Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad: What to Do
Short answer
If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen abroad, report it immediately (form DS-64, online or at the embassy) and contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a replacement in person. Consulates can typically issue an emergency, limited-validity passport within a few business days — fast enough for most travelers to continue or return home.
Step 1: Report it lost or stolen
Report the loss as soon as you notice it — online through the State Department's system, or on form DS-64 at the embassy. Reporting cancels the passport permanently; a canceled passport can never be re-validated, even if you find it later.
If the passport was stolen, also file a local police report. Some embassies and some countries' exit-immigration desks ask for it, and it supports any later identity-theft concerns.
Step 2: Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
Replacement passports require an in-person visit. Most posts take emergency cases without a regular appointment — check the post's website for its lost-passport procedure and hours, since these vary by location.
Our embassy directory lists every U.S. embassy and consulate with its address, phone, and official site, so you can find the right post wherever you are.
Step 3: Bring what you can
Bring a passport photo (many posts have photo booths or can direct you), any ID you still have, a copy of the lost passport if you have one, your travel itinerary, and the police report for thefts. Missing some of these is normal after a theft — consular staff work with what you have.
Fees match routine passport fees; posts accept local payment methods that vary by location. If your money was stolen too, tell the consulate — they can help arrange funds from family.
What you'll receive
Most travelers receive an emergency limited-validity passport, often valid for up to a year — enough to finish your trip or fly home. You then replace it with a full-validity passport back in the U.S.; the State Department generally waives the fee if you exchange the emergency passport within its validity.
If your destination requires a visa you already held, ask the consulate for guidance — replacement procedures for foreign visas differ by country.
PassportOffices is an independent resource, not a government website. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always confirm details at travel.state.gov before you travel.