Department of State July 26, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Department of State regulations, all parents or legal guardians of a U.S. passport applicant under 16 years old must appear in person to execute the minor's passport application unless the applying parent can demonstrate sole authority to obtain the passport. If one parent or legal guardian is unable to appear in person to execute the minor's application, such parent must provide a notarized statement/affidavit giving consent to the issuance of a U.S. passport to the minor. The Department will now allow a non-applying parent to sign the statement of consent before a notary public, or a passport specialist at one of the public passport agency/center counters located within the United States in circumstances that will be outlined by Department policy. This alternative to signing before a notary public will provide more flexibility for the non-applying parent, will improve the customer experience, and eliminate the added burden, time, and cost to the customer of seeking the services of a notary public. Department of State Form DS-3053, which is used to obtain the written consent from the parent or legal guardian of a minor passport applicant when they cannot be present at the time the application is executed, is being revised to be consistent with this rulemaking.