US State Department to Revoke Passports of Parents Owing Over $2,500 in Child Support

The US State Department will begin revoking passports of Americans who owe significant child support.

Parents with more than $2,500 (€1,844) in outstanding payments face passport revocation under the new policy. The department plans to target those with significant outstanding debt.

The State Department described the measure as using commonsense tools to support American families and strengthen compliance with US laws. It enforces parents' legal and moral obligations to their children.

A revoked passport cannot be used for travel. Affected individuals cannot get a new one until they pay off the child support debt, the department said.

"This action supports the welfare of American children by exacting real consequences for child support delinquency under existing federal law," the department said in a statement.

Before this policy, revocation happened only when people with such debt applied to renew their passports.

The State Department will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify debtors and revoke their passports.

The department did not specify a start date, but the Associated Press reported enforcement begins Friday. The BBC has contacted the State Department.

Americans outside the US when their passport is revoked must visit a US embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document to reenter the country, according to the AP.