Passport Denial Based on Unpaid Child Support
A U.S. citizen may be prevented from obtaining a passport if child support arrears exceed a specific federal threshold, which is currently set at $2,500 but may change over time. If the total unpaid child support meets or exceeds this amount, federal law instructs the State Department to deny the individual’s passport application. A parent generally must reduce the arrears below the threshold or otherwise resolve the issue with the relevant child support enforcement office before the passport denial status can be reconsidered.
The authority to deny passports to individuals behind on child support payments stems from a provision in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This federal measure ensures that a passport may be refused if a person’s unpaid child support meets or exceeds the sum established by federal guidelines.
Tracking Unpaid Child Support
Local or state child support enforcement offices track amounts owed. When child support debt surpasses the applicable threshold, these offices submit information about the delinquent balance and the individual to the Department of Health and Human Services. That department then provides these details to the State Department, which operates under instructions to deny passports for persons whose arrears remain unresolved. The child support debt information remains on file until it is confirmed that the person no longer owes the specified amount or has satisfied the conditions required to address the debt.
Revocation of Existing Passports
Existing passports may be subject to revocation or certain restrictions. This often becomes relevant if the government takes physical possession of the passport during a renewal or other process. If child support enforcement authorities confirm that the individual owes arrears equal to or exceeding the federal threshold, and those arrears have been reported to federal agencies, the passport’s validity may be jeopardized until the specified child support obligations have been addressed.
Resolution Through Payment or Formal Arrangement
A parent’s name remains on the passport denial list until the issue is satisfactorily resolved. Each state may have its own requirements for how arrears should be remedied. Some states are satisfied if the debt is brought below the threshold, while others may require a structured payment plan or a full settlement agreement. Child support enforcement offices generally insist on legally recognized or court-approved arrangements. Partial payments toward a recognized plan may be acceptable in many jurisdictions, provided the office formally approves the payment schedule or agreement. Once the child support office determines that the conditions have been met, it notifies the Department of Health and Human Services to remove the individual from the denial list.
Impact on New Passport Applications
If an application is filed while the name remains on the child support arrears list, the State Department issues a denial. In many situations, the denied application is held for up to 90 days from the date of the denial notice. If, within that period, the child support office notifies federal authorities that the arrears have been reduced or otherwise legally resolved, the existing application may proceed. If the individual is unable to resolve the debt and secure removal from the list within that timeframe, a new application is usually required.
Obligations in Multiple States
If a person owes child support in more than one state, clearing arrears in one jurisdiction does not affect the status in another. Each state’s child support enforcement office independently verifies that its legal thresholds and requirements have been met before instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to remove a person’s name from the list. Different states can have different procedures, payment plan guidelines, and documentation requirements.
Removal From the Passport Denial List
When all outstanding child support debts are properly addressed in each relevant state, the child support enforcement offices notify federal authorities. The individual’s name is then removed from the national arrears list, allowing passport applications to be processed without denial. If this occurs while a denied application is being temporarily held, the State Department may proceed with that application. Otherwise, once removed from the list, a new application may be submitted and will generally be evaluated without regard to any prior denial.
