.
Parents should review the State Department’s current requirements before the appointment because incomplete consent forms, missing ID copies or insufficient custody documentation can delay a child’s passport application.
