OMG, I Lost My Passport While Traveling Abroad!
Ok breathe, you aren’t the first one to lose your passport while traveling abroad and you certainly won’t be the last. Here are the facts you need to know:
You will have to replace the passport before returning to the United States
If there was a crime involved, you’ll need to report it at the same time (this includes if your passport or other items were stolen)
You will have to pay the fees for replacement passport (if you don’t have access to funds there are options discussed below)
You will need to get another passport photo (and if you can get this before you visit the embassy or consulate it will help speed up the process)
Most U.S. embassies and consulates cannot issue passports on weekends or holidays (however there are after-hours duty officers available to assist with life or death emergencies of U.S. citizens abroad)
Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Before you travel, make sure you have the information for the closest embassy or consulate for each place you visit. If your travel plans to leave the country are quickly approaching, be sure to tell the consular so that they can work to expedite your new passport as quickly as possible and not risk rebooking or canceling your travel plans.
PARATUS-Tip: Take a screen shot of the contact information and email it to yourself (if your phone is stolen you can always access your email at a hotel or internet café while abroad).
What you need to get a replacement passport while abroad
A Passport Photo (don’t forget, if you can get it in advance it will help to speed up the process of replacing your passport while at the embassy or consulate but just make sure that wherever you get it taken knows the U.S. passport photo size and layout requirements.)
Identification (driver's license, expired passport etc.)
Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, photocopy of your missing passport)
Travel Itinerary (airline/train tickets)
Police Report, if available
DS-11 Application for Passport (may be completed at time of application)
DS-64 Form, which is a form used to provide an official statement explaining how your passport was either lost or stolen
About replacement passports
Replacement passports are (normally) valid for the same time-frame as your regular passport. Ten years for adults or five years for minors. Under certain circumstances though you may be issued an emergency passport with limited-validity. (these can be processed very quickly and once you return home it can be exchanged for a regular full-validity passport).
Paying for your passport while abroad
If you were robbed or a victim of a crime while abroad and you don’t have a way to obtain money (friends and family cannot assist) to pay the passport fees before continuing travel, the passport fee may be waived. You will be issued a limited-validity passport. When you return to the United States and go to obtain your regular passport, you will be required to pay the fees.
How your friends and family can help you
Always give a trusted family or close friend a copy of your passport information page (you should also keep a copy of the passport information page of everyone traveling together in a secure location as well). Make sure you also provide them with the contact information for the Office of Overseas Citizen Services at the U.S. Department of State (1-888-407-4747). If you didn’t gather the information about the local consulate or embassy for the places you are traveling before you left – your friends and family can help you locate this information by having them contact the Office of Overseas Citizen Services.
PARATUS-Tip: Make sure your travel advisor has a copy of your passport as well. They can usually assist you in case of a lost or stolen passport
IMPORTANT NOTE: You should only report your U.S. passport lost or stolen if the original, physical version of the passport book or passport card has been lost or stolen. Once you report a U.S. passport lost or stolen, it is invalid and cannot be used for international travel.