Can One Parent Get a Passport without the Other? | The Real Paths That Work

One parent can still secure a child’s U.S. passport when consent is documented with the right form or legal proof.

Parents hit this question when a trip is on the calendar and the family paperwork isn’t tidy. Sometimes the other parent lives far away. Sometimes contact is tense. Sometimes there’s a custody order, a safety issue, or a parent who can’t be found.

The U.S. passport process has guardrails meant to reduce child abduction risk. That’s why many child passport applications start with “both parents, in person.” Still, the rules also spell out clear routes when only one parent can move the application forward.

This article walks you through those routes in plain English. You’ll know when one parent can apply, what counts as proof, which forms get used, and how to avoid delays that can wreck travel plans.

Can One Parent Get a Passport without the Other? What U.S. Rules Allow

If the child is under 16, the default rule is two parents or legal guardians giving consent. “Consent” usually means both show up with the child at the acceptance facility. If one can’t, the process shifts to documents that stand in for that parent’s in-person consent.

If the child is 16 or 17, the rules loosen. The teen can apply with their own ID, and the State Department wants proof that at least one parent or legal guardian knows the teen is applying. That can be done a few different ways, which we’ll cover later.

So the honest answer is: a single parent can sometimes get a passport issued without the other parent present, but only through specific pathways. Your job is to pick the pathway that matches your situation and bring the paperwork that proves it.

Why two-parent consent exists

Child passport rules aren’t there to make travel harder. They’re there because a passport can enable a child to be taken across borders quickly. The consent requirement is meant to slow down risky situations and create a paper trail when family authority is disputed.

Once you read the rules with that lens, the exceptions make more sense. If you can prove the other parent already consented, can’t legally object, can’t be reached under strict conditions, or no longer has parental rights, the State Department has mechanisms that let the application move forward.

Start by identifying the child’s age group

Children under 16

For under-16 applicants, you should assume two-parent consent is the starting point. Then you decide if you can meet it in person, replace it with a notarized consent form, or replace it with legal documentation that gives you authority to apply alone.

Teens age 16 or 17

For 16- and 17-year-olds, the teen applies on Form DS-11 and usually appears in person. The teen must show one parent or legal guardian is aware of the application. That “awareness” standard is not the same as two-parent consent, and it changes what you need to bring.

The cleanest route when one parent can’t attend

If the other parent agrees but can’t be present, the State Department uses a notarized Statement of Consent: Form DS-3053. This is the most straightforward fix when distance, work schedules, military duty, or travel prevents a parent from attending the appointment.

What DS-3053 needs to work

Think of DS-3053 as “permission on paper,” plus identity proof. The consent form must be notarized, and you must include a copy of the consenting parent’s photo ID that matches what they presented to the notary. The form also has a time window for use, so don’t sign it months early and hope it still flies.

Use the official PDF and follow its instructions closely. Small mismatches—like using a nickname on the form that doesn’t match the ID copy—can trigger a request for more proof or a flat denial.

When you’re ready to download it, use the State Department’s official Form DS-3053 Statement of Consent so you know you have the current version.

Practical tips that save you rework

• Ask the other parent to use the same name format as the child’s birth certificate or adoption decree.
• Make sure the notary section is fully completed, stamped, and dated.
• Include a clear photocopy of the ID used with the notary, front and back if the ID has content on both sides.
• Bring the original notarized DS-3053 to the appointment, not a scan.

When you can apply without consent because you have sole authority

Some parents can apply without the other parent’s consent because the law already gives them full decision-making power for passports. That authority must be proven with documents that show you alone have legal custody, or that a court specifically gave you the right to apply for a passport.

Documents that often establish sole authority

These are the types of records that commonly satisfy the “one parent can act alone” standard. The acceptance agent and the State Department still review what you provide, so bring the strongest proof you have.

• A court order granting you sole legal custody, or granting you sole authority to apply for a passport.
• A court order that permits passport issuance or international travel without the other parent’s participation.
• A certified birth certificate or adoption decree that lists only you as the parent.
• A certified death certificate if the other parent is deceased.
• A judicial declaration that the other parent is incompetent, when it clearly affects legal consent.

When you rely on a court order, bring the full order, not a single page. Agents need to see the language that spells out decision-making power, and the State Department needs a record that stands on its own.

Table: One-parent passport routes and what each one needs

The table below helps you pick the pathway that matches your situation and the proof that usually moves it forward.

Situation	What usually works	What to bring
Other parent agrees but can’t attend	Notarized consent route	Original DS-3053 + photocopy of that parent’s photo ID used for notarization
You have sole legal custody	Sole authority route	Court order showing sole legal custody (certified copy if available)
Court grants passport authority	Order-based route	Court order stating you may apply for the child’s passport
Other parent is deceased	Death-record route	Certified death certificate + parent-child relationship evidence
Only one parent listed on birth record	Single-parent record route	Certified birth certificate showing only one parent
Other parent can’t be located	Special circumstances route	DS-5525 + documentation showing attempts to contact and why consent can’t be obtained
Safety or urgent situation blocks contact	Special circumstances route	DS-5525 + restraining order, police report, incarceration record, or similar proof
Neither parent can appear with child	Third-party application with consent	DS-3053 (one or both parents) + ID copies + authorized adult appearing with child

When you truly cannot get the other parent’s consent

Some situations don’t fit the neat “sign this form” route. The other parent may be missing, unreachable, or unsafe to contact. In those cases, the State Department has a separate mechanism: Form DS-5525, which is used only in limited situations.

What DS-5525 is really for

DS-5525 is a sworn statement where the applying parent explains why two-parent consent can’t be obtained. The form itself calls for a detailed explanation and states that you must show circumstances that make consent unobtainable.

