How to apply for a lost or stolen passport
Introduction
Have you lost or had your passport stolen? Don’t worry; that’s not the end of the world. You can still get a new one and travel again. Just follow these steps:
Check the expiry date.
You should also check the date of expiry. If it’s less than six months, apply for a new passport. If it’s more than six months but not more than two years, you can still apply for a replacement passport even though your existing one is still valid. If it has been more than two years since your last renewal or issue date, however, then you won’t be able to renew or replace your document at all–you’ll need to start over with an entirely new application process (and pay all applicable fees).
Make a police report.
When you’ve lost or had your passport stolen, the first thing to do is make a police report. This can be done at any police station in Australia and will involve filling out some forms (you’ll need to bring along your passport, as well as any other documents that prove your identity). The officer who takes down all of this information will give you a copy of their report.
Gather proof of your identification.
To apply for a lost or stolen passport, you’ll need to provide proof of your identity. A driver’s license or birth certificate will work in most cases, but if you don’t have either of these things on hand, don’t worry–you can still get help from the embassy.
Capture the steps you take to get your passport replaced.
To help you get your replacement passport faster, it’s important that you capture all the steps you take. Keep a log of all the places you go, people you speak to and documents that are provided. This will make it easier for them to verify that their records match yours when they process your application.
Make sure you have a backup plan while you wait for your replacement passports to arrive.
While you wait for your replacement passports to arrive, make sure you have a backup plan in place. Here are some things to consider:
- Travel – If you’re traveling soon and need a passport right away, check the website of the country where you’re going. Some countries will allow travelers who have lost their passports entry into the country on other forms of identification until they get new ones delivered by mail. (However, this might not apply if they’ve been issued visas.)
- Work – If there are any important business trips or meetings coming up while waiting for replacement passports to arrive in the mail, talk with HR about what options are available so that nothing falls through the cracks during this time of transition from one document holder to another–and make sure everyone knows what those options are! They may include getting someone else with access privileges at work (like your boss) to sign off on certain documents in advance so that when things do come together as planned later down line, there aren’t any surprises along the way.”
You can replace lost or stolen passports, but it takes time and effort
Replacing your passport is a lengthy process that requires patience and attention to detail. The first step is to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area, either by phone or online chat and make an appointment for an in-person interview with an agent who will verify your identity and determine if you have any other options besides replacement of lost/stolen passport.
You’ll need to bring proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate), as well as a photo ID (like driver’s license). You’ll also need to prove why you’re applying for a replacement: if it was stolen from you somewhere outside of the United States, then bring along any police reports from when it happened; if someone stole it from inside America but outside Washington D C., bring along documentation showing this fact (e g., plane ticket).
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to replace lost or stolen passports. As you can see, the process is not easy and requires a lot of effort on your part. We recommend that you keep copies of all documents, photographs, and other information safe so that if anything happens to your passport in the future, then it will be easy for you to get it replaced.