The U.S. Department of State says it is stepping up enforcement against parents who owe significant child support, warning that passports may be revoked for individuals with more than $2,500 in outstanding court-ordered payments.
In a statement released May 7, 2026, the department said it is using what it described as “commonsense tools” to strengthen compliance with child support obligations and ensure financial support for children.
Under existing U.S. law, individuals who owe more than $2,500 in child support can be deemed ineligible for a passport. The State Department said it is now working more closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify cases of significant delinquency and enforce restrictions, including passport revocation.
Once a passport is revoked, it cannot be used for international travel. Eligibility for a new passport can only be restored after the debt is paid in full and the individual is cleared by state child support enforcement agencies.
“Any American with significant child support debt should arrange payment… to prevent passport revocation,” the department said, adding that the measure is intended to support the welfare of children and ensure compliance with existing federal law.
The announcement is likely to have relevance for U.S. citizens in immigrant communities, including Caribbean-origin families, where cross-border travel and dual nationality are common. However, the policy applies only to U.S. passport holders and not to lawful permanent residents, who typically travel using their country of citizenship’s passport.
The enforcement expansion comes as federal agencies increase coordination on child support compliance, a long-standing but now more actively enforced requirement under U.S. law.
