Form DS-64 — Statement regarding a lost or stolen passport

What DS-64 does

Filing DS-64 triggers one specific action: the State Department cancels your passport number in its records and flags it in federal screening systems at ports of entry worldwide. Once cancelled, the passport is invalid — it cannot be used by anyone, including you, and presenting it at a border will result in confiscation.

The cancellation happens because a lost or stolen passport is a credential theft risk. Someone who finds or steals your passport could attempt to alter the photo and use it for travel, or use the biographical data for identity fraud. Reporting immediately eliminates the travel fraud risk. It does not, by itself, protect your other personal information — your full legal name, date of birth, and a high-resolution photo are still exposed. See the section on identity theft steps below.

One point that confuses many people: filing DS-64 does not protect against someone attempting to use your passport number for purposes other than travel — opening accounts, applying for additional documents, or social engineering. Those require separate credit and identity protection steps.

How to file DS-64

Three options. The fastest is the online Form Filler at pptform.state.gov — your passport number is cancelled within one business day and you receive a confirmation email. Use this when time is a factor.

If you prefer mail, download DS-64 from pptform.state.gov, complete it, attach a photocopy of the front and back of a photo ID, and mail it to the address printed on the form. Postal processing takes considerably longer than online filing — several weeks in some cases. Use mail only when the online option is unavailable.

Third option: file DS-64 at the same time you apply for a replacement passport. When you appear at an acceptance facility to submit Form DS-11, bring a completed DS-64 as well. The acceptance agent includes both forms in the same application package. This is the standard approach when you are applying for a replacement and the online report hasn't been filed yet.

Do not report an expired passport as lost or stolen. The State Department does not cancel expired documents, and an incorrect report can create complications. Report only valid passports or unexpired passports that are lost.

What happens after you file

Filing online: your passport number is flagged in the State Department's issuance database within one business day. The cancellation propagates to border screening systems, though the exact propagation timeline varies. File as early as possible — not after you have already tried and failed to use the passport.

You receive a confirmation email when the online report is processed. Keep it. That email is your dated record that you reported the passport — useful if there are any later questions about when the cancellation was requested.

Filing at an acceptance facility: the DS-64 is processed with your DS-11 replacement application. It does not receive a separate confirmation; your DS-11 receipt serves as the record of both submissions.

If you filed by mail, there is no confirmation sent. The only way to verify the cancellation is to contact the State Department at 1-877-487-2778 several weeks after mailing.

Filing DS-64 with your replacement application

A lost or stolen passport requires a new application — not a renewal. You cannot use DS-82 to replace a lost or stolen passport, regardless of when it was issued or your age. The replacement requires DS-11 submitted in person at an acceptance facility, with DS-64 attached.

Bring the same documents as a first-time DS-11 application:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship — certified birth certificate with raised or multicolored seal, Certificate of Naturalization, or prior U.S. passport. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted.
• Valid photo ID and front-and-back photocopy on a single sheet of paper
• Passport photo — 2×2 inches, color, taken within the last 6 months
• Unsigned DS-11 — do not sign it before the agent directs you
• Completed DS-64 — include when and where the passport was lost, or how and when it was stolen. Bring a copy of any police report filed.

Full fees apply. A lost or stolen passport replacement costs the same as a first-time application — $130 for a book (adults 16+) or $100 (children under 16), plus a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. There is no discount or waiver. See current passport fees for the full schedule.

Replacement processing times match new applications. Routine service runs 4–6 weeks from receipt; expedited service adds $60 and reduces that to 2–3 weeks. If you have confirmed travel within a few weeks, book a regional agency appointment — see the regional agencies guide.

If you find your passport after filing DS-64

Do not use it. The State Department cancelled it when you filed DS-64. The physical document still exists, but it is no longer valid for travel. Presenting it at a border crossing will result in confiscation — customs and border protection officers can see the cancellation status immediately.

You can keep the cancelled passport as a souvenir or as a record of prior travel. It has no remaining travel validity. Your replacement passport is the one you travel on.

There is no procedure to "un-cancel" a passport you have recovered. Once reported and cancelled, that passport number is permanently flagged. The only path to a valid passport is the replacement you applied for.