How to Replace a Lost U.S. Passport

What an inconvenience: you are preparing to travel outside of the U.S. on your next trip, and you discover that you are missing your passport. Have no fear: to replace your passport, you simply need to report it lost and provide the necessary forms, identification and fee to receive a new one. The process is a bit different if you need your new passport quickly or are outside of the U.S., but it is still doable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Replace a Lost U.S. Passport

Things You’ll Need:

Form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport Original birth certificate, naturalization papers or an old passport Driver's license, state identification or military photo identification Two identical passport photos Computer-generated itinerary $160
Form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport
Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport
Original birth certificate, naturalization papers or an old passport
Driver's license, state identification or military photo identification
Two identical passport photos
Computer-generated itinerary
$160

Step 1

Call (877) 487-2778 to report your lost passport to the U.S. Department of State. Your passport will become invalid after you report it.

Step 2

Complete and sign form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport, which can be printed from the U.S. Department of State website. This explains the circumstances of your lost passport.

Step 3

Complete and sign form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport, which can also be printed from the U.S. Department of State website.

Step 4

Take the forms to a Passport Acceptance Facility along with an original birth certificate, naturalization papers or old passport; driver's license, state identification or military photo identification; two identical passport photos and a computer-generated itinerary showing travel intent.

Step 5

If the passport is needed to travel within two weeks, take all forms and identification to a Regional Passport Agency. If you are outside the U.S., take all forms and identification to a U.S. Embassy.

Step 6

Pay the fee of $135 for the lost passport, as well as $25 for an Acceptance Agent to verify your lost passport application. Check, cash, debit card or money orders are accepted.

Step 7

Wait approximately two weeks to receive your new passport.

Tips & Warnings

Fill out the DS-64 form as clearly as possible. You may leave fields regarding your lost passport blank if the information is not available.

Fill out the DS-64 form as clearly as possible.

You may leave fields regarding your lost passport blank if the information is not available.

Do not attempt to use the passport you reported lost if you happen to find it. Credit cards and starter checks are not acceptable payment methods.

Do not attempt to use the passport you reported lost if you happen to find it.

Credit cards and starter checks are not acceptable payment methods.

Resources

Article Written By Rose Welton

Rose Welton is a journalism major and a freelance writer. Her education is focused on nutrition and early childhood studies, making her an expert when it comes to writing about health and children's growth and development. She has written numerous articles and blog posts on various topics for online publications and has also worked on an Internet news team.

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...