When you lose your US passport, the book is treated as invalid for travel the moment you report it lost. You cannot fly internationally on that number even if you find the physical booklet later. You file Form DS-64 with the State Department, then apply for a replacement in person on Form DS-11 with citizenship evidence, ID, photos, and the same fees as a first-time adult application plus the $35 execution fee.
Start at travel.state.gov and read the lost passport section the same day you notice the book is gone. If you are abroad, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate before you try to board a homeward flight. They issue emergency documents when you qualify; they do not hand out spare books from a drawer.
Key takeaways
- Reporting a lost passport voids the old number for travel, even if you find the booklet later.
- Replacement always uses Form DS-11 in person; mail renewal on DS-82 is not available.
- Budget $165 minimum ($130 book + $35 execution) before expedite or photos.
- Routine replacement takes 6-8 weeks; expedited service takes 2-3 weeks with a $60 fee.
- Visas in the lost book do not transfer; you may need new visas on the replacement passport.
What happens immediately
The moment DS-64 is processed, your old passport number is flagged in the State Department system. Border officers should see the book as invalid if someone tries to use it. That protects you if the booklet fell into someone else's hands. It also means you cannot change your mind and travel on the old number after you file the report.
Domestic flights inside the United States do not require a passport book. International trips need a valid book or an emergency document issued by a consulate. If you discover the loss two weeks before a foreign vacation, you are in replacement mode, not renewal mode. The path and fees match a first-time in-person application even if you have held passports for decades.
What you need before you start
Lost passport replacement fails when applicants show up without citizenship proof or with the wrong form. Gather these before you book a post office appointment or drive to an acceptance facility.
Forms and reports
- Form DS-64 lost or stolen passport statement (online or PDF).
- Form DS-11 application for a US passport (do not sign until the clerk instructs you).
- Police report number if the passport was stolen and you filed a local report.
Identity and citizenship
- Proof of US citizenship: certified birth certificate, prior passport photocopy, or naturalization certificate.
- Valid government photo ID plus a black-and-white photocopy.
- One compliant 2x2 passport photo taken within the last six months.
Payment
- $130 book application fee payable to the US Department of State.
- $35 execution fee payable to the acceptance facility.
- $60 expedite fee if you need faster than routine processing.
- About $15 for photos if you do not already have a compliant print.
If the lost passport was your only citizenship proof, gather a long-form birth certificate or naturalization certificate before your appointment. County offices charge for certified copies and mail them on their own timeline. That delay hurts more than the $130 application fee. Read proof of citizenship for a passport before you assume a driver license is enough.
Our printable document checklist covers replacement files with checkboxes for each line.
Step one: report on Form DS-64
Form DS-64 is the lost or stolen passport statement. You can submit it online through the official channel or complete the PDF and mail it with your replacement packet. The report enters the State Department database so border officers know the old passport number should not be used.
Download the current PDF from eforms.state.gov. Answer every question about where and when you last remember having the book. If you suspect theft, say so. A police report helps for insurance but is not always required for the passport itself.
You can file DS-64 the same day you apply on DS-11 at many acceptance facilities. Some locations want the form completed in advance. Call ahead or check the facility page on the acceptance facility locator.
Step two: apply on Form DS-11
Lost passport replacement always uses Form DS-11 in person. Mail renewal on DS-82 is not available because you cannot send in the missing book. Children also use DS-11 with both parents or a consent form. Bring originals and photocopies of citizenship evidence, photo ID, one compliant photo, and payment for each fee line.
The form choice and fee math mirror a first-time application. Our DS-11 vs DS-82 guide explains why replacement skips the mail path even if you had the book for twenty years.
Do not sign DS-11 until the acceptance agent tells you to. The witnessed signature is part of the identity check. A pre-signed form is treated as incomplete and can cost you a second trip.
Cost breakdown for replacement
Replacement triggers every fee that mail renewal avoids. You pay the full book application charge plus execution at the counter. Expedite and optional add-ons stack on top.
| Fee line | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book application | $130 | Paid to the Department of State |
| Execution fee | $35 | Paid at post office or clerk |
| Expedite (optional) | $60 | Speeds production to about 2-3 weeks |
| Passport card (optional) | $30 | Can be added on the same DS-11 |
| Photo (estimate) | ~$15 | Not a government fee |
| File search (if needed) | $150 | When you lack acceptable citizenship proof |
Full replacement totals and add-ons are on our replacement passport cost page. Budget $165 for the book and execution fee before expedite or photos. A rushed replacement with expedite and a new photo often lands near $240. Read hidden passport fees before you assume the total is only $130.
