Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1544: Misuse of passport

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits willfully using another's passport, using a passport in violation of its conditions, or furnishing a passport for someone other than its intended user. Penalties range up to 25 years imprisonment depending on circumstances.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever willfully and knowingly uses, or attempts to use, any passport issued or designed for the use of another; or Whoever willfully and knowingly uses or attempts to use any passport in violation of the conditions or restrictions therein contained, or of the rules prescribed pursuant to the laws regulating the issuance of passports; or Whoever willfully and knowingly furnishes, disposes of, or delivers a passport to any person, for use by another than the person for whose use it was originally issued and designed— Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title )), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title )), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facilitate such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense), or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.