What to Do If You Lose Your Passport Abroad

TL;DR

If you lose your passport abroad, go to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate immediately. They issue emergency passports — typically valid for 30 days — that get you home. You’ll also want to file a local police report to protect against fraud. The process works even if you have no ID at all, though it takes longer.

At a glance

• First call: U.S. Embassy or Consulate American Citizens Services line — find yours at usembassy.gov
• Emergency passport validity: typically 30 days, one trip back to the U.S.
• Fee: $130 (book) + $60 expedite for urgent travel — confirm at travel.state.gov
• Police report: not required by the Embassy, but strongly recommended
• No ID at all: Embassy can still help via identity verification interview
• After returning home: apply for a full 10-year passport using normal channels

Why this matters

Losing your passport abroad is one of the most stressful things that can happen on a trip. You’re in a foreign country, you may not speak the language, and the document that proves who you are is gone. The good news is that the State Department processes thousands of these cases every year. There is a clear, tested process — and U.S. Embassies are specifically staffed to handle it.

The worst thing you can do is wait and hope it turns up. An unreported lost passport can be used by someone else at international checkpoints before it shows up in any database. Report it fast, then work the steps.

Step 1: Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate immediately

The U.S. Embassy is your first call — not your hotel, not the airline, not a travel agent. The Embassy’s American Citizens Services (ACS) unit handles passport emergencies 24 hours a day.

Find the nearest Embassy or Consulate at usembassy.gov. Every Embassy page lists a specific phone number for American citizen emergencies. If you’re calling after hours, you’ll reach a duty officer who handles urgent situations including lost passports.

When you call, tell them:

• Your full name and date of birth
• Your approximate location
• Your travel plans (when you need to fly home)
• Whether you have any remaining ID

The Embassy will schedule an appointment — often same-day or next business day for genuine emergencies. Do not wait for a regular business-hours slot if you travel soon.

If you are in a country with no U.S. Embassy

A handful of countries have no U.S. Embassy or have embassies operating at limited capacity. In those situations, the nearest U.S. Consulate in a neighboring country can help. The State Department maintains a list of all Embassy and Consulate locations at travel.state.gov.

Step 2: File a local police report

Filing a police report is not required by the U.S. Embassy — but it’s worth doing for two reasons.

First, some countries require a police report before their immigration authority will allow you to exit, even on an emergency U.S. passport. The Embassy will tell you whether this applies to your country.

Second, a police report creates a paper trail that protects you if the passport is later found and used fraudulently. The DS-64 form you’ll file with the Embassy formally invalidates the old passport in U.S. systems; the police report covers the local record.

Take a photo of the police report on your phone. You may need to present it at the immigration exit desk.

Step 3: Apply for an emergency passport at the Embassy

When you arrive at the Embassy, the American Citizens Services unit will walk you through the emergency passport application. Here’s what to expect:

Documents you’ll need

• Two passport photos (2x2 inches, plain background). The Embassy can direct you to nearby facilities or sometimes take photos on-site.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, if you have any — a certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or photo of your passport data page stored in email or a cloud drive counts as supporting evidence.
• Government-issued photo ID — a driver’s license, a photocopy of your passport, or any other official ID still in your possession.
• Proof of imminent travel — your airline ticket or itinerary showing your departure date.
• Completed DS-11 (new passport application) — the Embassy will provide this form.
• Completed DS-64 (lost/stolen passport report) — the Embassy will provide this too.

Fees

As of April 2026, the typical cost is $130 for the passport book plus $60 for expedite service when you need the document quickly. The Embassy accepts credit cards and, in most locations, cash in local currency or U.S. dollars. Confirm payment methods with the specific Embassy when you call.

What you receive

An emergency passport is a real U.S. passport book. It has your photo and biometric chip. The main differences from a standard passport are:

• Limited validity: typically valid for 30 days or for one return trip to the United States
• Fewer pages: emergency passports often have fewer blank visa pages than a standard book
• Noted as emergency/limited: the document may include a notation of its limited validity

Once you return to the United States, apply for a full 10-year passport using the normal process.

What if you have no ID at all?

If your wallet was stolen along with your passport — no driver’s license, no credit cards, nothing — the Embassy can still help. The process takes longer because staff must verify your identity through other means.

The Embassy will conduct an oral identity verification interview. They’ll ask:

• Full name, date of birth, place of birth
• Social Security number
• Current address and prior addresses
• Employment information
• Names of family members
• Any U.S. passport numbers you remember

They may also contact the State Department’s National Passport Information Center to pull records on any prior passport you’ve held.

Anything you can provide helps: screenshots of travel bookings sent to your email address, airline app records on your phone, hotel confirmations, photos of your face from social media. The Embassy wants to help you — they’re not trying to block you. The extra scrutiny is there because an emergency passport can be misused if issued to the wrong person.

The process may take an additional day. Build that time into your plans.

Prevention: steps to take before you travel

Many of the complications described above disappear with one hour of preparation at home.

Make physical copies. Photocopy the data page of your passport — the page with your photo, name, and passport number — and keep a copy in your checked bag, separate from your passport.

Store digital copies. Email yourself a scan of your passport data page, or store it in a cloud service you can access from anywhere. A photo on your phone works in a pinch, but a cloud backup survives a stolen phone.

Note your passport number. Write it down and store it separately from the passport — in a travel journal, in a note app, or in your email drafts.

Register with STEP. The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) lets you register your trip with the nearest Embassy. If something goes wrong — including a lost passport — the Embassy already has your contact information and travel dates on file. It takes five minutes to set up and is free.

Consider a passport card as a backup. If you carry both a passport book and a passport card, losing one still leaves you with valid U.S. proof of citizenship. The card is wallet-sized and inexpensive ($30 for a renewal). See our passport card guide for how to apply.

Common pitfalls

• Waiting to see if the passport turns up before reporting. Every day of delay is a day the document could be used fraudulently. Report it to the Embassy and on DS-64 immediately, even if you think it might just be misplaced.
• Trying to exit the country on an expired backup passport. An expired U.S. passport is not a valid travel document. It won’t work at immigration.
• Not confirming local exit requirements. Some countries update your immigration records to your passport number when you enter. If that number changes (because you got an emergency passport), you may need to visit the local immigration office before you can leave. The Embassy will know — ask them.
• Forgetting that the emergency passport has limited validity. Don’t try to use your 30-day emergency passport for a trip to Japan six months later. Apply for a full passport as soon as you’re home.
• Not notifying your airline. If your ticket was booked under your old passport number, notify the airline that you now have a new passport number. Most airlines update this with no fee; failing to do so can cause delays at check-in.

What to do next

The moment you realize your passport is gone, call the nearest U.S. Embassy. Don’t wait. Find the emergency contact at usembassy.gov, explain your situation, and let the American Citizens Services team guide you through the rest.

Once you’re safely home, apply for a full 10-year passport so you’re covered for future trips. egovrush can handle your passport application — document review, photo check, and coordination so the process goes smoothly.

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Sources: Lost or Stolen Passports — travel.state.gov, U.S. Embassies & Consulates — usembassy.gov, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program — step.state.gov. Fees verified April 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the first thing to do if I lose my passport abroad?

Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate immediately. The Embassy’s American Citizens Services unit handles this 24/7. Find your nearest location at usembassy.gov.

How long does an emergency passport from a U.S. Embassy take?

Typically one to three business days. For documented imminent travel — a flight within 24 hours — explain this when you call. Some embassies can provide same-day service.

What does an emergency passport from an embassy look like?

It is a standard blue U.S. passport book with your photo and biometric chip, but valid for a limited time — typically 30 days or one return trip to the United States. You apply for a full 10-year passport once you’re home.

Do I need a police report to replace a lost passport abroad?

The U.S. Embassy does not require one, but filing a local police report is strongly recommended. Some countries require it before they allow you to exit. It also protects you against fraud if your old passport is misused.

What if I have no ID at all — my wallet and passport were both stolen?

The Embassy can still help. Staff will conduct an oral identity verification interview. Bring anything that corroborates your identity — hotel bookings, airline records, photos, Social Security number from memory. The process takes an extra day but works.

Can I fly home on an emergency passport?

Yes. U.S. airlines and TSA accept emergency passports issued by U.S. Embassies for international flights returning to the United States. Confirm with the Embassy whether your departure country has any local exit requirements tied to your new passport number.