How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad or at Home

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Replacing a lost or stolen passport can be a tedious experience when you are on US soil, however it can be just plain nerve-wracking when you’re abroad. If any of you have ever had to replace your lost or stolen passport abroad, then you know how intimidating it can be. The good news is that it happens a hundred times a day, all over the world. So before you panic, WeExpats has put together a handy article for how to replace a lost or stolen passport abroad.

IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PASSPORT ABROAD:

If you have lost your passport and you need to replace a lost or stolen passport, then it is important that you deal with this issue as soon as possible. Your passport is what guarantees you the rights and protections as a tourist in another country. Also, it is what identifies you as a citizen of your home country. Lastly, it is crucial in leaving any country and reentering your home country.

FIRST STEPS AFTER YOU LOST YOUR PASSPORT – OR IT WAS STOLEN ABROAD:

The first step is to call your country’s embassy. In the case of the United States, you have to reach out to the Consular Section of the US Embassy where you are located. To find your local embassy, click here. The Consular Section is the department that will schedule you for an appointment to replace your lost or stolen passport.

IF YOU HAVE HAD YOUR PASSPORT STOLEN ABROAD, FILE A POLICE REPORT:

If you have had your passport stolen, then it is a good idea to file a police report in the country where you are located. There is likely little that can be done to recover your passport—however you never know—but this police report and a photocopy of your passport can streamline the process of getting a new or temporary passport issued to you.

WHAT YOU MUST BRING WITH YOU TO THE US EMBASSY:

You must bring several items along:

• Any other form of identification will be crucial in getting a new passport reissued to you. This could be a driver’s license or a social security card for example.
• Before traveling, it is always a good idea to have a photocopy of your passport. Bring this with you for your appointment.
• You will also be asked to provide a travel itinerary of where you are headed and when you will be returning back to the United States.

WHAT WILL BE ISSUED TO YOU AFTER YOU REPLACE YOUR LOST OR STOLEN PASSPORT ABROAD:

In some cases you will be issued a full replacement passport. This passport is valid for ten years, and will work just like your original passport. However, the consular officer might identify special circumstances in which case you will only be issued a temporary passport that will only work for a short time, and will simply allow you to finish your travels and get home on US soil.

The Consular Section of your local US Embassy can also help you to replace lost visas in the event that your visa was taken with your passport. They will help determine what you will need to exit the country safely and securely, and then they will help you in filling out the necessary requirements.

IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PASSPORT IN THE US:

If you have to replace a lost or stolen passport in the United States, then you can do it quite simply. They can often be settled with a quick trip to the Post Office. This process differs from renewing your US passport. There are two main forms that you must fill out in their entirety when you are replacing a lost or stolen passport in the United States:

• Form DS-11 – The Standard Passport Application
• Form DS-64 – The Statement of Lost or Stolen Passport

The Statement of Lost or Stolen Passport will ask you several questions regarding how you came to lose your passport, or how your passport was stolen. These questions include:

• Where did the loss of the passport occur?
• How was the passport lost?
• When did the loss of the passport occur?
• Has this happened before?

Once both your forms are fully completed they should be packaged and mailed together. You can send these documents through any Passport Application Acceptance Facility. The good news is all United States Post Offices are designated as Passport Application Acceptance Facilities. They can help you process your two forms correctly.

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND YOU NEED A RUSH DELIVERY OF YOUR LOST OR STOLEN PASSPORT:

For those individuals who have the unfortunate luck of losing their passport within two weeks of traveling, there is still hope. You must first call and make an appointment at a Passport Agency or a Passport Center to have a rush delivery placed on your passport request. To find your nearest Passport Agency, click here. When travelers appear in person, they can receive their passport as early as eight days, however you will have to pay additional fees.

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