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Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent or Special Circumstance for Minor's Passport

Form DS-3053 should be submitted as a statement of consent or to explain special circumstances when applying for a passport for a minor. Form DS-3053 is required when one parent or guardian who does not have sole legal custody applies for a minor's passport since the general rule requires the signature of both parents.

The non-applying parent or guardian must complete the form and have it notarized in order to provide consent for the applying parent or guardian to obtain the passport. When written consent cannot be obtained, the applying parent or guardian must complete the special circumstances section of the form. Note, the approval of special circumstance is at the discretion of official passport agents.

How to Submit Form DS-3053:

The instructions are pretty straight-forward and easy to understand. There are three steps to the process.

STEP 1: Complete and Print Form

Applicants should use black ink to complete Form DS-3053. Information provided on this form should be complete and correct. Errors on the application or illegible writing can lead to delays in the process.

If you are the non-applying parent or guardian who is consenting to the issuance of a passport for your minor child, you should complete item 4. Complete the part but it must be signed in front of a notary public.

Click the link to open the form in PDF format: Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent or Special Circumstance for Minor Passport (PDF).

STEP 2: Get Form DS-3053 Notarized & Submit Photocopy of the ID (Only with Statement of Consent)

It is only necessary to complete step 2 if you are submitting Form DS-3053 as a Statement of Consent. When used as a Statement of Special Circumstances, it is not necessary to have the form notarized. If you are a non-applying parent or guardian consenting to the issuance of a passport for a minor child, you must:

Sign and date Form DS-3053 in the presence of a Certified Notary Public
Submit a photocopy of the front and back side of your ID with Form DS-3053

STEP 3: Submit Form DS-3053 with Completed Form DS-11 and Supporting Documents

In all cases, Form DS-3053 must be submitted along with Form DS-11: Application for a New U.S. Passport and required supporting documents at an application acceptance facility or, in cases of urgent travel needs, a regional passport agency.

A Statement of Consent from a non-applying parent or guardian must be submitted with the minor's passport application within 3 months of the date it was notarized to be valid. A new, notarized Statement of Consent from the non-applying parent will be required for future applications.