How Long Before a Felon Can Get a Passport? [2026 Rules in a Nutshell]

Can I get a passport with a felony conviction? The short answer is: Yes, you can.

Every prior felon is eligible to apply for a US passport, but whether your application gets approved or denied, depends on the nature of your criminal record.

Read on to discover if you can get a passport with your specific conviction, what the process looks like, and what countries you can travel to as a convicted felon.

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Are you looking for more passport-related topics? These articles may be of interest:

• DS-11 Passport Form: First Time and Renewals
• DS-82 Passport Form [Filling Instructions with Examples]
• Documents Needed for a Passport

Can you get a passport with a felony [cases explained]

Most felons can get a passport.

Having criminal charges (even those going back decades) doesn’t mean you’ll never get to travel internationally again. You can still get a US passport as an ex-felon under the following circumstances:

• You completed your sentence (imprisonment or imposed penalty)
• You were legally set free
• The charges against you were dropped

However, some felony convictions can still prevent you from leaving the country, even if you served your sentence in full—read on to find out more.

What felonies disqualify you from getting a passport?

According to federal law, certain types of criminal charges automatically come with a prohibition for overseas travel.

If you’ve been convicted of one of the following crimes, your Type P passport application will be denied on the spot.

• Federal drug charges (distribution, manufacturing, or international drug trafficking)
• Kidnapping or human trafficking
• Assault/sexual assault
• Cybercrime
• Child pornography

Other legal reasons for your passport application to get rejected

Serving jail time isn’t the only reason the Department of State may reject your application. You may also not get your passport issued if:

• You have over $2,500 in unpaid child support (in which case CSSD may put your name on the passport denial list)
• You owe more than $50,000 in delinquent tax debt or federal loans
• There’s a valid, unsealed federal warrant (22 CFR§ 51.60) in your name
• You’re on parole, probation, or awaiting trial

So, even if you’re not a felon but there’s a warrant in your name or you’ve racked up unpaid debt, your passport eligibility may be affected.

How long before a felon can get a passport?

For federal crimes like drug trafficking, a 5-10-year waiting period is often required to ensure a “cooling off” period has passed. While other felony convictions may not have a specific waiting period, longer intervals since completing the sentence generally improve approval chances.

Passports for felons—the process

Slightly more than 50% of Americans currently have a valid passport. As the process is lengthy, many opt against getting one unless necessary. And if you have a criminal history, you’ll need to submit additional paperwork, so the process may take longer.

If you’re in the clear and want to apply for a US passport, here’s what you need to do:

Fill out a passport application form

Choose one of the following passport forms depending on your circumstances:

• Form DS-11—if you’re a first-time applicant or your passport expired more than 15 years ago
• Form DS-82—if your passport expired less than 15 years ago

You can submit your application form online or in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency.

Prepare supporting documents

Provide the following documentation together with your application form:

• A copy of an identification document with a photograph (e.g., a previous passport or driver’s license)
• Proof of citizenship (e.g., a certified copy of your birth certificate or naturalization certificate)
• Official court documents proving you’re no longer on parole or probation
• Two printed pictures or one digital image compliant with US passport photo requirements

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Where can a felon travel?

Even if you do obtain a passport, it doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to freely travel abroad. For example, Canada is one of the countries that automatically deny entry to felons—and not the only one.

Below, you can see which other countries don’t permit felons to enter.

Important! Some countries don’t conduct active criminal record screening of every visitor. However, if your felony is discovered there, you’ll get escorted from the country. It’s best to verify if the country you’re planning to visit restricts entry for convicted felons. You can check it with this map or by browsing the relevant government websites.

FAQs

Can felons get a passport—summary

Most convicted felons will be able to obtain a US passport to travel outside the country. However, you need to keep in mind that:

• Certain types of felonies disqualify you from obtaining a passport (e.g., you’ve committed international drug trafficking)
• Not every country allows felons to cross their borders

If you qualify for getting a passport and want to proceed with the application, start by getting a picture. Do so today with Passport Photo Online from the comfort of your home. This way, you can rest safe knowing your application won’t be rejected because of an unacceptable photo—and delay your travel plans even longer!

Sources

• [1] https://travel.state.gov/
• [2] https://travel.state.gov/

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.