Both parents do have to be present when obtaining a passport for a child. If one parent cannot be present during the post office visit, he/she must sign and notarize a DS-3053.
This is a consent form that authorizes the other parent to obtain a passport for their child. If the other parent is deceased, the living parent will need to submit his/her death decree with their child’s passport application as proof that the father/mother is no longer living. If the other parent is incarcerated, the living parent will need to get a notarized letter and custody papers from the court stating that he/she has sole custody for the child. If the other parent is non-existent in the child’s life, the mother/father will need to get a signed and notarized letter and custody papers from the court stating the absent parent has had no relationship with their child and he/she has sole custody.
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