How to replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport

TL;DR

Lost passport = two forms: DS-64 to report it lost (so it can’t be used by someone else), then DS-11 to apply for a replacement. Like a brand-new passport, the replacement requires an in-person appointment at an acceptance facility. Routine processing 4–6 weeks, expedited 2–3 weeks, or same-day at a passport agency if you have travel within 14 days.

If you’re abroad and lost it, go to the nearest U.S. embassy. They can issue an emergency passport same-day in most cases.

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Step 0: Look one more time

Genuinely. The vast majority of “lost” passports turn up within 48 hours, usually in:

• The pocket of the jacket you wore last
• A drawer with old travel documents
• The safe at the hotel from your last trip (yes, really, call them)
• A laptop bag pocket you forgot about
• Your spouse’s suitcase

Filing DS-64 invalidates the passport permanently. Even if you find it the next day, it’s dead. Spend 30 minutes searching first.

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Step 1: Report it lost (Form DS-64)

Once you’re confident it’s gone, file Form DS-64 to add your passport to the State Department’s invalidated list. This protects you from:

• Identity theft (someone else can’t use your passport for fraud)
• Border issues (if a thief tries to enter the US on your book, it gets flagged)
• Visa complications (foreign embassies check the validity database)

Three filing options:

Method	Where	Speed
Online	pptform.state.gov	5 minutes
Phone	1-877-487-2778	10–30 min wait
Mail	Address on the printed DS-64 form	Slowest

Online is the right choice for nearly everyone. You’ll need:

• Your name as it appeared on the lost passport
• Date of birth
• Approximate issue date
• Passport book number (if you have a photocopy or photo of the data page; keep one in cloud storage)

If you don’t know the book number, that’s okay. The system can still process the report based on identity match.

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Step 2: Apply for the replacement (Form DS-11)

Lost passports always require DS-11, the in-person new-passport form. You can’t use DS-82 (the mail-in renewal) for a lost book, no exceptions.

What you need:

• Form DS-11 (don’t sign it; you’ll sign at the appointment)
• Citizenship evidence:
  • Certified birth certificate WITH RAISED SEAL (not a hospital “souvenir” certificate)
  • OR naturalization certificate
  • OR Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Photo ID (driver’s license, military ID, government employee ID)
• One 2×2 passport photo (white background, taken in last 6 months)
• Form DS-64 (lost-passport report; submit a copy with the DS-11 even if you filed DS-64 separately)
• Fees: $165 minimum for a book

Acceptance facilities are mostly post offices, libraries, and courthouses. Find one at iafdb.travel.state.gov. Many require an appointment, so call ahead.

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Step 3: Choose a State Department processing option

Path	Processing time	Total cost (book)	Where
Routine	4–6 weeks	$165	Acceptance facility
Expedited	2–3 weeks	$225	Acceptance facility
Passport agency (same/next day)	24–72 hours	$244	One of 26 passport agencies

For agency-level urgency, you must show proof of international travel within 14 days. See the emergency passport guide for the full agency process.

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Special case: lost passport abroad

If you’re outside the U.S. when your passport disappears:

1. File a police report with local authorities. The embassy will ask for it.
2. Locate the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at usembassy.gov. Every country has at least one.
3. Call ahead if your travel is within 24 hours, since most embassies have an after-hours emergency line.
4. Bring what you have: any ID, the police report, a photo if you can get one printed locally, and payment.
5. Embassy options:
   • Emergency passport (limited validity, usually 1 year; it gets you home and to the nearest acceptance facility for a full replacement)
   • Full 10-year replacement (takes longer; only if you’re not in a rush)

Cost is the same $165–$225 in U.S. dollars or local-currency equivalent. Embassies process emergency replacements in 24 hours or less for genuine travel emergencies.

When you get home, you’ll typically need to go through the standard DS-11 process to get a full-validity book.

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Common pitfalls

• Filing DS-64 before you’re sure it’s gone. Once filed, the passport is dead even if it turns up. Spend the search time first.
• Trying to use DS-82. Lost = DS-11, in person, no exceptions.
• Hospital birth certificate as citizenship evidence. It must be the certified state/county version with raised seal, not the souvenir keepsake.
• Underestimating acceptance-facility availability. Many require appointments booked 2–3 weeks out. Call early.
• Photo from the wrong setting. Same passport photo rules as new applications: 2×2, white background, no glasses, taken in the last 6 months.
• Bringing the family without checking facility rules. Some acceptance facilities are tight on space; check whether spouses/kids need to step out.
• Forgetting the DS-64 confirmation. Print it; bring a copy to the DS-11 appointment.

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What our tiers cover for a lost passport

Our service is application preparation, plus hand delivery to the State Department by our courier agents on the Priority Courier and Urgent Travel tiers. Processing times are set by the State Department, not by us. They are the same whether you use a preparation service or apply on your own.

Smart Choice: $89 + government fees

• Your DS-64 prepared within minutes of payment, ready for you to submit
• Pre-fill DS-11 from your data
• Photo validation, complete printable package
• We tell you exactly which acceptance facility to use and what to bring
• For routine processing (State Department estimate: 4–6 weeks)

Expedited (State Dept.): $129 + government fees

• Everything in Smart Choice, prepared for the State Department’s expedited processing. Its $60 expedite fee is included in your government-fee total
• Your file is reviewed on our end within 4 hours
• State Department estimate for expedited processing: 2–3 weeks

Priority Courier: $350 + government fees

• Hand-carried to the State Department by our courier agents: no mail time, and your application stays with our agents until it reaches the Department
• Dedicated agent and status monitoring from start to finish
• The State Department sets the processing time

Urgent Travel: $500 + government fees

• The same hand-carry service, for urgent travel: your application prepared within 48 hours, then hand-carried to the State Department by our courier agents
• Every document, photo, and printout checked before it goes
• The State Department decides when your passport is ready

Every tier includes the DS-64 prepared for you at no extra charge, so you can report the lost book right away and close your top identity-theft risk.

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Refund policy in plain English

• 24-hour no-questions-asked refund of our service fee.
• After 24 hours, we’ve already prepared your DS-64 and your replacement application, so the fee is non-refundable.
• Government fees ($165 / $225) go to the State Department. Once paid (at your acceptance-facility appointment), they’re not recoverable through us.

Full details on the refund policy page.

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What if I find my passport after replacing it?

It’s permanently invalid. Don’t try to use it for travel. CBP and foreign border control check the State Department invalidated list at the gate, and presenting an invalidated passport gets you pulled into secondary screening fast.

What to do with the found book:

• Take it to your DS-11 appointment so the agent can punch-cancel it on the spot, or
• Mail it to the State Department lockbox along with your application, or
• Once you have the new passport in hand, hole-punch the data page yourself and keep the cancelled book as a souvenir (this is allowed; it’s just not a legal travel document anymore).

The book number itself is now retired and won’t be reused.