This route can work, but it’s not automatic. Expect scrutiny. The better your documentation of attempts to reach the other parent and the reason consent can’t be obtained, the smoother it tends to go.

What to gather before you fill it out

DS-5525 is stronger when you pair it with records that show your situation is real and current. Useful items can include:

• Copies of messages sent to last known email, phone, or address.
• Certified court records related to custody, protection orders, or contact restrictions.
• Incarceration records if the other parent is in custody and unreachable for notarized consent.
• Proof of returned mail or failed delivery attempts.
• Any official record that explains why contact is unsafe or impossible.

When you want the official rule wording and the current details, the State Department’s page for applying for a child’s passport under 16 lists the one-parent routes, including DS-3053 and DS-5525.

Step-by-step: Applying for a child under 16 when only one parent is present

Step 1: Prepare the DS-11, but don’t sign it early

Most child passport applications use Form DS-11. Fill it out ahead of time to reduce stress at the appointment, then wait to sign until the acceptance agent tells you to. If you sign at home, you may be told to start over with a new form.

Step 2: Collect citizenship and relationship proof

You’ll need proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship, plus proof of the parent-child relationship. A certified birth certificate often serves both roles when the child was born in the United States, but not always. Adoption decrees and consular records can also apply.

Bring originals plus copies when the rules ask for them. A clean set of copies can stop an appointment from turning into a scramble at the nearest print shop.

Step 3: Bring your own ID and the consent or authority documents

Your ID proves who is applying with the child. The consent or authority documents prove why one parent can proceed. This is where DS-3053, custody orders, death certificates, or DS-5525 land.

Step 4: Get a compliant passport photo

Photos are a quiet source of delays. Use a provider familiar with U.S. passport photo rules, or use a service that follows the current size and background requirements. Check the photo before you leave the store, especially for infants and toddlers.

Step 5: Pay fees using accepted methods

Fees are split between the application fee and the execution fee, and payment methods can differ by location. Many acceptance facilities want a check or money order for part of the total, plus a separate payment for the execution fee. Read the appointment instructions for your facility so you don’t get turned away at the counter.

Step 6: Track your application and respond fast to letters

If the State Department needs more documentation, they send a letter or email. Answer it right away, and send exactly what it asks for. Delays often snowball when a request sits unopened for a week or two.

Table: A one-parent appointment checklist you can print

Use this as a final sweep before you walk out the door. It’s built for the “one parent present” scenario.

Item	Bring	Why it matters
Child’s citizenship proof	Original + copy	Shows the child qualifies for a U.S. passport
Parent-child relationship proof	Certified record	Shows you’re a parent or legal guardian who can apply
Your photo ID	Original + copy	Confirms your identity at the appointment
Consent or authority proof	DS-3053 or legal records	Explains why the other parent is not present
DS-11 application	Completed, unsigned	Saves time and avoids do-overs
Passport photo	One compliant print	Stops photo-based rejection
Payments	Check, money order, card	Prevents appointment failure over payment rules
Mailing plan	Tracking, copies kept	Makes follow-up easier if documents are requested

Special notes for kids with complex family records

Divorce decrees that mention travel, not passports

Some court orders talk about travel, vacations, or who holds the child’s documents. That language may not be enough. Passport authority often needs to be spelled out directly, or the order needs to clearly grant sole legal custody. If your order is vague, ask your attorney whether the court can clarify it in a new order that explicitly covers passport applications.

Joint custody with a cooperative co-parent

If you share legal custody and the other parent agrees, DS-3053 is usually the simplest way to keep things calm. It keeps the other parent involved without forcing them to attend the appointment.

Newborns and infants

Infant passports are common for families visiting relatives abroad. They still follow the same consent rules. Plan extra time for the photo, and double-check that the birth certificate you have is the certified version the passport process requires, not a hospital souvenir copy.

What changes at ages 16 and 17

For 16- and 17-year-olds, the teen can often apply with their own ID. The State Department wants proof that one parent or legal guardian is aware of the application. Awareness can be shown by a parent attending the appointment, or by a signed statement paired with a copy of the parent’s ID.

This is a real difference from the under-16 process. You may not need a notarized DS-3053 route for a 16- or 17-year-old. Still, many families find it smoother when a parent attends, since it reduces questions at the window.

Mistakes that slow one-parent applications

Most delays are boring paperwork issues, not dramatic disputes. Watch for these:

• DS-3053 not notarized, or notarized without the right ID copy attached.
• Bringing a custody order that doesn’t show legal custody terms, or bringing only a partial excerpt.
• Using informal documents in place of certified records.
• Signing DS-11 before the appointment.
• Photo problems: shadows, wrong size, or a baby’s face not visible.
• Wrong payment types for the acceptance facility.

If you’re working under a deadline, plan on zero surprises. Print everything. Bring copies. Keep a folder with a second set of backups. It feels fussy, but it can save weeks.

One more thing: A passport is different from a travel consent letter

Parents also mix up two separate issues: getting the passport issued and crossing a border with a child. Many airlines, border officers, and foreign entry points may ask for a consent letter when a child travels with only one parent. That letter can help, but it is not a substitute for the passport consent rules.

So handle them separately: secure the passport with the State Department’s requirements, then prepare any travel consent letter that your destination, airline, or custody order calls for.

Practical wrap-up for real families

If the other parent agrees, DS-3053 is often the smoothest lane. If you have sole legal custody or a court order giving passport authority, bring certified records and keep your packet clean. If you cannot get consent due to serious circumstances, DS-5525 may apply, and your documentation needs to be thorough and clear.

When you build your application around the correct pathway, a one-parent appointment can go just as smoothly as a two-parent one. The trick is matching your paperwork to your situation, not forcing a generic checklist to fit your family.