Skip Navigation
You Are In: U.S. Citizen Services > Services for Americans > Passport Services > Two parent consent guidelines
Skip Left Section Navigation

Passports

Two-parent consent for children under 16 years old

All children under the age of 16 are required to appear at the Consulate with both parents for all passport services. If only one parent is able to attend with the child or if a third party accompanies the child in loco parentis, please see additional details below.

In addition to the requirements for the child's specific passport service, you will be required to submit the following:

  • Evidence of child's relationship to parents/guardians

You will need to submit one of the following:

  • Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names); or
  • Certified foreign birth certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or
  • Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350); or
  • Adoption decree (with adopting parents' names); or
  • Court order establishing custody; or
  • Court order establishing guardianship.

NOTE: If the parent(s)'/guardian(s)' name(s) is/are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required.

  • Parental identification (for minors under age 16) 

Each parent or guardian must submit one of the following:

  • Valid U.S. or foreign passport with recognizable photo
  • Valid drivers license
  • Valid official U.S. military ID
  • Valid U.S. government ID
  • U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate with recognizable photo 
  •  U.S. Alien Resident Card (i.e. "green card")

Application by one parent

If only one parent is able to appear and sign the passport application form, one of the following will be required in addition to the above requirements:

  • The second parent's notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child (a notarized Form DS-3053, or a notarized written statement with the same information from the non-appearing parent).  This document may be notarized by a U.S. or foreign notary.

OR

  • 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
  • Child's birth certificate 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 parent 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).

Application by a third party

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 on behalf of the child. 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.  In either case, the third party must provide valid evidence of identity, such as that listed above.

Important Info

Consent forms or other statements become part of the passport application. A false statement on the consent form or other document is the legal responsibility of the applying parent/guardian and is subject to prosecution. Providing false information on a part of the passport application, whether contemporaneously with the application form or any other time, is subject to prosecution under the applicable statutes for passport fraud and perjury.