Select replacement in the calculator to see every fee line, including expedite and photo estimates, before you visit the post office.
Calculate your passport costReplacement timeline
Lost passport replacement follows the same production queue as other DS-11 files. Plan backward from your travel date so you know whether routine, expedited, or urgent agency service fits.
| Service level | Typical wait | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Routine | 6-8 weeks | Complete DS-64 and DS-11 at an acceptance facility |
| Expedited | 2-3 weeks | $60 expedite fee on top of standard application fees |
| Urgent agency | Same day with appointment | Proof of international travel within 14 days |
Check current ranges on our expedited processing times page and on travel.state.gov. Routine details are on our routine processing page.
If international travel is within two weeks, look at passport agency appointments on the agency locator. Bring proof of travel and the complete DS-11 packet. Agency same-day service is limited to people who meet the official urgent rules. Read our passport in 24 hours guide before you promise your family you will make the cruise.
What happens to the old number
After DS-64 is processed, the old passport number is flagged. If someone tries to use the missing book at a border, it should be caught. If you find the old booklet in a coat pocket after you already received a new passport, destroy it or mail it to the address listed in the official instructions. Do not travel with two active numbers.
Valid visas inside the lost book are gone with the physical pages. Some countries require you to reapply for visas on the new passport. Others allow carry-over with the old book and a police report. That is a consulate question, not a post office question.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and airline profiles tied to the old passport number may need updates after the replacement arrives. The new book has a new number even when your name stayed the same.
Common mistakes
- Trying to mail Form DS-82 because you renewed by mail before. Lost books cannot be surrendered by mail. Replacement requires DS-11 in person.
- Delaying the DS-64 report because you hope to find the passport. Every day without a report leaves the old number active if someone else has the booklet.
- Traveling internationally on the old passport after filing DS-64. The number is void once reported. You need the replacement or an emergency document.
- Showing up without citizenship evidence beyond the lost book. A driver license is ID, not proof of citizenship. Bring a birth certificate or naturalization paper.
- One payment for both State Department and execution fees. Many post offices split payees. Bring two checks or confirm card rules ahead of time.
- Skipping expedite when departure is three weeks out. Routine service is 6-8 weeks. Expedited is 2-3 weeks and requires the $60 fee.
- Assuming a police report replaces DS-64. Local police reports help with theft documentation but do not void the passport number. You still need the State Department form.
Lost passport abroad
If the book disappears outside the United States, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate before your scheduled return flight. Consular staff issue limited-validity emergency passports when you qualify. You still complete lost-passport paperwork and pay fees. The process takes hours, not minutes, and offices observe local holidays you forgot existed.
Keep a photocopy or phone photo of your passport data page in secure cloud storage before every trip. It speeds the consulate interview when you are stressed and cannot remember the passport number. Our passport for a cruise post includes a pre-trip copy habit that helps here too.
Emergency passports may limit how you continue a multi-country itinerary. Read the validity dates printed on the emergency document before you rebook connecting flights.
If the passport was stolen
Treat theft like a loss for passport purposes: DS-64 plus DS-11. File a local police report if you want a record for credit or identity monitoring. The State Department focuses on voiding the old number and issuing a new one. Identity theft outside the passport system is a separate report to the FTC and your banks.
Stolen passports with valid visas inside are especially painful. Start visa reapplication conversations with each embassy while you wait for the replacement book. Some countries require a police report reference number before they will reissue a visa.
Common questions
Can I still travel if I find my lost passport?
How much does a lost passport replacement cost?
How long does replacement take?
Do I need a police report?
Related tools on this site
- Passport cost calculator: replacement preset with execution and expedite lines
- Replacement passport cost: full fee table for lost and stolen books
- Lost passport help page: quick steps and official links
- Expedited processing times: 2-3 week window after the $60 expedite fee
Official sources
- How to apply (travel.state.gov)
- Form DS-64 (eforms.state.gov)
- Form DS-11 (eforms.state.gov)
- Passport application status
- Full fee schedule on this site
Track the new application at passportstatus.state.gov. Status updates lag reality by a day or two. Our application status guide explains each message so you do not panic at "In Process."
Losing a passport is expensive but straightforward: report it, apply in person, pay the replacement fees, and plan processing time into your trip. Use the passport cost calculator so you walk into the acceptance facility with checks written for the right amounts.