Losing your passport is distressing, to put it mildly, especially if
you plan to travel out of the country in the near future. Following the
proper procedure to report and replace your lost passport is essential
if you want to get back on the road again quickly. Here's what you need
to know:
How to Report Your Lost Passport
If your passport has gone AWOL, the first thing you should do is
search for it, calmly and methodically. Reporting a lost passport is the
same as reporting as a lost credit card: there's no way to undo it, and
it makes the missing passport useless for international travel, even if
you happen to find it 5 minutes after you hang up the phone.
Once you're sure it's gone for good, you can report your missing passport by calling 1-877-487-2778.
How to Replace Your Lost Passport
After you've reported it lost, you'll need to get your passport
replaced. To do so, you'll have to apply in person at a passport office.
Bring the following documents with you to the passport facility:
Proof of identity, like a driver's license or state ID card.
A clean photocopy of the document you're using as proof of identity.
Proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization certificate.
One passport photo.
When you apply, fill out the following forms:
Passport application form DS-11. It's okay to fill it out in advance, just don't sign it until you're told to.
Passport Form DS-64, a statement regarding a lost or stolen passport
You'll also need to pay an application fee to replace your passport
and an execution fee to compensate the passport office for taking your
application. The cost will depend on whether or not you want a passport
card, which is a driver's license-sized card that can be used only for
land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. If you decide to
order a passport card, please be aware that it cannot be used for
international air travel.
Fees to replace a lost passport are $135 for a passport book only, $55 for a passport card only, or $165 for both.
Unfortunately, passport processing takes time. Without expedited
processing, you need to allow at least 6 weeks for your new passport to
arrive at your house. Pay an extra $60 to the Department of State for
expedited service, and you'll probably get it in three weeks. To get it
more quickly, you can either make an appointment at a regional passport
agency office or use a private passport expediter to act as your liaison
to the Department of State.
