Home » Travel & Places » Travel Advice » General Travel Prep

Replacing a Lost Passport

Ranked #7,871 in Travel & Places, #208,726 overall

How to Replace a Lost U.S. Passport

Losing a passport is a real drag. I know. I've been there. Worse, yet, is that it usually happens when you need your travel document the most. Rarely do people discover their passports are missing unless they have an imminent international trip or find themselves in a foreign country preparing to return home. If you find yourself in need of replacing a lost passport, then this lens will provide the information you need concerning how and where to apply. You will even discover how to expedite lost passport replacement. While you are probably in a hurry, please take a few seconds to rate the lens and leave your comments at the end. Enjoy.

Report the Lost Passport

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Form DS-64Reporting the lost passport is a crucial first step. You may decide from a couple of methods concerning how you want to accomplish this. One, you can get in touch with the National Passport Information Center's toll free phone number at 1-877-487-2778. Agents attend inquiries during the week between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm. This does not include federal holiday. A different way to report the loss is to mail in completed form DS-64. The address can be located on the application form.

You should confirm that the passport is, in fact, lost before carrying this out. The passport is invalidated as soon as the Department of State receives the statement. If you locate the lost passport after mailing the report, it can't be re-validated.

Getting Your Lost Passport Replaced

Form DS-11 Application for a New PassportReplacing a lost passport requires you apply for a new passport in person. Requirements include application form DS-11 , a pair of passport pics, proof of American citizenship, identification document and a copy of the identification document. Showing a Social Security card is likewise required.

The fee for a passport book is $110 for an adult and $80 for a minor under age 16. Adults pay just thirty dollars and minors fifteen dollars when applying for the passport card. It can be possible to request a passport book and a passport card with only one application form. There is furthermore a fee paid to the agent of $25 for this service.

Travelers can hand in the application and accompanying documentation at a near by passport office. Applying at these locations for routine processing will get your application processed in 4 to 6 weeks. Asking for expedited service will speed up the process and get it executed within 2-3 weeks. You must pay an extra fee of $60 if you go with this service.

The Quickest Way to Replace a Lost Passport

Get Your Lost Passport Replaced the Same Day

What alternative is available if you need to get a lost passport replaced in under 2 weeks? The only solution is to take the application and documentation to a regional passport processing center. Regional passport agencies offer one day processing to American citizens with urgent travel plans. The phone number you used to report the lost passport must be called to plan your visit.

You are encouraged to show up at the processing center up to fifteen minutes early so that you can get through security and be directed to the correct facility. When called, the passport agent will accept your documents and administer an oath. Later that same day your passport will be made available for pick up.

What can you do if the nearest passport agency is hundred of miles away and you do not have time to travel to it? You can still get your passport replaced quickly. You just have to apply through a professional expediter. Reliable passport expediters can turn in your application form at a regional passport agency if you are unable to show up personally. While the processing itself is likely to be finished in one day, you need to include shipping time to make sure you know precisely how long it will require to have your passport replaced. The overall time for getting the lost passport replacement expedited shouldn't exceed 48 hours assuming you use express mail .

Passport Replacement and Safety Tips

Here are a few tips to help you keep your passport safe and secure. If you lost your passport, then you will want to pay special attention so that id does not happen again. Of course, if it does, the last couple of tips will help you get it replaced.
  • Keep your passport in a safe place. This is good advice whether you are at home or traveling. Don't just throw it on a counter or in a drawer. When storing your passport, designate a safe place and always put it there immediately upon arrival. If you think you might forget where you have placed it, share the location with someone you can trust like a family member or fried.
  • Keep your passport separate from currency and credit cards. On a trip, you are likely to use your wallet many times. If your passport is together with these items, you increase the risk of losing it.
  • Use a passport pouch. If you do not have a safe place at the place you are staying or you do not feel comfortable leaving your passport there, then a passport pouch can help you conceal your travel document while out and about. You can either use one that hangs around your neck or around your waist. Either way, keep it under you clothing. It may not be the most stylish or comfortable thing but it should keep your passport safe.
  • Put your passport away promptly. There are occasions during an international trip that you will have to present your passport. When this happens, try not to give attention to other matters. Keep your eyes on your travel document. When it is returned to you, put it away in the proper place immediately.
  • Make 3 copies of your passport. This will be useful when reporting a lost passport. Take one copy with you but keep it separate from your passport. Give the other two copies to family members or friends whom you can contact in case you lose both your passport and your copy.
  • Scan your passport. This is just one more measure for you to have access to the information contained in it in case it is lost. Send the scanned image to an email account that you can access online or save it in a online file storage account that you have.

Looking for a Business without Boundaries?

Let Your Passion for Travel Set You Free

If you enjoy travel, you need to...

1) watch the video below and

2) click here to discover how Peter made travel his business.
Loading

Good Deals on Passport Pouches

Loading

Cool Passport, Visa & Travel Lenses

Great Information for International Travelers

Loading

Ever Lost Your Passport?

Share your experience. Leave a comment. Add a tip. Help a fellow traveler. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read the lens.

  • Edwardhab7070 Sep 15, 2011 @ 9:45 pm | delete
    When losing something important it is not an easy thing to get back with this lens you showed how to do just that with a passport. I give this a thumbs up.
Show All

by

fastpassport

U.S. Passport Service Guide, the experts in expedited passport, provide American citizens with requirements, applications and instructions for getting... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags