Thousands Of US Travelers May Lose Their Passports Over This Type Of Unpaid Debt

There are many crucial mistakes to avoid when renewing your passport, and now there's a new one:  The U.S. Department of State is set to begin revoking passports of thousands of Americans who owe unpaid child support, starting with those who have the largest debts. 

The action, announced by the State Department in May 2026, first targeted parents who owed $100,000 or more in court-ordered child support. Approximately 2,700 American passport holders fall into this category, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (via AP). But officials have expanded the program to include anyone owing more than $2,500, which is the threshold established in a 1996 federal law that had seen limited enforcement, but that now could affect many more thousands of people. The original restrictions also applied mainly to those seeking passport renewal, but under the new approach, HHS will notify the State Department of all qualifying past-due cases, leading to revocation of existing valid passports. 

State Department officials described the move (to AP) as an expansion of "a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt." Once these debts are resolved, affected individuals can regain passport eligibility and take action as soon as possible to get a new passport in time for their travels.

According to the State Department, the program aims to "support American families and strengthen compliance" with child support obligations. Since the expansion was first reported in February 2026, the State Department told AP that hundreds of parents have acted to clear their outstanding payments, and that data showed the broader effort from the 1996 law had recovered more than $650 million in overdue payments. This includes more than $150 million from 24,000 lump-sum payments within the past five years alone.

Americans facing potential passport revocation due to child support debt have been provided with clear pathways to resolve the issue and restore eligibility on the State Department's travel website. The first step is to contact the state child support agency where the debt is owed to arrange payment or establish a repayment plan. Bringing the account into compliance according to HHS records will allow the State Department to lift restrictions on applying for a new passport. 

Notices of revocation will be sent directly to passport holders using the email or mailing address on file from their most recent application. Once notified, individuals cannot use the revoked passport for any type of travel. Those already abroad when revocation occurs must contact a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a limited-validity emergency travel document for return to the United States. 

Eligibility for a new or renewed passport will be restored only after the debt is paid down below the $2,500 threshold and the individual's name is cleared from the HHS list of offenders. The process of updating records between state agencies can take a minimum of two to three weeks, so those with imminent travel plans are urged to take action immediately. And while you're at it, you can check on the passport validity of a minor.