The DS-3053 Passport Form and the California Notary

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Key Takeaways

• Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) is a federal form required when one parent cannot appear in person to apply for a minor’s passport
• The form requires notarization. The notary section on the form must be completed fully
• California notary rules still apply: verify identity, record in journal, charge your fee
• The form must be notarized within 90 days of the passport application date

What Form DS-3053 Does

When a child under 16 needs a US passport, both parents generally must appear in person at the passport acceptance facility. If one parent cannot appear, the absent parent completes Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16. This form must be notarized.

The form is a federal document issued by the Department of State. It has its own notary section that must be completed in a specific way. The notary fills in their commission information, affixes their seal, and signs. The form also requires the consenting parent to provide a photocopy of the front and back of their ID.

How to Notarize the DS-3053

The parent who is giving consent appears before you in person. They bring the completed DS-3053 form (filled out but not yet signed in the notary section) and their identification. You verify their identity using the same California requirements (Civil Code section 1185): a California driver’s license, US passport, or other acceptable ID.

The parent signs the form in your presence. You complete the notary section on the form, which asks for your commission expiration date, the date of notarization, your seal, and your signature. Then you record the notarization in your journal.

One important detail: the DS-3053 must be notarized within 90 days of when the passport application is submitted. If the notarization is older than 90 days, the Department of State will reject it. You do not control when the parent submits the application, but you can mention this requirement.

Common Problems

The form comes pre-printed with its own notarial certificate. Do not attach a separate California notarial certificate. Use the notary section built into the DS-3053. Federal forms sometimes have slightly different language than California’s standard certificates, but you complete the notary section as printed.

Some parents want to sign the form at home and bring it to you already signed. The signature must be made in your presence for you to notarize it. If they signed it beforehand, they need to re-sign it in front of you.

Make sure the parent has filled in all their information on the form before you notarize. Blank fields in the parent information section can cause the Department of State to reject the form, requiring the parent to come back to you for a new notarization.

Fee

The standard $15 fee per Government Code section 8211(a) applies to notarizing the DS-3053. This is an acknowledgment, and one signature is involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I use a California notarial certificate or the one on the form?

Use the notary section printed on the DS-3053. The Department of State designed the form with its own notary block. Complete that section rather than attaching a loose certificate.

Can I notarize for a parent who has an out-of-state ID?

Yes. California accepts out-of-state driver’s licenses and IDs as satisfactory evidence of identity under Civil Code section 1185, as long as the ID is current or issued within the past five years and contains a photograph, physical description, and signature.

What if both parents appear before me?

If both parents are applying in person at the passport facility, no DS-3053 is needed. The form is only for the parent who cannot appear. If someone brings you a DS-3053 and both parents are standing there, the form may not be necessary.

Does the 90-day rule mean I should date it differently?

No. Never backdate or postdate a notarization. Record the actual date of the notarization. The 90-day clock is the parent’s responsibility. Advise them to submit the passport application promptly.

Can a non-parent sign the DS-3053?

The DS-3053 is specifically for a parent or legal guardian who cannot appear. If a non-parent needs to consent, different State Department procedures apply, and a DS-3053 is not the correct form.