For Minors Under the Age 16
- Both parents must appear together and sign or
- One parent appears, signs, and submits the second parent’s notarized Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16 (PDF 52 KB), authorizing passport issuance for the child or submits a notarized, written statement of consent from the non-appearing parent (including the child’s name and date of birth, as well as parent’s identification information or a copy of his/her ID) authorizing passport issuance for the child or
- One parents appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):
- Child’s certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
- Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child’s travel is restricted by that order); or
- Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
- Court order specifically permitting applying parent’s or guardian’s travel with the child; or
- Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
- Death certificate of non-applying parent.
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit a Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16 (PDF 52 KB).
Note:
A third party in loco parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 16 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. The authorization should include the full name and date of birth of the third party. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.
