To file Form DS-86 for an undelivered passport, wait at least two weeks after the Department of State mailed the passport, then complete the form, attach a photocopy of the front and back of a valid government-issued photo ID, sign under penalty of perjury, and mail the packet to the specific passport agency that issued the missing document. You must do this within 120 days of the issuance date to get a replacement at no cost.
Confirm the Passport Was Actually Mailed
Start at passportstatus.state.gov. Enter your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number to see the current status of your application.1U.S. Department of State. Check Passport Status When the passport ships, the status changes to “Mailed.” If you gave an email address on your application, a tracking number arrives with that notification, and that tracking number is the quickest way to see whether the package is in transit, delivered to the wrong address, or returned.
If the status reads “Mailed” and nothing arrives after two weeks, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.2U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast The representative will confirm which passport agency issued your document — you need that information to mail the DS-86 to the right place — and walk you through the non-receipt process.
The 120-Day Deadline and the Two-Week Wait
You have 120 days from the issuance date printed in the system to file Form DS-86 and receive a free replacement.3U.S. Department of State. Form DS-86 Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport The clock does not start on the day you applied or the day the passport was mailed. It starts on the issuance date.
You also cannot file immediately. Department of State guidance is to wait at least two weeks after the passport was mailed before reporting non-receipt, since ordinary mail delivery can take that long.4U.S. Department of State. Passport Forms So the practical filing window is roughly day 15 through day 120.
Miss day 120 and the free replacement is gone. You then have to start over with Form DS-11 and pay the $130 application fee plus the $35 acceptance fee.5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Filling Out the Form
Form DS-86 is short, but the details have to match your original application. You’ll provide your full legal name as it appeared on that application, your date of birth, your Social Security number, and the mailing address where the passport was supposed to arrive.3U.S. Department of State. Form DS-86 Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport The Department uses this information to match your claim against its records and trace the delivery failure.
Fill it out in black ink. Sign it personally: your signature is a legal attestation under penalty of perjury that you never received the passport. For an applicant under 16, a parent or legal guardian signs in the separate signature block designated for parents and guardians.3U.S. Department of State. Form DS-86 Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport
With the completed form, include a clear photocopy of the front and back of a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license or state ID card is fine. This is easy to forget, so check the envelope before you seal it. If a parent is signing for a minor, include a copy of the parent’s photo ID.
The current version of the form is available on the Department of State’s forms page.4U.S. Department of State. Passport Forms
Where to Send It
Mail the signed form and the photo ID photocopy to the specific passport agency that issued the missing passport.3U.S. Department of State. Form DS-86 Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport There is no single generic address. Different agencies handle different applications, which is why you need NPIC to tell you which one processed yours and give you the correct mailing address. If you applied from outside the United States, contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for mailing instructions instead.
Use a trackable method, such as USPS Certified Mail or a private carrier with delivery confirmation. That gives you proof of on-time filing if anything gets disputed later. The Department of State does not accept DS-86 submissions electronically unless a passport agent specifically instructs you to send one that way during a phone consultation.
What Happens After You File
Once your DS-86 is processed, the undelivered passport is permanently canceled. The cancellation happens in the Department of State’s systems and the passport number is reported to INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database.6U.S. Department of Justice. INTERPOL Stolen/Lost Travel Document Database Only the passport number, country of issuance, and document type go to INTERPOL; your name and personal details do not.
The replacement then moves through standard processing. As of early 2026, routine processing takes four to six weeks, not counting mail time in either direction. The Department of State notes that paperwork can take up to two weeks to reach it, and the new passport can take another two weeks to reach you.7U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Realistic end-to-end time from mailing the DS-86 to holding a new passport is roughly eight to ten weeks.
If the Original Passport Shows Up After You File
Do not use it. Once the DS-86 is on file, that passport is canceled regardless of what the booklet looks like. The number is flagged in domestic and international security databases, and using it can get the document seized at the border and disrupt your trip. Foreign countries may deny entry.8U.S. Department of State. Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen Federal law at 18 U.S.C. § 1544 makes it a crime to use a passport in violation of the conditions or rules governing its issuance, with penalties reaching up to 10 years in prison for a first or second offense.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 18 – 1544 Destroy the old passport or return it to the Department of State.
If You Have Urgent Travel
The eight-to-ten-week timeline does not work for everyone. If your international travel is within 14 calendar days, or within 28 days when you need a foreign visa stamped in the new passport, you can request an urgent travel appointment at a regional passport agency by calling NPIC at 1-877-487-2778.2U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast Walk-ins are not accepted, and appointments are not guaranteed, so call as early as possible. There is no fee for the appointment itself. Expedited processing, available separately, cuts the timeline to two to three weeks for an additional $60.5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees