If you’ve lost your U.S. passport overseas, report it immediately using Form DS-64 on the State Department’s online tool, then contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. That two-step sequence is the foundation of every lost passport abroad guide, and the order matters. Reporting first protects your identity; contacting the mission gets your replacement moving.

Here’s what to do right now, in priority order:

  • Stop and secure your surroundings. If your wallet or phone was taken with the passport, freeze any exposed bank cards immediately.
  • File Form DS-64 online at the State Department’s portal. Reported passports are canceled within one business day — faster than any other channel.
  • Locate your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at Usembassy and call or email their Passport Services line.
  • Gather supporting documents: any secondary ID, photocopies of the lost passport, proof of upcoming travel, and a passport photo if you can get one locally.
  • File a local police report if the passport was stolen. It’s optional for the State Department but valuable for insurance and consular context.

Key Takeaways

Reporting your lost passport immediately via Form DS-64 invalidates the document within one business day and is the single most important first step before any replacement process can begin.

Point Details
File DS-64 first Report online at the State Department portal; cancellation happens within one business day.
Contact the embassy When abroad, in-person appearance at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate is required for any replacement.
Match route to timeline Embassy for immediate need abroad; courier/expeditor for 2 days to 4 weeks; USPS for 4+ weeks.
Police report adds value Optional for the State Department but recommended for insurance claims and consular documentation.
Fast Passport Center Registered State Dept courier handling form prep and secure delivery for travelers 2 days to 4 weeks from departure.

Table of Contents

How do you report a lost or stolen U.S. passport abroad?

Form DS-64 is the official State Department document for reporting a lost or stolen U.S. passport. Filing it does one critical thing: it invalidates the passport so it can no longer be used for international travel, even if someone finds it later. That invalidation is shared with border authorities worldwide, which is why reporting quickly matters.

You have three ways to file:

  1. Online (fastest): Use the State Department’s Online Form Filler at pptform.state.gov. Cancellation happens within one business day.
  2. By phone: Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Representatives can walk you through the process.
  3. By mail: Submit a paper DS-64 to the State Department. This option is significantly slower and may take weeks to process, making it impractical when you’re abroad and need a replacement fast.

One important caveat: do not report an expired passport as lost or stolen. DS-64 is only for valid passports. If you’re applying for a new passport at the same time, you can report the loss directly on Form DS-11 during that application.

Pro Tip: Keep a screenshot or PDF of your DS-64 confirmation number. Consular officers will ask for it, and having it ready saves time at your appointment.

How do you contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate?

When you’re abroad, you must appear in person at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a replacement passport. There is no remote option. Consular staff can issue a limited-validity emergency passport, which is typically valid for one year and sufficient for your immediate return or onward travel.

Finding the right mission is straightforward. Go to usembassy.gov, select the country you’re in, and navigate to the Passport Services page. Each mission lists its own appointment procedures, hours, and accepted payment methods; many now require appointments scheduled online or by email before you arrive, so checking the specific mission’s page in advance, as explained by Group Travel Network’s travel-document best practices, can save time. Many now require appointments scheduled online or by email before you arrive, so check the specific mission page before heading over.

When you contact the mission, be direct about your timeline. Tell them your travel date, your destination, and that you’ve already filed DS-64. Proof of imminent travel, such as a flight confirmation, moves you toward priority scheduling.

Consular officers will do their best to assist even when you lack standard documentation. Bring whatever secondary evidence you have — a driver’s license, a photocopy or digital image of the lost passport, a birth certificate — and explain the circumstances clearly. The more detail you provide, the faster they can verify your identity and process your case.

Emergency passports can sometimes be issued within a day or two depending on the mission’s workload. One thing to verify before you travel on an emergency document: some countries restrict entry for holders of limited-validity passports, so confirm entry requirements for your destination.

Pro Tip: When calling the embassy, use the phrase “imminent international travel” and state your departure date. Missions prioritize travelers with documented near-term flights over those with open-ended timelines.

What documents and fees do you need to replace a passport abroad?

Arriving at the embassy prepared cuts your processing time significantly. Consular officers will work with incomplete documentation, but the more you bring, the smoother the appointment goes.

Required and recommended items:

  • Form DS-64 (your loss report — bring the confirmation or a completed paper copy)
  • Form DS-11 (new passport application — required when the original is lost, not renewed)
  • Two passport photos meeting U.S. specifications: 2×2 inches, white background, taken within the last six months. Many cities have photo shops near embassies; ask hotel staff for the closest option.
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship: a photocopy or digital image of the lost passport, a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or any other citizenship document you have with you.
  • Government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID, or military ID. If you have none, bring any secondary identification you can gather.
  • Proof of travel: a printed or digital flight itinerary showing your departure date.
  • Payment: fees vary by mission and passport type. Check the specific embassy’s Passport Services page for accepted payment methods, as cash, credit cards, and money orders are not universally accepted at every location.

For the DS-11 vs DS-82 question, the answer is straightforward when your passport is lost: DS-11 is always required, since DS-82 is only for renewals of undamaged, uncompromised passports.

Note on fees: Standard passport book fees apply even for emergency replacements. Confirm the current fee schedule at travel.state.gov before your appointment, as fees are set by the U.S. government and are non-negotiable at the mission level.

Should you file a police report for a stolen passport?

A local police report is not required by the State Department, but it’s one of the most useful documents you can have. It creates an official paper trail for travel insurance claims and gives consular officers documented context about how and where the passport was lost or stolen.

When filing the police report, include:

  • The date, time, and location of the loss or theft
  • Your passport number (from a photocopy or digital record if available)
  • A description of the circumstances
  • Any witness contact information

For identity protection, take these steps if your personal data was exposed:

  • Visit Identitytheft to report the exposure and receive a personalized federal recovery plan.
  • Contact your bank to freeze or monitor accounts linked to any cards that were with the passport.
  • Set up alerts on your credit accounts through the major bureaus.

Pro Tip: Photograph every document you file, including the police report, and upload them to a secure cloud folder before your embassy appointment. If you lose the paper copies, you’ll still have everything the consular officer needs.

Which replacement route is fastest given your travel timeline?

Your travel date determines which path to take. Here’s how the options map to urgency:

Time Until Travel Recommended Route Expected Processing
Within 3 days U.S. embassy/consulate (if abroad) or regional passport agency (if back in U.S.) Same day to 48 hours
2 days to 4 weeks Registered courier/expeditor (e.g., Fast Passport Center) 2 business days
4+ weeks USPS standard or routine processing 6 weeks

Diagram comparing passport replacement options by speed and method

If you’re still abroad, the embassy is your only option regardless of timeline. Once you’re back in the U.S., the decision shifts based on geography. Regional passport agencies handle true emergencies, but they require in-person appointments and are located in only a handful of cities. Travelers in Tampa, Charlotte, Sacramento, Nashville, or Louisville are often two or more hours from the nearest agency, making a registered courier the practical choice for travel within two to four weeks.

Fast Passport Center’s courier service handles secure hand-delivery to passport agencies, form preparation assistance, and real-time tracking, which removes the logistical burden for travelers who can’t easily reach an agency.

Courier hand delivering secure passport envelope

Pro Tip: If you’re back in the U.S. with several days before travel, a registered courier can be a practical alternative to regional agencies, relieving logistical burdens when appointment availability is limited.

What happens in special situations: found passport, lost in mail, or someone else’s passport?

If you find your passport after reporting it: It is permanently invalidated and cannot be used for travel. The State Department’s cancellation is final. Do not attempt to use it at a border crossing.

If your passport was lost in the mail: File Form DS-86 (Statement of Non-Receipt of U.S. Passport) with the State Department. Use Passportstatus to track the status of a mailed passport and confirm whether it was delivered or is still in transit.

