DS-11 Use of Form DS-3053 - How to Complete Consent for Minor U.S. Passport

Sep 3, 2026

Upload by McQueen

Form DS-3053 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 a minor child. It covers consent requirements for children under 16, and parental awareness rules for ages 16–17, plus special procedures for institutions or entities granted guardianship. It also explains how to complete sections 1–3, sign in front of an officer or notary, attach identification, and note the 90-day validity window, with privacy and warning information included.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Use of this form

Children under age 16

Children ages 16 and 17

Institutions or entities granted guardianship to child

How to complete this form

Sections 1, 2, and 3 completion

Section 4 stopping point and signing rules

Attachments and validity period

Notaries outside the United States

Contact information for passport services and international parental child abduction

Warning and privacy act statement

| USE OF THIS FORM | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | This form is used with a U.S. passport application (Form DS-11) when one or both legal parents and/or legal guardians cannot appear in person with their minor child to apply for their child’s U.S. passport. Both legal parents/legal guardians may also use this form to authorize a third party to apply for a child's passport on the parents/guardians’ behalf. A separate notarized written statement with all details in this form may be submitted in lieu of this form. | | | | | • Children Under Age 16 : Both legal parents/legal guardians must appear in person with their minor child to apply for a U.S. passport. If one or both parent/guardian(s) cannot appear in person with their child, they must submit this form or a separate statement consenting to passport issuance which must be signed and sworn under oath before a passport authorizing officer or notary. | | | | | • Children Ages 16 and 17: Parental awareness is required by one legal parent/legal guardian to issue the child a U.S. passport. In many cases, the passport authorizing officer may be able to ascertain parental awareness of the passport application. However, the passport authorizing officer retains discretion to request the legal parent/legal guardian’s written consent to passport issuance. Visit travel.state.gov for more details. | | | | | • Institutions or Entities Granted Guardianship to Child: Submit the documents below with this form or a separate statement and ensure the documents have no conditions placed on the passport’s validity period and where the child may travel. If there are conditions in the consent, new consent is required.
1. A certified court order granting guardianship to the institution/entity. Photocopies are not acceptable.
2. A signed statement on the institution's/entity's letterhead authorizing a specific person to apply for the child’s passport on the child's behalf. The statement must include the child's name and the name of the individual(s) authorized to apply for the passport.
3. The authorized individual’s photocopied employee photo identification verifying employment with the institution/entity. | | | | | NOTE: Consent may not be required if the legal parent/legal guardian submits evidence of sole authority to apply for the child’s passport such as the other parent’s death certificate (if said parent is deceased), court order granting sole legal custody, or birth certificate listing only one parent. The parent may also submit for consideration Form DS-5525 or written statement (made under penalty of perjury) explaining, in detail, why the second parent cannot be reached. Visit [www.travel.state.gov for more details](www.travel.state.gov for more details). | | | | | HOW TO COMPLETE THIS FORM | | | | | 􀀹 Sections 1, 2, and 3 are completed by the child’s non-applying legal parent(s)/legal guardian(s) also known as the “affiant(s)”. Consent is valid for both passport book and card unless specified by writing “issue passport book only” or “issue passport card only” in Section 3.
􀀹 Stop at Section 4 . The affiant(s) must wait to sign in front of a passport authorizing officer or notary. The signed date of the affiant(s) and passport authorizing officer or notary must match. The passport authorizing officer or notary must not be related to the affiant(s) .
􀀹 The affiant(s) must attach with this form a photocopy of the front and back of the valid government-issued photo identification presented and notated on this form or statement by the passport authorizing officer or notary.
􀀹 Consent is valid for 90 days from the passport authorizing officer or notary’s signed date. If this consent expires before submitting the U.S. passport application for the said-named child, new consent is required.
􀀹 Notaries Outside the United States: In certain countries, this form or statement must be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate and cannot be notarized by a lo

FAQs

When is Form DS-3053 used with a U.S. passport application (Form DS-11)?

It is used when one or both legal parents/legal guardians cannot appear in person with a minor child to apply for the child’s U.S. passport. It may also authorize a third party to apply on the parents’ or guardians’ behalf.

What are the consent requirements for children under age 16?

Both legal parents/legal guardians must appear in person. If one or both cannot appear, they must submit this form or a separate notarized statement consenting to passport issuance, signed and sworn under oath before an officer or notary.

How long is the consent valid and when is new consent required?

Consent is valid for 90 days from the signed date of the passport authorizing officer or notary. If it expires before submitting the passport application for the child, new consent is required.

Sep 3, 2026

Upload by McQueen