Do you need a passport for your child but can't get the other parent's signature? Here's what you need to know-and do-when your child needs a passport and exigent or special family circumstances apply.
Key Takeaways
- Form DS-5525 is required when applying for a passport for a child under 16 who does not have notarized consent from the other parent due to urgent or serious family circumstances.
- Form DS-5525 is used only in conjunction with Form DS-11, accompanied by full documentation explaining why consent was not possible.
- In some cases (adoption, foster care, guardianship, or temporary custody), different supporting documents are required instead of or in addition to DS-5525.
- Passports issued under these circumstances may carry restrictions (such as validity limited to direct return to the U.S.).
- Include detailed contact attempts, court documents, incarceration, restraining orders, or other legal evidence.
- Approval is not guaranteed-each case is reviewed on its merits.
Form DS-5525, The Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances
What Is Form DS-5525?
U.S. law requires both parents or legal guardians to give consent when applying for a passport for a child under 16. When the other parent or guardian is missing, unreachable, or refuses to cooperate, Form DS-5525 is the form used to explain why notarized consent (Form DS-3053) cannot be obtained.
Per official guidance, DS-5525 is used when the non-applying parent is unlocatable due to:
- Exigent circumstances: A family emergency (illness, death, evacuation/safety issues), or
- Special family circumstances: Situations making consent exceptionally difficult or impossible (parent/guardian is missing, abusive, incarcerated, or estranged).
When to Use DS-5525
Use DS-5525 if the other parent/guardian is unreachable and cannot provide notarized consent.
You will submit DS-5525 only if:
- You are applying with Form DS-11 for a child under 16, and
- The other parent cannot provide notarized consent (Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent) due to unavailability, refusal, or urgency.
Important: Completing DS-5525 does not guarantee the passport will be issued. The Department of State reviews all supporting details before deciding.
Download Form DS-5525: Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances (PDF)
There are only two alternatives to using DS-5525:
- If the parent or guardian is reachable, a notarized Form DS-3053.
- A court order establishing sole custody or travel permission.
Other Custody and Guardianship Situations
In some cases, DS-5525 may not be the correct form to use. If a child is in adoptive placement, foster care, or under legal guardianship or temporary custody, additional or alternative documentation will be required:
- Adoptive Placement (not yet finalized): The child's social worker must appear with the child, and a court order authorizing the passport is usually required. Expect delays; processing can take longer than normal.
- Foster Care/Legal Guardianship: Apply with the social worker present. Provide proof of guardianship, the social worker's ID, and standard child passport documents.
- Temporary Custody (e.g., grandparents, kinship care): A court order establishing custody and authority to apply for the passport is required. Without it, notarized consent from both parents is usually necessary.
What Counts as Exigent or Special Family Circumstances?
Exigent Circumstances
Urgent, time-sensitive situations where not having a passport would harm the child's health, safety, or well-being, or separate them from their traveling group.
Examples:
- Travel in less than two weeks due to a family medical emergency.
- The child requires urgent medical treatment abroad.
- Relocation or evacuation due to a crisis or safety concern.
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Special Family Circumstances
Situations where one parent/guardian is applying for a passport for a child under 16 and getting consent from the other parent is extremely difficult or unfeasible.
Examples:
- The non-applying parent is estranged, abusive, or completely absent.
- The non-applying parent is incarcerated and unreachable.
- Repeated attempts to contact the parent resulted in no response or no workable contact.
- Children in state custody or foster care require legal documentation and participation by the assigned social worker.
- Children in adoptive placement require custody orders and court authorization.
- Temporary custody arrangements require court proof establishing authority to apply.
Please note: For special family circumstances, include detailed contact attempts, court documents, incarceration records, restraining orders, or other legal evidence.
Summary: When to Use Form DS-5525
| Use Form DS-5525 when: | Don't Use Form DS-5525 if: |
|---|---|
| You can't get the other parent's signature | You have a court order granting full custody or travel permission |
| There's a travel emergency | The non-applying parent is reachable and simply refuses to cooperate without reason |
| You've made every reasonable effort to contact the other parent | You haven't tried to contact the other parent at all |
How to Complete Form DS-5525
Fill out DS-5525 in black ink with no corrections or whiteout. If you make a mistake, start over with a new form.
What You'll Need
- Child and Parent Information: Full names, dates of birth, contact details.
- Legal Documentation: Custody or court orders, incarceration evidence, if applicable.
- Details of Attempts to Contact the Other Parent: Dates, number of times, methods (mail, phone, email, etc.), and results.
- Your Statement: A detailed explanation of why you can't get consent and how this affects your child.
Be detailed and honest. False statements are a federal offense.
If your case involves adoption, guardianship, foster care, or temporary custody, DS-5525 alone is not enough-include the appropriate court orders or custody documents with the application.
What to Submit with the Passport Application
- Completed Form DS-11.
- Child's proof of U.S. citizenship (see Evidence of Citizenship).
- Proof of the parent's or guardian's relationship to the child (see Relationship Evidence).
- A photocopy of the parent's or guardian's identification (see Photocopy of ID).
- Child's passport photo (see common photo mistakes).
- Completed Form DS-5525 and all supporting documents.
- Required passport fees.
Can My Child Still Be Denied a Passport?
Yes. The State Department reviews each request carefully to protect against international parental child abduction. DS-5525 does not guarantee approval.
If DS-5525 is insufficient, you may need:
- A notarized DS-3053, if feasible.
- A court order granting sole custody or specific passport/travel permissions.
Pro Tips for Getting a Child's Passport in Exigent or Special Family Circumstances
- Don't delay-passport processing takes time, even in emergencies.
- If you can't find the other parent, document every attempt with specific dates, times, names, and methods.
- Organize and document court orders and legal evidence clearly.
- If you have a court order granting sole custody or travel permission, you may not need DS-5525.
- Submit everything together-missing proof is a common cause of delays or denials.
With the right information and documentation, you can move forward and get the travel documents your child needs.
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