The U.S. State Department Will Start Revoking Passports for Parents Who Owe Child Support – What Does this Mean for Passport Holders?
The Associated Press has reported that the United States Department of State will begin more seriously enforcing legislation from the 1990s related to unpaid child support and passport privileges. The Department of State initially announced that their enforcement actions would focus on individuals owing more than $100,000 in overdue child support. The announcement on May 7, 2026, clearly expanded that initial focus to any individual owing more than $2,500 in overdue child support.
So take a minute now. Might you owe more than $2,500 in child support? Might your ex argue that you owe more than $2,500? Suddenly, you are in a whole, new kind of jeopardy.
How Will People Be Notified?
Passport holders with child support arrearages should be on the lookout for notification from the State Department via email or at the mailing address on their most recent passport application. The State Department will notify those passport holders via email or at their mailing address that their passport has been revoked.
Can Revoked Passports Be Reissued?
If a passport holder receives notice that their passport has been revoked due to nonpayment of child support, they must contact the state agency where their child support debt is located and make an immediate payment. However, the passport will not be reissued until the associated state agency and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated their records and removed the passport holder’s name from their records. The process can take at least two to three weeks. Once a passport is revoked, it cannot be used for travel into or out of the United States – a new passport will be needed.
What if the Passport Holder Has Upcoming Travel Planned?
The State Department has advised that if a passport holder with child support debt has upcoming travel planned, they should immediately pay their child support debt in full to avoid issues with their passport. If the passport holder is already abroad when they are notified that their passport has been revoked, they will have to travel to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a limited-validity passport for direct return to the United States until HHS verifies repayment of the debt. This means that you will likely be stuck in the foreign country until your asserted debt is paid.
How Can The Manely Firm Help You?
We can help review your child support obligations and ensure that you are up-to-date on payments and making the correct payments so that you are not caught off guard by an unexpected email from the Department of State. We can help you with the Child Support Recovery agency in keeping you off of the revocation list. For example, if you travel internationally for work and that is how you pay your child support, we can demonstrate the wisdom of keeping you off of the list to facilitate your child support payment.
We can also help parents who are owed child support ensure that the outstanding child support obligation is filed with the court and appropriate actions are taken up the chain of command to encourage compliance with child support orders.
Remember from the perspective of the United States, Department of State, child support is a right and an obligation; international travel is a privilege. The Department of State is known for not playing around. Take action now before action is taken against you!
Emily Johnston
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