In a natural disaster or evacuation: Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate immediately. Missions have provisions for alternate proof of citizenship in disaster situations, and consular officers can work with reduced documentation when circumstances are verified.

If you find someone else’s U.S. passport: Return it to the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or U.S. post office. Do not mail it directly to the owner.

Once a passport is reported lost or stolen, that document is gone from a legal standpoint. The only path forward is a new passport. Keeping a digital copy of your passport in a secure cloud account before you travel is the single most effective way to speed up every step that follows a loss.

What should you do immediately after receiving a replacement passport?

Your replacement passport arrives, and the instinct is to head straight to the airport. Take five minutes first.

  • Check every detail for accuracy: name spelling, date of birth, and passport number. Errors must be corrected before you travel.
  • Sign the passport on the signature page. An unsigned passport is technically invalid.
  • Note the validity period. Emergency passports issued by a consulate are typically limited to one year. You’ll need to apply for a full-validity replacement once you’re home.
  • Update your travel bookings with the new passport number where airlines or hotels require it.
  • Carry your embassy paperwork alongside the new passport when you travel. Some border officers ask for documentation explaining a limited-validity document.

Once home, track your full replacement application through passportstatus.state.gov. If personal data was exposed during the loss, revisit identitytheft.gov to confirm your recovery plan is active.

What experienced travelers know that first-timers miss

The travelers who get through a lost passport situation fastest are not the ones who panic less. They’re the ones who act in the right sequence. Reporting DS-64 online before calling the embassy matters because it gives consular officers a confirmed cancellation record to work from. Showing up at a mission without that report, without photos, and without proof of travel adds hours to a process that can otherwise move quickly.

The other thing most guides understate: geography shapes your options more than timeline does. If you’re back in the U.S. and your departure is two weeks out, a regional passport agency sounds like the obvious answer. But if you’re in Nashville or Sacramento, the nearest agency may be a four-hour round trip with no guaranteed appointment. That’s where a registered courier like Fast Passport Center changes the equation entirely, handling the logistics while you focus on the trip.

Fast Passport Center can handle the paperwork when time is short

When your passport is lost and your trip is days or weeks away, the last thing you need is to navigate form requirements, courier logistics, and agency appointments on your own. Fast Passport Center is a U.S. Department of State registered passport courier with over 20 years of experience and drop-off offices in 24 cities, built specifically for travelers who need a replacement passport without the guesswork of doing it alone.

Fast Passport Center

For travelers with travel 2 days to 4 weeks out, especially those more than two hours from a regional passport agency, Fast Passport Center’s lost and stolen passport service covers form preparation, secure hand-delivery to the processing agency, real-time order tracking, and expert agent guidance at every step. The government still controls approval timelines and in-person ID verification, but the logistics burden lands on Fast Passport Center, not you. Visit Fastpassportcenter to start your replacement today.

Sources

These are the official pages you’ll need to act on the steps in this guide:

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.

FAQ

What should I do first if I lose my passport abroad?

File Form DS-64 online immediately to cancel the passport, then contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to schedule an in-person appointment for a replacement.

Can I still travel if I find my passport after reporting it lost?

No. Once reported, the passport is permanently invalidated by the State Department and cannot be used for international travel, even if recovered.

How long does it take to get an emergency passport from a U.S. embassy?

Depending on the mission’s workload, emergency passports can sometimes be issued within 24–48 hours; contact the specific embassy for current timelines and appointment availability.

Is a police report required to replace a lost passport abroad?

A police report is not required by the State Department, but it is strongly recommended because it supports travel insurance claims and helps consular officers verify the circumstances of the loss.

What if I’m back in the U.S. and need a replacement within two weeks?

If your travel is 2 days to 4 weeks out and you’re more than two hours from a regional passport agency, a registered courier like Fast Passport Center can handle form preparation and secure delivery to a processing agency on your behalf.