Do Both Parents Need to Be Present to Renew a Child’s Passport?

For a child under 16, yes — both parents generally need to be present to renew a child’s passport, and federal rules at 22 CFR 51.28 require both parents or legal guardians to sign the application in person at an acceptance facility.¹ When one parent can’t make it, a notarized consent form fills the gap. When neither can, a third party can go in their place with the right paperwork. And in a few specific family situations, one parent can apply alone.

One thing to know before you start: there is no mail-in renewal for children under 16. Every passport for a child in this age range is a first-time application, filed on Form DS-11 in person, even if the child already has a passport that’s about to expire.² That in-person requirement is exactly what triggers the two-parent rule.

Why Both Parents Are Required

The two-parent consent requirement exists to prevent one parent from taking a child out of the country without the other knowing. It applies whether the parents are married, divorced, or were never married. What matters is who is listed on the child’s birth certificate or holds legal guardianship.

At the appointment, both parents show up with the child, present valid government-issued photo ID, and sign Form DS-11 in front of the acceptance agent.² If both parents don’t appear and no substitute documentation is provided, the application will be delayed or denied.

When One Parent Cannot Appear

The absent parent can consent in writing using Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent. That parent signs it in front of a certified notary public. If they’re overseas, a U.S. embassy or consulate can do the notarization instead.²

Along with the notarized DS-3053, include a photocopy of the front and back of the government-issued photo ID the absent parent presented to the notary.³ The notarized form must be submitted within three months of the notarization date, so don’t sign it too far ahead of the appointment.²

Notary fees for a standard acknowledgment vary by state, typically running from a few dollars up to $25. Some states don’t cap the fee at all, so call ahead if cost is a concern. Mobile notaries who come to you generally charge more.

When Neither Parent Can Appear

A grandparent, aunt, or other trusted adult can take the child to the appointment, but the third party has to bring notarized consent from both parents (or from the sole custodial parent) specifically authorizing that person to apply on the child’s behalf. The notarized statement can be a DS-3053 from each parent, or a separate notarized letter naming the third party.²

The third party must also bring photocopies of both parents’ government-issued photo IDs. If only one parent is providing consent, the third party needs proof that that parent has sole custody. The same three-month window applies to any notarized statement.²

When One Parent Can Apply Alone

Not every family has two available parents. The State Department recognizes several situations where a single parent can apply without the other’s consent, though each one requires specific documentation.

Sole Legal Custody

A parent with sole legal custody can apply alone by submitting one of the following: a court order granting sole custody, a court order specifically authorizing that parent to obtain the child’s passport, a certified birth certificate listing only one parent, or a certified adoption decree naming only one parent.² The document must be an original or a certified copy. Regular photocopies won’t be accepted.

A common trap: an order that gives one parent “primary physical custody” is not the same as “sole legal custody.” If the other parent retains any legal custody rights, the acceptance agent may still require their consent. Read the court order carefully and look for language about legal decision-making authority, not just where the child lives.

Deceased Parent

The surviving parent presents the other parent’s original or certified death certificate. That establishes that two-parent consent is impossible and allows the surviving parent to proceed alone.² All other application requirements still apply.

Other Parent Cannot Be Located

If one parent genuinely cannot find the other, the applying parent submits Form DS-5525, the Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances. The form asks for a detailed written explanation of why consent is unobtainable, including what efforts you’ve made to reach the other parent — dates, methods, and results.²

Filing DS-5525 doesn’t guarantee approval. The State Department reviews each case individually and may deny the application if the explanation is vague or the search efforts look thin. Be specific, and document every attempt.

The Rule Loosens at 16

The strict two-parent consent requirement applies only to children under 16. For a 16- or 17-year-old, the State Department requires only that a parent or guardian is “aware” the teen is applying, not that both parents formally consent.⁴

Parental awareness can be shown in any of these ways:

One parent appears in person, signs Form DS-11, and provides a photocopy of their ID.
The teen brings a signed statement from a parent along with a photocopy of that parent’s ID.
The teen submits a check or money order with a parent’s name on it.

If parental awareness isn’t clearly established through one of those methods, the State Department may still require a notarized DS-3053 from a parent before issuing the passport.⁴

What to Bring to the Appointment

The child has to be there in person. Bring:

Form DS-11, completed in black ink but not signed. The acceptance agent must witness your signature.²
Proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship. An original or certified birth certificate is the most common.
The child’s most recent passport, if they’ve had one before.
Photo ID for the applying parent or parents (driver’s license, state ID, or passport).
Whichever consent documentation applies: the second parent in person, a notarized DS-3053 with ID copy, a court order, a death certificate, or a DS-5525.
One passport photo meeting State Department specifications. Eyeglasses are not allowed unless a medical condition prevents removal. Hats and head coverings are prohibited unless worn for religious or medical reasons.⁵

Fees for a child’s passport book are $100 in application fees plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility, for a total of $135. A passport card alone is $15 plus the same $35 execution fee.⁶ The application fee has to be a check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of State”; the $35 execution fee is paid separately to the facility, and accepted payment methods vary by location. Both are nonrefundable even if the application is denied.

1
eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors
2
U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
3
U.S. Department of State. Form DS-3053 Statement of Consent
4
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old
5
U.S. Department of State. Passport Photographs
6
U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees