The United States Department of State has warned that citizens who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support risk having their passports revoked under existing federal regulations.

In a statement published on its official website on Thursday, the department said individuals with significant child support debts are not eligible to obtain or renew a US passport until the outstanding amount is settled.

According to the statement, affected individuals are advised to immediately contact their state child support agency to arrange payment plans and avoid losing their travel documents.

“If you owe more than $2,500, federal regulations do not allow us to issue you a U.S. passport and we may revoke your valid U.S. passport,” the department stated.

The agency explained that those affected would receive revocation notices either through email or via the mailing address linked to their most recent passport application.

It also noted that indebted parents must resolve the issue with the state where the child support debt is owed before becoming eligible again for passport services.

The department clarified that even after repayment, a revoked passport cannot be reused for travel, meaning affected individuals would still need to apply for a new passport.

In addition, it warned that the process of clearing a debtor’s name from government records may take at least two to three weeks after payment has been made.

“If you have urgent travel, be aware the process for your state and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove your name from its records may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks,” the statement added.

The State Department further explained that US citizens abroad whose passports are revoked over unpaid child support would only qualify for limited-validity passports that permit direct return travel to the United States until the debt is cleared and verified.

It also stated that individuals who have already submitted passport applications must first settle all outstanding child support obligations before their applications can proceed.

According to the department, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for notifying the State Department once a debtor’s name has been removed from its records following repayment.

The policy is based on a federal law enacted in 1996, which authorises the denial or revocation of passports for individuals owing more than $2,500 in child support.

While the law has existed for nearly three decades, the State Department previously focused mainly on cases identified during passport renewal applications. However, improved data-sharing systems between the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department now allow for broader identification and enforcement against defaulters.