Lost or stolen US passport
- How to report
- Online form filler or Form DS-64 1
- Cancellation time
- Within 1 business day when reported online 1
- Police report
- Not required, but helps 2
- Replacement form
- Form DS-11, in person 1
- Adult book fee
- US$130 application fee plus US$35 acceptance fee 3
- Abroad
- Apply in person at a US embassy or consulate 2
- Emergency passport
- Valid for up to 1 year 2
Report the passport as lost or stolen
The State Department gives three ways to report a lost or stolen passport. The fastest is the Online Form Filler. The department says it will cancel the passport within 1 business day and send you a confirmation email 1.
You can fill in Form DS-64 online, then print, sign and mail it with a photocopy of the front and back of a photo ID such as a driver's license. This route takes longer and can take several weeks 1.
You can report the loss on Form DS-11 when you apply for a new passport. The department warns that cancellation this way may take several weeks, so it points you to the online tool if you want the passport cancelled at once 1.
Do you need a police report?
No. The State Department says police reports are not mandatory but can help confirm the circumstances of the loss or theft 2. If you filed one, include a copy with your DS-11 1.
You must say where and when the passport was lost or stolen. If you leave this out, the department may pause your application and ask you to submit Form DS-64 1.
Replace it in the United States
Reporting a passport lost or stolen does not replace it. You must apply in person again 1. Replacing a lost passport uses Form DS-11, the same form as a first passport 1.
The fee page, last updated 19 March 2026, lists these DS-11 fees 3:
- If a valid passport was lost in a natural disaster, you may be able to replace it for free 1.
- Do not report an expired passport as lost or stolen 1.
| Item | Application fee | Acceptance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book | US$130 | US$35 |
| Adult passport card | US$30 | US$35 |
| Adult book and card | US$160 | US$35 |
| Expedited service (optional) | US$60 extra | None |
| 1 to 3 day return delivery (optional) | US$26.87 extra | None |
If you lose your passport abroad
Report the loss online first, then contact the nearest US embassy or consulate. You must appear in person to apply. Tell consular staff if you have travel coming up 2.
Bring one passport photo (2x2 inches or 5x5 cm), ID such as a driver's license, proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or a copy of the lost passport, your travel itinerary, a completed DS-11, any police report, and the fee 2.
Replacement passports cost the same as any other passport. If you cannot pay, the embassy can explain emergency financial help. Victims of a serious crime or disaster may get a free limited-validity emergency passport 2.
If there is no time to get a regular passport, the consular section can offer an emergency passport. It is valid for up to 1 year and you can exchange it for a full-validity passport after your trip 2. Most embassies do not issue passports on weekends or holidays, but duty officers help in life-or-death cases. In most cases a replacement is issued the next business day 2.
What happens to the old passport
The State Department cancels a passport once you report it lost or stolen. It will no longer be valid for travel, even if you find it later 1. Keep it as a souvenir at most, and travel on the new one.
Common questions
Can I use my US passport if I find it after reporting it lost?
No. Once reported, it is cancelled and is no longer valid for travel, even if you find it later 1.
How much does it cost to replace a lost US passport?
An adult passport book on Form DS-11 costs US$130 plus a US$35 acceptance fee. Expedited service adds US$60 3.
Do I need a police report to replace a lost US passport?
No. A police report is not mandatory, but the State Department says it can help confirm what happened 2.
Can I get a passport the same day at a US embassy?
The State Department says that in most cases a replacement passport is issued the next business day. An emergency passport valid for up to 1 year may be offered if you must travel sooner 2.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email hello@lostpassportguide.com with the official link.
Sources
- US Department of State: Report your lost or stolen passport
- US Department of State: Lost or stolen passport abroad
- US Department of State: Passport fees (last updated 19 March 2026)
Related
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What to do first when your passport is lost or stolen abroad, from official advice by the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Germany.
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