Form DS-5525 — Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances

What is Form DS-5525?

Passport applications for children under 16 require both parents' or legal guardians' signatures, unless the parent who isn't applying provides a notarized, written statement of consent (Form DS-3053). Form DS-5525, Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, is for the case where that consent can't be obtained. The U.S. Department of State says to use it only if you cannot obtain the notarized, written consent of a parent or legal guardian with legal custody of the child.

Your statement has to show why two-parent consent is unobtainable. The form describes two situations: an exigent circumstance, a time-sensitive emergency where not getting a passport would jeopardize the child's health, welfare or safety, or separate the child from the rest of their traveling party; and a special family circumstance, where the family situation makes it exceptionally difficult or impossible for a parent to provide the notarized consent. Completing the form doesn't guarantee a passport will be issued.

FileIt walks you through the DS-5525 in plain English and prints your answers on the State Department's own PDF (edition 01/2026): names in capitals in the Last, First, Middle order the form asks for, dates as MM-DD-YYYY, and your contact attempts row by row. Accented and non-English names print correctly. You then print it and sign it in black ink. FileIt never submits anything to the State Department.

Who needs to fill out Form DS-5525?

• A parent applying for a passport for a child under 16 when the other parent or legal guardian can't be found or won't respond, so a notarized Form DS-3053 isn't possible.
• A parent facing a time-sensitive emergency, where the child's health, welfare or safety depends on getting a passport, or the child would be separated from the rest of the traveling party.
• A parent whose family situation makes it exceptionally difficult or impossible for the other parent to give notarized consent.
• A parent whose child's other parent is incarcerated and can't reach a notary or send mail, for example held in solitary or overseas where the prison has no notary.
• Not needed if you have a current court order showing full or sole legal custody, or granting permission to get the passport: submit that order with the application instead.

When to use Form DS-5525

• When you apply in person for the child's passport with Form DS-11 and only one parent or guardian can take part.
• After you have genuinely tried to reach the other parent and obtain their consent, by mail, phone, email, social media or through relatives and friends.
• When a non-applying parent is incarcerated. Otherwise, the form says, consent on Form DS-3053 or a court order is still required.

What you need before you start

• The child's full name and date of birth.
• Your own full name as the applying parent or legal guardian.
• The other parent's name, date of birth, other names used, and last known phone, email and address, as much as you know.
• Whether any court, in the U.S. or abroad, has issued an order that mentions the child's custody or travel, and a certified copy of the most recent one if so.
• Whether the other parent is incarcerated, and evidence of it if so, such as a court letter, the incarceration order or the online inmate locator page.
• A record of your attempts to contact the other parent: how many times, roughly when and the result, by mail, phone, email and social media.
• Names and details of any relatives or friends you asked for help reaching them.
• A printer and a black pen to sign.

What’s on Form DS-5525

The 2026 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts:

1. Child and applying parentApplying parent / legal guardian
2. 4. The non-applying parent / legal guardianApplying parent / legal guardian
3. Court orders, incarceration and last contactApplying parent / legal guardian
4. 8. Your attempts to contact the non-applying parent / legal guardianApplying parent / legal guardian
5. 9-10. Your statement and oathApplying parent / legal guardian

How to fill out Form DS-5525, step by step

1 1-3. The child and you

Give the child's name and date of birth, then your own name as the applying parent or legal guardian. FileIt prints the names in the Last, First, Middle order the form asks for.

2 4. The non-applying parent

Fill in the other parent's or guardian's name, date of birth, other names used, telephone, email and address. The form asks you to answer as fully as you can: if you're not sure of an exact address, give the street name, city or state.

3 5-6. Court orders and incarceration

Say whether any court has issued an order or decree mentioning the child's custody or travel (for example a divorce decree, custody, protection, stay-away, restraining or guardianship order); if yes, submit a certified copy of the most recent one. Say whether the other parent is currently incarcerated; if yes, submit evidence.

4 7-8. Your contact with the other parent

Describe when and how you last communicated with them. Then, for mail, phone, email and social media, give the number of attempts, approximate dates and the result. If you tried through a relative or friend, give their name, relationship, address, phone, dates and result (two people fit on the form).

5 9. Your statement

Explain in detail how you tried to obtain consent and why you couldn't, using your answers to questions 5-8. About seven lines fit on the form; FileIt tells you if your text is longer, so you can shorten it and continue on a separate sheet of paper.

6 10. Oath and signature

Print the form, sign it in black ink and date it. You are declaring under penalty of perjury that everything in the statement is true and correct. The form says not to correct mistakes: complete a new form instead.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the DS-5525 when the other parent could sign a notarized DS-3053. It is only for when that consent can't be obtained.
• Leaving questions blank. The form asks you to answer every question to the best of your knowledge; missing information can delay processing.
• Forgetting the certified copy of a court order, or the evidence of incarceration, when you answer Yes to question 5 or 6.
• A vague statement. Explain the specific emergency or family circumstance and what you did to reach the other parent.
• Correcting an error on the printed form. Fill in a new one.
• Using it for a child aged 16 or 17. It is for children under 16.

After you fill it out

Print the statement, sign and date it in black ink, and bring it with the child's Form DS-11 and the other documents the passport application needs when you apply in person.

Attach a certified copy of the most recent court order, and any evidence of incarceration, if you answered Yes to question 5 or 6. Continue any long answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Keep a copy. FileIt saves the finished PDF in the child's vault folder. For passport questions, the form lists the National Passport Information Center (1-877-487-2778) and travel.state.gov.

Form DS-5525: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5525.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html
• Edition shown on this page: DS-5525 01/2026 (OMB 1405-0216, expires 12/31/2028) (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

Related forms

All United States forms · Every form FileIt can fill