US State Department to revoke passports for individuals owing over $2,500 in child support

Federal regulations prohibit the issuance or renewal of a US passport for individuals with outstanding child support debts above this threshold. The department advises those with significant debt to contact their state child support agency immediately to arrange payment and avoid revocation. Affected passport holders will receive revocation notices via email or mail.

Even after repayment, a revoked passport cannot be used for travel, and individuals must apply for a new one. The process for clearing a debtor's name from government records can take a minimum of two to three weeks after payment. US citizens overseas whose passports are revoked due to unpaid child support will only qualify for a limited-validity passport for direct return to the United States until the debt is settled.

This policy is based on a 1996 federal law and improved data-sharing between the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department now allows for more systematic identification and revocation of passports.