DS-3053 Consent Form: Getting It Notarised or Witnessed in Australia

When a parent cannot attend their child's US passport appointment, they may need to sign Form DS-3053 before a certified notary public or passport-authorising officer. In Australia, an Australian notary is the practical local option. Do not assume a Justice of the Peace is sufficient unless the US post handling the application confirms that in writing.

Key takeaways

• The DS-3053 is the Statement of Consent an American parent signs when they cannot attend their child's passport appointment.
• Current US State Department guidance requires the consent to be signed before a certified notary public or passport-authorising officer.
• The consent is valid for 90 days from the date it is notarised.
• Use the form's MM-DD-YYYY date format, make sure the parent and notary dates match, and attach a copy of the front and back of the photo ID shown.
• Use one form for each child and an unrelated notary. Ask the receiving US post before signing if its instructions differ.

What the form is

The current edition of the form (DS-3053, 10-2024) is titled Statement of Consent: U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child. The United States normally wants both parents to consent to a passport for a child under 16, and the DS-3053 is how an absent parent gives that consent in writing. It accompanies the child's DS-11 application when one parent cannot appear in person. The consent must be signed and sworn before a passport-authorising officer or notary. The form can also be requested for some 16- and 17-year-old applicants.

The form says a separate notarised written statement containing all the same details may be submitted instead of the form itself. In practice, using the form is simpler: it prompts for everything the passport officer looks for.

Who can notarise it in Australia

The current US State Department guidance for children under 16 says the absent parent should sign the DS-3053 before a certified notary public. The official DS-3053 form also allows a passport-authorising officer. For a parent signing in Australia, an Australian notary is the clearest local match.

A Justice of the Peace performs useful domestic witnessing and certification work, but is not the same office as an Australian notary. Because the current national US instructions call for notarisation, do not rely on a JP unless the particular US embassy, consulate or passport office receiving the application confirms in writing that it will accept one. See notary or JP.

The standard DS-3053 instructions do not direct applicants to obtain an apostille. If the receiving office specifically asks for authentication of the Australian notary's signature, confirm the requirement before arranging it. See apostille for the USA.

Situation	Who can notarise or authorise	Apostille?
Application at a US post in Australia; absent parent in Australia	Australian notary or US passport-authorising officer	Not required by the standard form instructions
Application lodged in the United States; parent in Australia	Australian notary, subject to the receiving office's instructions	Only if the receiving office specifically requests it
Absent parent living in the United States	A US notary there	Not usually relevant
Absent parent in a third country	As the US embassy there directs; sometimes only the embassy	Check that post's page

The details that get a DS-3053 rejected

The form is short. The rejections come from small things.

1. It is more than 90 days old. The form says consent is valid for 90 days from the date it is notarised. Sign it no more than 90 days before the appointment, and if the appointment moves, check the date again.
2. The dates do not match. The parent's date and the witness's date must match. Sign in front of the witness, not before. See what to do if you already signed.
3. The dates use the wrong order. The current form labels its date fields MM-DD-YYYY. In Australia, 04/05 commonly means 4 May; on the US form it means April 5. Follow the printed format in every date field.
4. The ID details are missing. Complete the identifying-document fields and bring the original government-issued photo ID to the appointment so the notary can verify it.
5. No copy of that ID is attached. The official guidance requires a clear photocopy of the front and back of the photo ID shown to the notary. Use the same document.
6. The witness is a relative. The form says the notary must not be related to the person signing. Choose an independent witness.

At the appointment

The absent parent, not the applying parent, attends. Bring:

• the DS-3053, filled in but unsigned;
• the photo ID they will show, such as an Australian passport, US passport or driver licence;
• a photocopy of both sides of that ID;
• the child's details as they appear on the DS-11.

The parent swears or affirms and signs in front of the notary, who completes the notarial section, verifies the ID, signs, dates and applies the required notarial details. The applying parent then brings the signed original and the ID copy to the child's passport appointment, where the DS-11 itself is signed before the authorised officer. See ID a notary will accept.

How much does DS-3053 notarisation cost?

The price is not set by the US form. It depends on the Australian notary's professional fee, the number of signatures, whether an office or mobile appointment is required, and whether the family asks for urgent service, extra copies or delivery. Ask for a written quote before booking and identify the document as a DS-3053 for a US passport application.

An apostille, courier service and consular fee are separate items; they are not automatically part of the notarisation fee. The standard DS-3053 instructions do not call for an apostille, so do not pay for one merely because the document will be used overseas. Arrange additional authentication only if the receiving US office specifically requires it.

Can the form be notarised by video?

Do not assume that a video appointment will work from Australia. US guidance may accept an electronically notarised consent where the relevant law permits it, but that does not make every Australian notarial act remotely available or acceptable to every receiving post. The Australian notary must first confirm that the particular act may be performed remotely, and the US office must agree to accept the resulting form. An in-person appointment is the safer default when time is limited.

Timing the signature

Because the consent runs from the witness's signature, the order of events matters. Book the child's passport appointment first, then have the absent parent sign within the window before it. If the appointment is rescheduled, count again from the witness's date, not from the date you first filled in the form.

What the notary does not do

A notary handling a DS-3053 identifies the signer, witnesses the signature, administers the oath or affirmation, and completes the notarial section. The notary does not decide whether the child is eligible for a US passport, resolve custody questions or decide whether the application satisfies every passport requirement. The applying parent takes the form to the passport appointment. For sole custody, a missing parent or a disputed arrangement, follow the State Department's evidence rules and obtain family-law advice where needed.

When the absent parent is not in Australia

If the other parent lives in the United States, they sign before a US notary there. If they are in a third country, the form's own instruction applies: some countries require the DS-3053 to be notarised at the US embassy or consulate rather than by a local notary. They should check the US embassy page for the country they are in.

When a DS-3053 is not the right document

The DS-3053 is for a parent who agrees but cannot attend. If a parent has sole legal custody, cannot be located, or does not agree, the State Department describes other routes, for example evidence of sole custody, or a separate statement explaining special family circumstances. Read the US Embassy's guidance for your case. Where there is a dispute about the child's passport or travel, speak to a family lawyer before applying; an Australian parenting order may also be relevant.

The DS-3053 consents to the passport being issued. It is not a travel consent letter. For international travel with one parent, see child travel consent.

Here is an illustration, not a real case

A family in Melbourne books their daughter's US passport appointment at the consulate. The father cannot attend because of work. Five weeks before the appointment, he takes the unsigned DS-3053, his driver licence and a clear copy of both sides to an Australian notary. He signs in front of the notary, both use the form's MM-DD-YYYY date format, and the notary completes the notarial section. His wife takes the original form and ID copy to the child's appointment. This is an illustration only; the family should still check the receiving post's current instructions.

In short

For a DS-3053 signed in Australia, use an Australian notary or a US passport-authorising officer unless the receiving US post gives different written instructions. Sign in front of the official, use the printed MM-DD-YYYY format, attach a copy of both sides of the photo ID shown, and lodge the consent within its 90-day validity period.

Related questions

• Do US visa documents need a notary?
• Is an Australian notary the same as a US notary?
• What documents do I need to renew a foreign passport?
• What documents does dual citizenship need?
• Which forms need a notary rather than a JP?

Need help arranging the appointment? Send us the form, the US post handling the application, the signing parent's country, the passport appointment date and any recipient instructions so the notarial steps can be confirmed before you book.