U.S. Department of State Edition DS-71 10-2022 (OMB 1405-0088; the expiry printed on the form is 9-30-2026) 2 pages

Form DS-71 — Affidavit of Identifying Witness

The sworn statement a witness gives when a passport applicant can't fully prove who they are.

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Form DS-71 · Affidavit of Identifying Witness
The official U.S. Department of State form, edition DS-71 10-2022 (OMB 1405-0088; the expiry printed on the form is 9-30-2026) — blank
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Form DS-71 (2022) Affidavit of Identifying Witness — page 1 of 2
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Form DS-71 (2022) Affidavit of Identifying Witness — page 2 of 2
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Fill this form online Blank PDF from U.S. Department of State

What is Form DS-71?

Form DS-71, the Affidavit of Identifying Witness, backs up a Form DS-11 passport application when the applicant can't establish their identity to the satisfaction of the passport agent, acceptance agent or consular officer. The applicant still has to show some identification of their own. The witness vouches for them on top of it.

The witness answers items 1 to 10: the applicant's name, how and how long they have known the applicant, and their own name, address, place and date of birth, phone and Social Security number. A witness who has held a U.S. passport also gives its number and approximate issue date. The witness shows their own current government-issued photo ID and includes a photocopy of its front and back.

FileIt fills in the witness's answers on the State Department's own DS-71 so the affidavit is neat and complete before the appointment. Names with letters such as ł, ș or ó print correctly. The applicant's name can be pre-filled from your family vault, and the finished page is saved to the applicant's folder. Signing happens only at the appointment, when the official asks.

Who fills it
The identifying witness, never the passport applicant.
Used with
Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport.
Signed
Only when the same official who accepted the application asks, and in front of them.
Witness brings
Current government-issued photo ID and a photocopy of its front and back.
Edition
DS-71 10-2022 (OMB 1405-0088; printed expiry 9-30-2026)

Who needs to fill out Form DS-71?

  • Passport applicants applying in person on a DS-11 whose identity documents aren't enough on their own.
  • Friends, neighbours, co-workers or relatives asked to vouch for someone at a passport acceptance facility.
  • Families helping an older relative or a young adult who lacks a full set of ID documents.
  • Applicants whose only ID is expired, damaged or doesn't clearly match them, when the official asks for a witness.

When to use Form DS-71

  • When the passport agent, acceptance agent or consular officer says the applicant's ID isn't sufficient and asks for a witness.
  • Fill it in before the appointment, then bring it unsigned.
  • Only alongside a DS-11. It isn't used for mail-in renewals.

What you need before you start

  • The applicant's full name and how long, in years and months, you have known them.
  • Your full name, residential street address, place and date of birth, and phone number.
  • Your Social Security number (voluntary, but leaving it out can slow the application).
  • Your U.S. passport number and issue date, if you have ever had one.
  • Your current government-issued photo ID and a copy of both sides.

What’s on Form DS-71

The 2022 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 2 parts:

  1. Items 1-3: The passport applicant and how you know themIdentifying witness
  2. Items 4-12: About you, the witnessIdentifying witness

How to fill out Form DS-71, step by step

1 Items 1-3: The applicant

Enter the applicant's last, first and middle name, how you know them, and how long you've known them in years and months.

2 Items 4-5: Your name and address

Give your own name and the street address where you live, with city, state and ZIP code.

3 Items 6-9: Birth and contact details

Add your place and date of birth, phone number and Social Security number.

4 Items 10-12: Your passport

Say whether you've ever been issued a U.S. passport. If so, give its number and date of issue, or an approximate date if you don't remember.

5 At the appointment

Bring the printed form and your ID. Sign and date it only when the official asks. They complete the agent's section and record your identification.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Signing the affidavit before the official asks you to.
  • Forgetting the photocopy of the front and back of the witness's photo ID.
  • The applicant filling in the form themselves. It must be completed only by the witness.
  • Bringing an expired ID. The witness needs current government-issued photo identification.
  • Leaving item 12 blank when the exact date is unknown. An approximate date is allowed.

After you fill it out

Print the affidavit and go with the applicant to the appointment, bringing your photo ID and its photocopy.

Sign and date it when the passport agent, acceptance agent or consular officer asks. The official completes their part and keeps it with the DS-11.

Once the passport arrives, the applicant can add it to their FileIt vault to get expiry reminders.

Keep your own note of the date and place of the appointment in case the passport agency follows up with you.

Fill out Form DS-71 online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 18 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Department of State form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form DS-71 now — it’s free

Form DS-71: frequently asked questions

Who can be an identifying witness on a DS-71?

Someone who knows the passport applicant and can show their own current government-issued photo ID. The form asks how and how long they have known the applicant.

Can I sign the DS-71 at home?

No. The form says not to sign unless requested by the authorized passport agent, acceptance agent or consular officer who accepted the application.

Does the witness need a U.S. passport?

No. Item 10 asks whether the witness has ever had one. Only if the answer is yes do items 11 and 12 ask for its number and date of issue.

Is the Social Security number required?

The form says providing information is voluntary, though the passport application may be delayed without it. It is used only to verify the witness's identity.

Does the applicant still need their own ID?

Yes. The form says the passport applicant must still present some identification of their own.

Does FileIt submit the DS-71?

No. FileIt fills the official PDF and saves a copy in your vault. The witness signs it at the appointment.

What ID does the witness need?

Current government-issued photo identification, plus a photocopy of its front and back to include with the form.

Can a relative be the identifying witness?

The form doesn't rule it out. It asks how the witness knows the applicant and for how long, in years and months.

What happens to the affidavit after it's signed?

The official who accepted the passport application completes the agent's section and keeps the affidavit with the DS-11.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of State 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 2026-10-19.

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