§ 51.7 Passport property of the U.S. Government.
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Title 22—Foreign Relations > CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE > SUBCHAPTER F—NATIONALITY AND PASSPORTS > PART 51—PASSPORTS > Subpart A—General
This text was captured on Sep 22, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.
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(a) A passport at all times remains the property of the United States and must be returned to the U.S. Government upon demand.
(b) Law enforcement authorities who take possession of a passport for use in an investigation or prosecution must return the passport to the Department on completion of the investigation and/or prosecution.
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