What to do if your passport is stolen is to report the theft immediately, invalidate the document through the U.S. Department of State, and apply for a replacement. U.S. travelers normally complete Form DS-64 and Form DS-11, while people abroad contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for replacement or emergency travel documentation.
Key Facts
A reported U.S. passport becomes invalid and cannot be used, even if someone later returns it.
Report the theft online to the U.S. Department of State or submit Form DS-64 with the replacement application.
A standard adult passport book costs $130, plus a $35 execution fee when applicable; expedited service adds $60.
A replacement normally requires Form DS-11 and an in-person appointment, not a normal mail-in renewal.
A U.S. embassy or consulate may issue an emergency passport abroad, but timing and destination acceptance are not guaranteed.
A police report helps document theft and may assist with identity fraud, but the State Department generally does not require one to replace the passport.
What to Do If Your Passport Is Stolen Immediately
The first actions are to secure your safety, report the theft, and cancel the passport. Contact local police when the theft occurred in the United States, then report the document to the U.S. Department of State; travelers abroad should also contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before arranging replacement travel.
Use this order:
- Move to a safe location. Do not confront a suspected thief or return to an unsafe area for the document.
- Check whether other items were taken. Cancel stolen payment cards and contact your mobile carrier if a phone was also lost.
- File a local police report. Request the report number, agency name, date, and a copy if available.
- Report the passport stolen. Use the State Department’s online lost-or-stolen passport reporting system, or complete Form DS-64.
- Apply for a new passport. Complete Form DS-11 and follow the in-person application instructions.
- Contact travel providers. Ask the airline, cruise operator, tour company, and destination authorities about document deadlines.
- Protect your identity. Monitor accounts and consider a credit freeze if the passport was stolen with financial or identity documents.
A police report and a State Department report perform different jobs. Police record the suspected crime; the State Department cancels the travel document in its passport system. A police report cannot reactivate or replace the passport.
The State Department’s lost and stolen passport guidance states, “Once you report your passport lost or stolen, it is no longer valid.” That rule applies even when the passport is found later. Do not attempt to board with it.
How the Replacement Process Works
A stolen passport replacement generally uses two forms: DS-64 reports the loss or theft, and DS-11 requests the new passport. Most applicants submit both through an acceptance facility or passport agency because a stolen document usually cannot be renewed with the simpler DS-82 process.
Form DS-64 Reports the Theft
Form DS-64 asks for identifying information, the passport number if known, the date and location of the theft, and the circumstances. Online reporting is usually the fastest way to cancel a passport when the holder is in the United States.
After online submission, follow the instructions for applying for a replacement. Reporting the theft alone does not produce a new passport. If the passport number is unavailable, provide as much identifying information as possible.
Form DS-11 Requests the New Document
Form DS-11 is the application for a new U.S. passport book, passport card, or both. Do not sign it until the passport acceptance agent or passport agency representative instructs you to do so.
Typical supporting materials include:
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate or a previous passport record
- Physical identification, such as a valid driver license
- A photocopy of the front and back of the identification document
- One compliant passport photo
- Form DS-64, unless the theft was reported online
- Payment for the application, execution, expedited, and delivery services selected
The acceptance agent may require an original citizenship document and will generally return it separately from the new passport. Requirements can vary for children, applicants with limited identification, and people whose citizenship evidence is unavailable.
Why a Normal Renewal Usually Does Not Apply
A stolen passport is not physically available for submission, so most applicants cannot use DS-82 by mail. The replacement route is normally DS-11, even when the stolen passport was recently issued or would otherwise qualify for renewal.
That distinction prevents a common delay. Sending a DS-82 without the required passport can result in the application being rejected or returned for a different process.
How Much Does a Stolen Passport Replacement Cost?
