What to Do When Your Passport Goes Missing Overseas

Report your lost passport to the U.S. State Department right away

If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in person or by phone before doing anything else. They will file a report, invalidate your current passport so no one else can use it, and begin the process of issuing you a replacement document. The embassy or consulate handles this directly — you do not report to police first or contact the State Department in Washington.

Find the embassy or consulate phone number and address on the State Department's website by searching for your country. Many embassies have emergency numbers that work outside business hours. When you call, tell them your passport number if you have it memorized or know it from a photo, but do not delay the call if you do not — they can look it up by your name and date of birth.

Bring your original birth certificate, a government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, or military ID), and a completed Form DS-11 or DS-82 when you go in person. If you cannot get to the embassy, some consulates will accept reports by mail or email, though this takes longer. Ask when you call what documents they need and whether you can submit them remotely.

Key Takeaways

• Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you are located, not the State Department in Washington.
• You will need your birth certificate, a government-issued ID, and a completed passport form to get a replacement.
• Emergency passports issued abroad are valid for one to two years and must be renewed when you return to the United States.
• If your passport was stolen, file a police report in that country and bring the report number to the embassy.
• Replacement passports take one to two weeks at most embassies, though some offer same-day service for an additional fee.

Get an emergency passport if you need to leave immediately

If you have a flight booked within days or must leave the country urgently, the embassy can issue a temporary emergency passport on the spot or within 24 hours. This document is valid for one to two years and covers travel home and basic international movement, but it has restrictions — some countries will not accept it, and you cannot use it to apply for visas.

An emergency passport costs more than a standard replacement and requires you to appear in person at the embassy. Bring the same documents you would for a regular replacement: birth certificate, government ID, and the completed form. The embassy will take a photo of you there, so you do not need to bring one.

Once you return to the United States, you must apply for a regular passport to replace the emergency one. The emergency passport is a bridge to get you home, not a permanent solution. Plan to visit a passport acceptance facility or renewal agency within a few weeks of arriving back.

File a police report if your passport was stolen

If someone stole your passport rather than you simply losing it, file a report with the local police in the country where the theft occurred. Get a copy of the report or the report number — you will need this when you go to the embassy. The police report protects you if someone tries to use your invalidated passport fraudulently and documents the theft for your records.

You do not need the police report to get a replacement passport, but having it speeds up the process and protects you legally. Some embassies will not issue a replacement without one if the passport was clearly stolen rather than lost. Ask the embassy staff when you call whether they require a police report for your situation.

If your wallet or bag was stolen along with your passport, also report the theft of those items to police. This creates a single incident report that covers everything and is useful if you need to file an insurance claim later.

Gather documents before you go to the embassy

You will need an original or certified copy of your birth certificate. If you do not have one with you, you can request an expedited copy from your state's vital records office and have it mailed to the embassy, though this adds time. Some embassies will accept a certified copy sent by email or fax if you cannot get the original there in time.

Bring a government-issued photo ID: a driver's license, state ID card, or military ID. If you do not have one of these, bring a passport card if you have one, or ask the embassy what alternatives they accept. A credit card, school ID, or work badge will not work.

Complete Form DS-11 (Application for a U.S. Passport) or Form DS-82 (U.S. Passport Renewal Application) depending on whether you are replacing a lost passport or renewing one that is still valid. You can download these forms from the State Department website or ask the embassy to provide them. Fill them out before you arrive so the appointment moves faster.

Understand the cost and timeline for replacement

A replacement passport issued at an embassy abroad costs more than one issued in the United States. The exact fee varies by embassy and whether you choose standard or expedited service. Call ahead to ask what they charge and whether they accept credit cards, cash, or both — some embassies do not accept all payment methods.

Standard replacement takes one to two weeks at most embassies. Expedited service, available at larger embassies, can produce a passport in one to three business days for an additional fee. Emergency passports are issued the same day or next business day but are temporary and valid for only one to two years.

Once you have the replacement passport in hand, you can travel. If you received an emergency passport, remember that you must apply for a regular passport when you return to the United States — the emergency document expires and cannot be renewed abroad.

Protect yourself from identity theft after a stolen passport

If your passport was stolen, monitor your credit reports for fraudulent accounts or charges. You can request free credit reports from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at annualcreditreport.com. Check them for accounts you did not open or inquiries you did not authorize.

Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file with one of the three bureaus. This tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. The alert lasts one year and is free. You can also place a credit freeze, which blocks access to your credit report entirely until you unfreeze it — this is stronger protection but requires you to unfreeze it when you want to apply for credit yourself.

Keep a record of your new passport number, the date it was issued, and the date it expires. Store this information separately from your passport — in your email, a password manager, or with a trusted person at home. If your passport is lost or stolen again, you will have this information ready for the embassy.

Know what to do if you cannot reach the embassy

If the embassy is closed, under lockdown, or unreachable by phone, call the State Department's 24-hour emergency line at 1-888-407-4747 from abroad. This line handles Americans in crisis situations, including lost or stolen passports. They can connect you with the nearest available embassy or consulate and may be able to help you get temporary travel documents.

If you are in a country with no U.S. embassy, contact the embassy in the nearest country. The State Department website lists which embassy covers your location if there is no consulate where you are. Some embassies handle passport services for multiple countries in a region.

If you are stranded without money or documents, the embassy can also help you contact family or friends in the United States to arrange funds or a loan. They cannot provide money directly, but they can facilitate communication and advise you on options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel without a passport while waiting for a replacement?

No. You cannot leave the country or board an international flight without a valid passport or an emergency passport issued by the embassy. If you need to travel before your replacement is ready, ask the embassy about an emergency passport. If you are stuck waiting, you will need to delay travel or change your plans.

What if I do not have my birth certificate with me?

Contact your state's vital records office and request an expedited copy. Many states can mail a certified copy within one to two weeks. Ask the embassy whether they will accept a copy sent by email or fax while you wait for the original, or whether you must have the original in hand before they issue a replacement.

Will a lost passport affect my visa status in the country I am in?

Not usually. Your visa is tied to your passport number, but once you report the passport lost, the embassy invalidates it and issues a new one. You may need to register your new passport number with local immigration authorities in the country you are visiting — ask the embassy or your hotel what the local requirement is.

How long is an emergency passport valid?

Emergency passports issued abroad are valid for one to two years, depending on the embassy. You must apply for a regular passport to replace it once you return to the United States. A regular passport is valid for 10 years (or 5 years if you are under 16), so plan to renew as soon as you get home.

Can someone use my lost passport to travel?

Once you report it lost to the embassy, it is invalidated and cannot be used for travel. However, if someone tries to use it before you report it, they may be able to board a flight or enter a country. This is why reporting it immediately is critical. If you suspect someone has already used it, tell the embassy when you report it lost.