Unfortunately, getting a passport for a child involves more steps than most parents expect. You need the right documents, the right forms, and (in many cases) the other parent’s cooperation. That last part is where things can get, well… complicated.
If you’re applying for your child’s passport and the other parent cannot be there in person, you will need a consent letter. In the U.S., that means a specific notarized government form.
But fear not: this guide explains how to write a consent letter for a passport application, what the form requires, and what to do when the other parent is not in the picture.
Read also: How to make a living trust – protecting your assets and legacy
Why passport applications for minors require a consent letter
The U.S. State Department requires that both parents or legal guardians consent to a passport being issued to a child under 16.
The reason is straightforward: international parental child abduction is a concern, and requiring dual consent is one of the mechanisms the government uses to prevent it.
Ideally, both parents appear in person with the child at the time of application. In practice, that isn’t always possible – one parent may be deployed, traveling for work, living in another state, or simply unavailable on that day. When one parent cannot appear, a notarized consent form fills that gap.
It’s also worth knowing that passports issued to children under 16 are only valid for five years, unlike adult passports, which are valid for ten, so this process may come up more than once.
How to write a consent letter for a passport application: the DS-3053
The standard vehicle for parental consent in U.S. minor passport applications is Form DS-3053, officially titled “Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Child.” This is the document most people are referring to when they talk about a consent letter in this context.
The DS-3053 is filled out by the parent who cannot appear in person, not the applying parent. Here is what the form requires:
The first section asks for the child’s name exactly as it appears on the DS-11 passport application form, along with the child’s date of birth.
The second section asks for the name of the adult who is appearing in person with the child and their relationship to the child.
The consent statement itself is where the non-applying parent formally gives permission for the passport to be issued. It includes the non-applying parent’s full name, their address and contact details, and their signature, which must be made in front of a notary public. The parent must also submit a photocopy of the photo ID they presented to the notary at the time of signing.
A few things to be careful about here:
- Photocopies of the DS-3053 are not accepted.
- The non-applying parent must not sign the form in advance.
- The signature must happen in front of a notary or, as of a rule update effective August 2024, in front of a passport specialist at a passport agency counter within the United States.
- The completed form must be submitted within 90 days of the date it was notarized, not 90 days from when it was filled out.
When the DS-3053 does not apply
The DS-3053 is the right form when the other parent exists, has parental rights, and simply cannot be present. But there are situations where you need a different approach.
If you have sole legal custody, you don’t need the other parent’s consent. Instead, you submit a court order or custody decree establishing your sole authority. Tip: the documentation must be a certified copy.
If the other parent is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate is submitted in place of the DS-3053.
If the other parent’s whereabouts are unknown or they refuse to consent, the applying parent must complete Form DS-5525, the Statement of Exigent or Special Family Circumstances. We’ll explain it in more detail below.
If the child has only one legal parent (through adoption or a court order establishing that), the relevant legal documentation covers it.
Does the consent letter for a passport application need to be notarized?
For the DS-3053, yes, notarization is a hard requirement from the State Department.
The non-applying parent must appear before a notary in person, sign the form while the notary watches, and present a valid government-issued photo ID. The notary verifies their identity, witnesses the signature, and applies their seal. A photocopy of that ID is then submitted alongside the form with the passport application.
As noted above, as of August 2024, there is also an alternative: the non-applying parent can sign the DS-3053 before a passport specialist at a public passport agency counter within the United States.
This option was added to provide more flexibility and to allow errors in the form to be caught and corrected on the spot. However, for most families, a notary public still is the more practical option.
A mobile notary is a useful solution here. The non-applying parent may live across town, across the state, or simply have a schedule that makes visiting a passport office difficult. A mobile notary can come to them, so the form gets handled without requiring the whole family to coordinate in one place.
What happens if the other parent refuses to consent?
This is the question many parents are actually asking, even when they frame it differently. If the other parent is uncooperative, the DS-5525 is the starting point. It documents the circumstances and puts the decision in the State Department’s hands.
If the situation is more adversarial (an active custody dispute, a documented history of non-cooperation, or an existing court order that addresses travel), the applying parent may need to seek judicial intervention.
A court can issue an order authorizing a passport without the other parent’s signature. This is a legal matter, and consulting a family law attorney is the right move in those situations.
Also, it’s important to note that the DS-5525 does not guarantee approval. The State Department reviews each case individually – and the more documentation you provide, the stronger your case.
What you cannot do is skip the consent requirement or submit the application without addressing it. The application will not be approved.
How to write a consent letter for a passport application: FAQ
Can the DS-3053 be emailed or mailed to the absent parent to sign and notarize on their own? Yes. The non-applying parent does not need to be in the same location as the applying parent. They can complete and notarize the form independently and then send the original to the applying parent to submit with the passport application.
Remember: the form must arrive as an original, and it must be submitted within 90 days of notarization.
What if the absent parent is in another country? If they are outside the United States, they can have the DS-3053 notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Notarization by a foreign notary is generally not accepted for this form.
How long does the DS-3053 remain valid after notarization? The completed form must be submitted with the passport application within 90 days of the date it was notarized. After that window, a new form needs to be completed.
Have a notary public come to you in Florida!
Applying for a child’s passport involves several moving parts, and the consent requirement is the one that most often catches parents off guard. Once you understand the process (which form is needed, what it requires, and how the notarization works), it’s much more manageable.
The key is giving yourself enough time so that a missed signature or an expired form does not hold everything up.
If you need the DS-3052, a consent letter, or any other document notarized in Central Florida, Mobile Notary Orlando can come to the non-applying parent wherever they are in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, or Osceola counties.
We’re available 24/7 and in 3 different languages for maximum comfort and convenience. Get in touch, and we’ll take care of the notarization so the rest of the application can move forward.
