To replace a lost U.S. passport, report it lost or stolen to the State Department, then apply in person using Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility with proof of citizenship, a photo ID, one passport photo, and the $165 fee for an adult book. Routine processing runs four to six weeks; paying $60 extra for expedited service brings that down to two to three weeks. Report the loss quickly, because the moment you do, the passport is canceled for good, even if it turns up later.
Report the Loss Before You Apply
Reporting is not optional. It protects you from someone else using the document, and it’s what allows you to apply for a new one. You have three ways to do it:
- Online, using Form DS-64 through the State Department’s online form filler.
- By phone, at the National Passport Information Center: 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793).
- In person, at the acceptance facility when you apply for the replacement.
Once reported, the passport is canceled permanently. You cannot travel on it even if you find it in a coat pocket the next week. Trying to use a canceled passport can get you stopped at security or turned away at a foreign border.1U.S. Department of State. Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen
What to Bring to Your Appointment
The replacement uses Form DS-11, the same form first-time applicants use. If you haven’t already reported the loss separately, submit Form DS-64 with your application. Both are on the State Department’s online form filler or can be printed and completed by hand.2USAGov. Lost or Stolen Passports
Along with the forms, bring:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: a certified birth certificate from a state or local authority, a naturalization certificate, or a consular report of birth abroad. Photocopies are not accepted.
- A valid, current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license.
- One color passport photo, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months, with a white or off-white background, neutral expression, both eyes open, and mouth closed.3U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
- Any details you remember about the lost passport: number, approximate issue date, anything else on hand. These aren’t strictly required, but they speed things along.
If Your Photo ID Was Lost Too
A stolen wallet often takes the driver’s license with the passport. Without a primary photo ID, bring at least two secondary documents. Acceptable ones include a Social Security card, voter registration card, employee or student ID, expired driver’s license, or Medicare card. If that still isn’t enough, you can bring an identifying witness who has known you for at least two years to complete Form DS-71 in front of the acceptance agent. DS-71 is available at acceptance facilities and passport agencies.4U.S. Department of State. Get Photo ID for a U.S. Passport
Where to Apply
You have to apply in person. Mail-in renewal isn’t available for lost passports because the State Department needs to verify your identity face to face. Acceptance facilities include many post offices, public libraries, and clerks of court. The State Department’s website has a search tool that finds facilities by ZIP code.5U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
Most participating post offices require an appointment booked through the USPS website. Appointments take about 15 minutes, and you should arrive 10 minutes early. Some clerks of court and libraries take walk-ins, but call first.6United States Postal Service. Schedule An Appointment
At the counter, an acceptance agent watches you sign the DS-11, so don’t sign it in advance. The agent collects your citizenship document, photo, and ID, seals everything into a secure envelope for the processing center, and gives you a receipt.
What It Costs
An adult passport book runs $165 total: a $130 application fee to the Department of State and a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. The two are paid separately.7U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
A passport card, which is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda but not for international air travel, has a $30 application fee plus the same $35 execution fee.8U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Optional add-ons: $60 for expedited processing, and $22.05 for 1-to-3-day return delivery of the finished passport.9U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
How Long It Takes
Routine processing currently takes four to six weeks. Expedited processing takes two to three weeks for the extra $60.10U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
If You Need It Fast
With international travel two to six weeks out, pay the $60 expedited fee at the counter and consider adding the $22.05 delivery upgrade. That combination gets most people their passport in time.9U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
If your trip is inside 14 calendar days, standard expedited service through an acceptance facility isn’t fast enough. Book an appointment at one of the State Department’s passport agencies or centers, which serve urgent travelers by appointment only. Schedule through the online passport appointment system or by calling 1-877-487-2778.11U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
For life-or-death emergencies involving a seriously ill or dying immediate family member abroad, the State Department can process a passport within 24 hours. You’ll need documentation, such as a death certificate or hospital records.
Replacing a Child’s Passport
Children under 16 use a similar process with two differences. The application fee is $100 instead of $130, plus the $35 execution fee, for $135 total.12U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
The larger hurdle is consent. Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child. If one cannot, that parent completes Form DS-3053, a notarized statement of consent, submitted with a photocopy of their ID.13U.S. Embassy & Consulates. DS-11 / DS-3053 – Wizard Results
If the absent parent can’t be located, the applying parent files Form DS-5525 to explain the family circumstances. Military families run into this often, and a deploying parent can sign a notarized DS-3053 before leaving.
If You Lost the Passport Overseas
Losing your passport abroad is a different situation, because you can’t board a flight home without a valid travel document. Report the loss and contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate right away. Appear in person with a passport photo, any ID you still have (an expired license counts), proof of citizenship if you have it, and your travel itinerary.14Travel.State.Gov. Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad
Consular staff can usually issue a replacement by the next business day. If there isn’t time for a full replacement, they can issue an emergency passport valid for up to one year. Embassies and consulates generally do not process passports on weekends or holidays, though after-hours duty officers handle genuine life-or-death emergencies.