When enforcing an order, a child support office can ask the U.S. Department of State, also known as the State Department, to place a hold on a parent's passport. A hold prevents a parent from getting or renewing a U.S. passport.
The State Department can deny a parent's passport application if the parent owes more than $2,500 in past due child support, also called arrears.
If the parent applies for a passport or tries to renew their passport, the State Department will notify them that there is a hold on their passport because they owe child support arrears. The State Department notice:
Parents who want a hold on their passport released should call the Minnesota state child support office at 651-431-4400. The child support office will tell the parent what they must do to release the hold. Often payment in full is required.
A passport may be held by more than one child support office. A parent who owes arrears in more than one state must be cleared by all of the submitting states before a passport can be issued or renewed. The State Department can deny a parent's passport for other reasons. A passport can be held even if the child support hold is released.
After the child support hold is released, the parent must make arrangements with the State Department for delivery of their passport.
Some parents may be excluded from passport holds. The child support office cannot take action to hold or deny a parent's passport application if either of the following is true:
