How to Replace a Lost US Passport

Discovering that you have lost your passport is stressful, whether you are already on your trip or planning for it. Getting a replacement as quickly as possible so you don't have to postpone your trip or so you can travel home is of the utmost importance. Always make copies of your passport and have extra passport photographs taken to help speed the process. Keep one set of copies with you but separate from your passport, and keep another set with a trusted friend or family member back home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Birth certificate Passport photos Photo ID card Pen
Birth certificate
Passport photos
Photo ID card
Pen

Step 1

Report the passport as lost immediately. Contact the local police or the nearest US Embassy if you are overseas. Report it as lost to the US Department of State by calling (877) 487-2778 to invalidate it so no one else may attempt to use it.

Step 2

Gather the materials to reapply for a new passport. You need proof of US citizenship such as a birth certificate, an official ID such as a driver's license, two passport photographs and the required fees.

Step 3

Fill out form DS-11, the application for a passport, using black ink (see Resources). Fill in all the required blanks on the form, leaving none empty. Check off either "lost" or "stolen" under passport status on line 22 of the form.

Step 4

Fill out form DS-64 to complete the lost passport reporting process. Fill out all the blanks on the form, including the passport number, date it was issued and how and where it was lost.

Step 5

Take all your identification and both forms to your nearest passport office or the closest US Embassy to complete the filing process for your new passport.

Tips & Warnings

Expedited service is available for an extra fee. This speeds up the approval process, and you will receive your new passport in only a few days. If you find your lost passport after reporting it as lost, return it to the Department of State as it is no longer valid.

Expedited service is available for an extra fee. This speeds up the approval process, and you will receive your new passport in only a few days.

If you find your lost passport after reporting it as lost, return it to the Department of State as it is no longer valid.

Once reported lost, you cannot use the passport even if you find it.

Resources

Article Written By Jenny Harrington

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...