Lost or stolen passport — what to do
Report a lost or stolen passport immediately to prevent fraudulent use. Here is the exact process for reporting and replacing it.
Report your passport lost or stolen right away
The State Department cancels a passport as soon as you report it. After that, the document is invalid for travel — it cannot be used by anyone, including you. That cancellation also flags the passport number in government screening systems at ports of entry worldwide.
Three ways to report. The fastest is the State Department's Online Form Filler at pptform.state.gov — your passport is cancelled within one business day and you receive a confirmation email. If you prefer mail, complete Form DS-64 (Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport), attach a photocopy of the front and back of a photo ID, and send it to the address printed on the form; mail reports can take several weeks to process, so the online option is strongly preferred when time matters. Third option: report as part of your replacement application when you appear in person — the acceptance agent includes your DS-64 information with the DS-11 application package.
One point worth noting: do not report an expired passport as lost or stolen. The State Department does not invalidate expired documents, and reporting one incorrectly can create unnecessary complications on your record.
If your passport was stolen rather than simply misplaced, file a police report. The State Department does not require one, but a police report creates a dated official record that can be valuable if your identity is later misused.
Applying for a replacement passport
A replacement passport is a new application, not a renewal. You must submit both Form DS-64 and Form DS-11 together, in person, at an authorized acceptance facility. This applies even if you would ordinarily qualify to renew by mail — a lost or stolen passport is never eligible for mail renewal. That trips up a lot of people who assumed their eligibility carried over.
Bring the same documents required for any first-time DS-11 application:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship — certified birth certificate with raised or multicolored seal, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or a prior undamaged U.S. passport. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted.
- Proof of identity — a valid driver's license, state ID, or military ID showing your name, date of birth, and photo.
- Photocopy of your identity document — front and back on a single side of one 8.5×11 sheet. Do not staple it to the application.
- Passport photo — 2×2 inches, color, taken within the past six months, white or off-white background.
- Completed Form DS-11 — do not sign it before your appointment. The acceptance agent must witness your signature. Signing early voids the form.
- Completed Form DS-64 — include the details of when and where you lost the passport, or when and how it was stolen. If you filed a police report, bring a copy.
Full fees apply. There is no discount for replacing a lost or stolen passport. Expect to pay $130 for a book (or $30 for a card) to the U.S. Department of State, plus a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. Those are two separate payments to two different recipients — call the facility ahead of time to confirm accepted payment methods for the $35.
If you find your original passport after you have already reported it lost, do not attempt to use it. The State Department cancelled it when you filed the report. Presenting a cancelled passport at the border will cause the document to be confiscated. You can keep it as a cancelled souvenir, but it is not valid for any travel purpose.
Passport lost or stolen outside the United States
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible. Do not wait until you return home. Embassy and consulate staff can issue an emergency passport — typically valid only for direct return travel — so you are not stranded.
Call the embassy directly using the number listed at usembassy.gov. After-hours emergency lines are available at most locations for situations that cannot wait until the next business day. Bring whatever identity documents you have available, including a driver's license, copies of your passport's data page if you stored them separately, and any police report you filed locally.
Before your next trip abroad, enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov. Enrollment is free and allows the nearest embassy or consulate to contact you directly in an emergency. It also makes it easier for the embassy to confirm your identity quickly if you ever need an emergency document replacement while traveling.
Identity theft risks after a lost or stolen passport
Reporting your passport to the State Department cancels the document and flags the passport number in federal screening databases. That step protects against someone using the physical passport at a border crossing. It does not protect your other personal information.
A passport contains your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and a high-quality photo. That is enough information to open credit accounts, apply for loans, or be used in social engineering attacks. Taking additional steps is worth the time:
- Place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. A fraud alert at one bureau is forwarded to the other two automatically. It requires lenders to take extra steps to verify identity before opening new accounts in your name.
- Consider a credit freeze (also called a security freeze) at each bureau separately. A freeze prevents new credit from being opened entirely until you lift it. More restrictive than a fraud alert, but more effective when you believe your information was stolen.
- If you see signs that your information is being actively misused, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. The FTC creates a personalized recovery plan and can generate official documentation of the theft useful for disputing fraudulent accounts.
None of this happens automatically when you report to the State Department. Reporting through the State Department protects your passport. Protecting your credit and identity requires separate action on your part. Many people skip this step and discover the problem months later when a fraudulent account appears on their credit report.
How long does a replacement passport take?
Replacement passport processing times match those for new applications. Routine service currently runs 4–6 weeks from when the State Department receives your application. Expedited service runs 2–3 weeks and costs an additional $60 on top of the standard fees.
If you have confirmed international travel within a few weeks, neither routine nor expedited mail service may arrive in time. In that case, book an appointment at a regional passport agency — these facilities handle urgent cases and can typically process a passport the same day or within a few business days for travelers with imminent departures. Bring proof of travel (a flight itinerary or hotel booking showing dates).
See current processing times for up-to-date figures, and the expedited passport guide for details on requesting faster service.
If your passport was revoked — not lost or stolen, but revoked by the State Department due to unpaid child support — that is a separate process. See our guide on child support and passport denial for how revocation works and how to resolve it.