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DS 3053 Form (2020)

Use a Ds 3053 Fillable Form 2020 template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What DS 3053 Form (2020) does

DS 3053 Form (2020) is the U.S. Department of State statement of consent used when one parent or guardian cannot appear for a minor’s passport application. The absent parent provides identifying information, gives consent for passport issuance, signs before a notary, and supplies a photocopy of identification. The form accompanies the child’s passport application and supporting evidence; it is not a substitute for the child’s application or required identity documents. Use signNow to prepare the fields and organize the record, then follow the Department of State’s notarization and submission requirements.

Who uses DS 3053 Form (2020)

Absent parent

The absent parent or guardian completes the consent statement, provides identification evidence, and signs before a notary when unable to attend the child’s passport appointment.

Applying guardian

The applying parent or guardian submits DS 3053 with the minor’s passport application, supporting documents, and the notarized consent package.

Challenges when preparing DS 3053

  • The absent parent signs before a notary, so an electronic signature workflow cannot replace the required notarized execution.
  • A missing identification copy or incomplete parent information can delay acceptance of the child’s passport application.
  • Submitting DS 3053 without the child’s related passport application and supporting evidence leaves the consent statement incomplete.
  • A stale or incorrectly completed consent statement may require the absent parent to complete a new notarized form.

How to prepare DS 3053 online

Use signNow for digital preparation, then complete the required paper signature and notarization before submission.

  • Upload form:

    Upload the DS 3053 PDF to signNow.
  • Prepare fields:

    Use detected fields to prepare names and consent details.
  • Check information:

    Review every entry against supporting passport records.
  • Print document:

    Download and print the completed document.
  • Complete notarization:

    Sign before a notary and attach identification evidence.
  • Store records:

    Store the notarized package and preparation audit trail.
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Rules affecting DS 3053 acceptance

Notarization required

Notarization required

Signature rejected

Signature rejected

ID copy missing

ID copy missing

Submission delayed

Submission delayed

Find and fill out the correct ds 3053 fillable 2008 form

airSlate SignNow helps you fill in and sign documents in minutes, error-free. Choose the correct version of the editable PDF form from the list and get started filling it out.

VersionsForm popularityFillable & printable
2013 DS-3053 [2013-08] 20244.8 Satisfied (116 Votes)
2013 DS-3053 [2013-08] 20204.8 Satisfied (3366 Votes)
2013 DS-3053 [2013-08] 20134.8 Satisfied (1421 Votes)

Legal standing of DS 3053

DS 3053 is a Department of State consent statement, not a general business contract. Electronic records may receive legal recognition under ESIGN, 15 U.S.C. ch. 96, and state electronic-transactions law, but those frameworks do not remove the form’s required notarization or passport-submission conditions. Wills, court filings, and family-law decrees remain statutory exceptions.

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Best practices for DS 3053 preparation

Accurate preparation matters because DS 3053 requires notarized execution and supporting identity evidence.

Match names to evidence

Enter the child’s name, birth details, and parent information exactly as shown on supporting identity and birth records. Compare every spelling, date, and relationship before saving the prepared document for notarization.

Prepare the identification copy

Attach the absent parent’s identification copy in the format requested by the Department of State. Keep the copy legible, complete, and associated with the signed consent statement rather than storing it separately.

Complete notarization correctly

Print the completed statement and sign it only in the notary’s presence. Ask the notary to complete the acknowledgment, seal or stamp the document, and identify the signer under applicable state notary law.

Assemble the submission package

Send the notarized statement with the minor’s passport application and required supporting materials. Retain a clear copy of the submitted package and the completed notarial record for your files.

Authentication for DS 3053 preparation

Two-factor authentication:

Two-factor authentication

SMS one-time code:

SMS one-time code

Identity verification:

Identity verification

PKI certificates:

PKI certificates

X.509 certificate:

X.509 certificate

Notary identity check:

Notary identity check

Platform requirements for DS 3053

Prepare DS 3053 in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge on Windows or macOS. signNow mobile apps support iOS and Android for reviewing and preparing documents. Use a current browser and TLS-enabled connection when handling identity information.

  • Browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Desktop systems Windows and macOS
  • Mobile systems iOS and Android

Mobile preparation can help an absent parent or applying guardian review fields away from a desk, but the final DS 3053 signature still requires the applicable notarization process. Camera capture may assist document preparation; verify every captured name and number against the original identification record.

DS 3053 troubleshooting and FAQs

These answers separate signNow preparation features from the Department of State’s notarization and passport-submission requirements.

signNow can upload DS 3053, detect fillable areas, and place text fields for preparation. Because the absent parent must sign before a notary, do not send the signature field as a remote eSignature or treat a completed electronic signature as notarization.

No. A typed name or click-to-sign event does not satisfy the form’s required notarized signature. Prepare the document electronically if useful, print it, and have the absent parent sign before a notary under the applicable state notary procedure.

Use signNow’s fields to capture the absent parent’s identifying details and consent information, then compare the entries with the child’s passport records. Correct errors before printing because the notary must acknowledge the actual signed document.

The Business plan includes templates and audit trails, but those features do not change Department of State submission rules. Use a template for recurring preparation, then complete the required paper notarization and package review separately.

Keep the completed document, identification copy, and audit trail in a restricted workspace. signNow encrypts data in transit with TLS 1.2/1.3 and at rest with AES-256; access controls should still limit passport information.

If the absent parent cannot appear at the appointment, the applying guardian should confirm the current Department of State instructions and consular or acceptance-facility requirements. A missing notarization, identification copy, or related application document can prevent acceptance.

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