On a U.S. passport application, parental information goes in Item 10 on page 2 of Form DS-11, and every applicant fills it in, not just parents applying for a child. Each parent gets an identical block asking for full name, last name at that parent’s birth, date and place of birth, sex, and U.S. citizenship status. The State Department uses those details to verify your identity and, for children, to confirm citizenship through a parent. Getting the fields right the first time is how you avoid the delays that come from a mismatch between the form and your supporting documents.
Where the Parental Section Appears on DS-11
Form DS-11 is the application for first-time adult applicants, for anyone applying for a child under 16, and for anyone who doesn’t qualify to renew by mail on Form DS-82.1U.S. Department of State. Passport Forms Item 10, on page 2, contains two identical blocks labeled “Mother/Father/Parent.” One block goes to each parent. The blocks are the same regardless of which parent you list first.
Field by Field: What to Enter in Each Parent Block
Each block asks for the following:
- First and middle name. Use the parent’s full legal first and middle names.
- Last name at parent’s birth. This is the parent’s original surname before any marriage or court-ordered change. The label is the same for both parents, not just the mother.
- Date of birth. Use mm/dd/yyyy.
- Place of birth. City, state (if in the U.S.), and country.
- Sex. Male or female.
- U.S. citizen. Yes or no. If yes and the parent was born abroad, additional fields ask for citizenship documentation such as a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or naturalization certificate number.
The wording that trips people up most often is “Last Name (at Parent’s Birth).” It is not the same as “maiden name,” and it applies to both parents. Enter the surname that appears on that parent’s own birth certificate, even if the parent later changed their name through marriage, divorce, or court order. This applies to fathers who took a spouse’s name, same-sex parents, and anyone else whose current legal surname differs from their birth surname.
Adults Fill Out the Parental Section Too
A common misconception is that Item 10 is only for children’s applications. It isn’t. Every DS-11 applicant completes the parent blocks, including adults and including applicants whose parents have died.2Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions – Passport Application Enter what you know about each parent as accurately as you can. A death certificate is not required simply because a parent has died.
If a parent is genuinely unknown, write “UNKNOWN” in the relevant fields. That alone will not block a passport from being issued, but expect the acceptance agent to ask follow-up questions and expect processing to run slower.3U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
When a Parent’s Name Has Changed Since the Applicant’s Birth
This is where a surprising number of applications stall. The names you write for the parents on the DS-11 have to reconcile with the applicant’s birth certificate and with each parent’s current photo ID. Those three sources often disagree because parents change names through marriage, divorce, or court order between the applicant’s birth and the day of the appointment.
The “Last Name (at Parent’s Birth)” field exists to handle exactly this gap. Fill it with the parent’s original surname (typically what shows on the child’s birth certificate under that parent’s name). If that parent’s current legal name differs from what appears on the birth certificate, bring a document that bridges the two: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the change.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport Where none of those documents exists, the parent may need to complete Form DS-60, an affidavit regarding the name change, supported by three certified or original public records showing the new name has been in use for at least five years.
Adoption and Children Born Abroad
Adoptive parents list themselves in Item 10 as the child’s parents. The adoption decree takes the place of the original birth certificate when proving the parent-child relationship at the counter.3U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
For a child born abroad who claims U.S. citizenship through a parent, complete Item 10 the ordinary way and check “Yes” for the U.S. citizen parent. At the appointment you’ll also need the child’s foreign birth certificate showing the parents, the U.S. citizen parent’s proof of citizenship, the parents’ marriage certificate if applicable, and a statement of when and where the parents lived in the U.S. and abroad before the child’s birth.5U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
Match What You Wrote Against the Documents You’ll Bring
Everything you enter in Item 10 needs to line up with what you hand the acceptance agent. The primary document is the applicant’s birth certificate, which must be an original or certified copy issued by the city, county, or state and must show the applicant’s full name, date and place of birth, both parents’ full names, the registrar’s signature, and a filing date within one year of birth.5U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
Before you leave for the appointment, sit down with the DS-11 and the birth certificate (or adoption decree) side by side. Read across each field. The errors that come up most often are misspelled parent names, transposed digits in a parent’s birth date, and a parent’s married name written into the “Last Name (at Parent’s Birth)” field. Any of those will get flagged at the counter, and by that point you’ve already paid a non-refundable acceptance fee.
Documents in a language other than English must come with a complete English translation and a signed certification from the translator stating they are competent in both languages, that the translation is accurate, and giving their name, address, and the date. The translator does not have to be a professional, but the certification must be attached.
Do Not Sign the Form Before Your Appointment
Complete every field of the DS-11 at home except the signature. The acceptance agent has to witness you sign as part of the oath. A form signed in advance can be rejected, and you’ll fill out a new one at the counter. Leave the signature block blank until you’re standing in front of the agent.
One last note on scope: Item 10 is about identifying the parents on paper. The separate question of who has to appear in person and consent to a child’s application (both parents for a child under 16, with Form DS-3053 or DS-5525 in specific circumstances) is governed by other rules and doesn’t change how you fill in the parental fields themselves.