A replacement usually costs $165 for an adult passport book when the $130 application fee and $35 execution fee both apply. The total rises to $225 with the $60 expedited service fee, before optional faster return delivery or other agency-specific expenses.
| Document or service | Government fee | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book | $130 | International air travel and general passport use |
| Adult passport card | $30 | Land or sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries |
| Book and card together | $160 | Applicants needing both document types |
| Execution fee | $35 | First-time or DS-11 applications accepted at a facility |
| Expedited processing | $60 | Faster processing than routine service |
| Optional 1-2 day return delivery | Variable | Faster delivery of a passport book after issuance |
The State Department sets passport fees, and applicants should verify current amounts on Travel.State.gov before paying. Acceptance facilities may accept payment differently from passport agencies, so check whether the facility requires a check, money order, card, or separate payment.
A passport card is not a substitute for a passport book on international flights. It is primarily useful for limited land and sea travel, and its lower price does not make it suitable for every itinerary.
How Long Does Replacement Take?
Routine and expedited processing times are estimates that exclude mailing. Current State Department processing windows can change with application volume, staffing, seasonal demand, and delivery time; applicants should check the official processing-times page on the day they apply.
| Processing route | Typical processing estimate | Mailing or appointment issue |
|---|---|---|
| Routine service | About 4-6 weeks | Add mailing time in both directions |
| Expedited service | About 2-3 weeks | Add mailing time unless applying at an agency |
| Urgent travel agency appointment | Often within 14 calendar days of travel | Appointment availability is limited |
| Life-or-death emergency | Case-specific | Requires qualifying documentation and urgent travel evidence |
| Embassy emergency document abroad | Same day to several days in some cases | Local conditions, staffing, and destination rules control |
The older 6-8 week estimate still appears in many travel articles, but official processing estimates change. Treat every published timeframe as a planning range rather than a promise.
An urgent passport agency appointment is generally intended for people with international travel within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days when a foreign visa is required, subject to current State Department rules and appointment availability. A life-or-death emergency requires evidence such as medical documentation, proof of relationship, and confirmed travel.
Expert insight: The most important timing calculation includes mailing. An applicant who selects expedited processing but sends the application through ordinary mail may lose several days before the application enters processing and several more before the replacement arrives.
What Happens If the Passport Was Stolen Abroad?
A traveler abroad should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, file a local police report when practical, and ask about a replacement passport or emergency passport. Consular staff verify identity and citizenship, assess the itinerary, and determine which document can be issued under local conditions.
Contact the embassy or consulate through the official State Department website, not an unofficial number found in a search advertisement. The consular section may ask for:
- A completed DS-64 and DS-11
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- A copy of the stolen passport, if available
- Another government-issued identification document
- A police report or theft reference
- A passport photo meeting U.S. specifications
- Proof of imminent travel, such as a ticket or itinerary
- Information about visas and entry permits for the destination
A limited-validity emergency passport may be issued when a traveler has urgent needs, but a consular post is not required to guarantee a 24-48-hour result. Some destinations, airlines, cruise lines, or transit countries may reject an emergency document or require additional validity.
| Overseas situation | Best first contact | Likely document option | Main constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel in 1-3 days | U.S. embassy or consulate | Emergency or limited-validity passport | Appointment and destination acceptance |
| Travel in 2-4 weeks | Consular section | Full-validity or emergency passport | Local production and delivery capacity |
| No immediate travel | Consular section | Standard replacement passport | Processing and appointment availability |
| Passport stolen with visa | Embassy and visa-issuing country | New passport plus separate visa guidance | Visa may need replacement or transfer |
| Minor traveler abroad | Embassy or consulate | Child passport under parental rules | Consent and identity verification |
Ask the consular officer whether the emergency document must be exchanged for a full-validity passport after returning to the United States. Some emergency passports have restricted validity or are issued only for a specific journey.
What Happens to a Visa in a Stolen Passport?
A visa and a passport are separate documents, so a valid visa may sometimes remain usable after the passport containing it is stolen, but the visa-issuing country controls that decision. A traveler should never assume the visa remains valid without checking the relevant embassy or consulate.
When a valid visa is in an old, expired, or damaged passport, some countries permit travel with both the old passport containing the visa and the new passport. That practice does not automatically apply when the old passport was reported stolen, because the document itself has been canceled and may be flagged in border systems.
Tell the U.S. consular officer about every visa in the stolen passport. Then contact the country that issued each visa and ask whether it must be replaced, transferred, or reissued. Keep copies of visa pages, application confirmations, and entry permits in a secure location.
Expert insight: Replacing the U.S. passport does not replace a foreign visa. A traveler who books a new flight before confirming visa treatment can face denied boarding even after receiving a valid replacement passport.
Passport Book, Passport Card, and Emergency Document Compared
The passport book is the standard document for international air travel. The passport card supports specific land and sea crossings, while an emergency passport is a temporary solution whose usability depends on the issuing consulate and destination.
| Document | Air travel internationally | Land or sea travel | Validity or limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport book | Accepted for international flights | Accepted broadly | Standard full-validity document |
| Passport card | Not accepted for international air travel | Accepted for qualifying Western Hemisphere crossings | Limited geographic use |
| Emergency passport | Destination and airline dependent | Destination dependent | Often limited validity |
| Foreign national ID | Usually not accepted by the United States as a passport substitute | Country-specific | Depends on nationality and border rule |
Do not choose a passport card as the replacement merely because it costs less. The card cannot meet the document requirement for a flight from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, or most other international air routes.
What If the Stolen Passport Is Found?
A passport reported lost or stolen must not be used after it is found. The State Department cancels the document to prevent misuse, and the cancellation normally cannot be reversed.
Write “CANCELED” across the document only if instructed by the State Department, or follow the return instructions provided with the replacement. Do not throw it into ordinary recycling if it contains personal information, and do not give it to another person.
| Found-document scenario | Can the passport be used? | Correct action |
|---|---|---|
| Found before reporting theft | Yes, if still valid and undamaged | Verify status before travel |
| Found after online DS-64 report | No | Follow State Department disposal or return instructions |
| Found after receiving replacement | No | Keep records and surrender as directed |
| Found with an active foreign visa | Passport no, visa status uncertain | Ask the visa-issuing authority |
| Found after police report only | Usually yes if not canceled | Report status to police and confirm with State Department |
The safest rule is simple: reporting ends the document’s travel life. A recovered passport does not become valid again because the theft report was accidental.
How Should You Protect Against Identity Theft?
A passport contains enough personal information to support impersonation attempts, especially when it was stolen with a driver license, Social Security card, bank cards, or mail. Report the theft to the State Department, then use the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov recovery process if accounts or identity records show suspicious activity.
Take these actions:
- Contact banks and card issuers about stolen payment instruments.
- Place a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion when identity misuse is possible.
- Review bank, credit-card, tax, and email activity for unfamiliar changes.
- Replace a stolen driver license through the issuing state agency.
- Report a stolen Social Security card through the Social Security Administration process.
- Save the police report number and State Department confirmation.
- Be cautious of calls demanding payment for “passport recovery” or expedited release.
The State Department does not ask travelers to pay an unknown caller to cancel a passport. Use Travel.State.gov and official embassy websites for contact details.
Expert insight: A secure copy of the passport biographical page speeds identity verification, but an unencrypted scan stored in email or a public cloud folder creates a second exposure. Store an encrypted copy offline and give a paper copy to a trusted emergency contact.
What Should Families Do When a Child’s Passport Is Stolen?
A child’s stolen passport requires the same immediate cancellation steps, but the replacement application has additional parental-consent requirements. The child generally must appear in person with the parents or guardians, and the exact evidence depends on the child’s age and custody circumstances.
For applicants under 16, the State Department generally requires the child and both parents or guardians to appear, or requires acceptable consent documentation when one parent cannot attend. Bring the child’s citizenship evidence, proof of parental relationship, identification copies, and any custody order or consent form that applies.
For applicants aged 16 or 17, the State Department has different appearance and parental-awareness rules. Confirm the current requirements before the appointment, particularly when the child is traveling without a parent.
Common Mistakes That Delay Replacement
The most damaging mistakes are using a canceled passport, choosing the wrong application form, and planning around processing time without accounting for mailing or visa rules. Each error can create a separate delay even when the theft itself was reported promptly.
| Mistake | Immediate consequence | Better practice |
|---|---|---|
| Using a passport after reporting it stolen | Denied boarding or border problems | Apply for and use a new document |
| Mailing DS-82 without the stolen passport | Application may be returned | Use DS-11 and DS-64 |
| Waiting for a police report before cancellation | State Department report is delayed | Cancel first when necessary, then obtain police documentation |
| Buying expedited service without urgent travel proof | Extra fee without agency access | Check eligibility and processing estimates |
| Assuming an emergency passport works everywhere | Airline or border refusal | Confirm destination and transit acceptance |
| Ignoring a visa inside the stolen passport | Denied boarding or entry | Contact the foreign visa authority |
| Posting a passport scan publicly | Increased identity exposure | Store copies privately and securely |
A police report is valuable, but it should not postpone cancellation when the report will take days or the traveler is abroad. The State Department’s replacement process and the local criminal investigation proceed separately.
Preventing Problems on the Next Trip
Store the passport in a locked hotel safe or secure personal pouch when it is not needed, and keep the physical document separate from cash and payment cards. Carrying everything together turns one theft into a travel, financial, and identity emergency.
Before departure, create a document record containing:
- Passport biographical page
- Passport number and expiration date
- Foreign visa pages
- Travel insurance policy
- Airline and lodging confirmations
- Emergency contact details
- Copies of identification and citizenship evidence
Do not rely on a phone-only record. Battery failure, theft, roaming restrictions, or loss of account access can make digital documents unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do If Your Passport Is Stolen
Do I need a police report to replace a stolen U.S. passport?
The U.S. Department of State generally does not require a police report to cancel and replace a stolen passport. A report remains useful because it documents the crime, supports insurance or identity-theft claims, and may be requested by an embassy, airline, employer, or foreign authority.
Can someone use my passport after I report it stolen?
A reported passport is invalid in the State Department’s records, so it should not be accepted for legitimate travel. Criminals may still attempt identity fraud with the biographical information. Monitor accounts, protect related identity documents, and report suspicious use to the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement.
Can I travel while waiting for my replacement passport?
You cannot travel internationally with a passport that was reported stolen. You may travel after receiving a valid replacement, or after an embassy issues an emergency document accepted by the airline and every destination or transit country on the itinerary.
What if I do not know my stolen passport number?
You can still report the theft and apply for a replacement. Provide your full name, date and place of birth, approximate issuance details, and any copy or photograph available. The State Department can use its records to identify the document.
Can I replace a stolen passport from another state?
Yes. A U.S. citizen can generally apply at an acceptance facility or passport agency outside the state of residence, although appointments, facility rules, and processing options vary. A person abroad must use the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate rather than a domestic acceptance facility.
Does travel insurance pay for passport replacement?
Some travel insurance policies reimburse replacement fees, emergency transportation, lodging, or consular expenses, but coverage depends on the policy’s theft, documentation, and claim deadlines. Keep the police report, receipts, State Department confirmation, and evidence of the disrupted itinerary.
Conclusion
What to do if your passport is stolen is straightforward but time-sensitive: report the theft, cancel the document with the U.S. Department of State, complete DS-64 and DS-11, and confirm travel and visa requirements before booking a replacement itinerary. Travelers abroad should contact a U.S. embassy or consulate immediately, while every affected traveler should treat the theft as both a travel-document problem and a potential identity-security problem.