What to Do If Your Passport Was Lost Or Stolen?
Are you panicking because your passport was lost or stolen? You are not alone; it can be a frightening experience to suddenly find yourself without the vital document that is required for international travel. Knowing what steps to take next can ease some of the stress and help get your passport—or another one if it cannot be recovered—replaced as quickly as possible.
In this blog post, we will provide you with all of the information you need to know about getting started on the road to obtaining a new official identity document when yours has gone missing.
One of those inconveniences that cause you more than a little hassle is a lost or stolen passport or having. If you are abroad, such a situation can cause a real interruption in your travels. Aside from needing to replace the document to get home, you have to be concerned about identity theft, especially if the thief also took any of your other identification and credit cards.
Reporting Your Stolen Passport
Once you have determined that your passport is stolen or it is physically taken from you, the first thing to do is immediately report the situation to the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate. Depending on your location, you can first call and report the stolen passport at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793).
What to Do After Reporting My Passport as Stolen?
You will also have to complete Form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport at the local Embassy or Consulate. Make sure you keep a copy of this document. If you are not traveling, you can obtain the form online and mail it to the address in Washington, DC, indicated on the form.
If you are abroad, the Embassy or Consulate will be able to provide a temporary passport to get you back home. To permanently replace the stolen passport, you will need to go to or contact a Passport Agency or Acceptance Facility and take your Form DS-64 copy and complete a new Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport.
Important to Note
Reporting a passport lost or stolen immediately invalidates it. Because of that, it is no longer usable for travel. All the information on Form DS-64 goes into the international database for lost or stolen passports. This makes the passport unusable and you will need to apply for a new passport.
Take all the necessary steps to protect your identity with proper actions and notifications. If you are in an emergency and need to have your passport expedited U.S. Passport Help Guide recommends to it be expedited with National Passport Service. Fastport has been in business since 2010 and has an A+ with the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Conclusion
Knowing what to do if your passport is lost or stolen can help to reduce any stress, potential problems, and delays while traveling. If you have proper documentation and follow the steps necessary in filing a police report, applying for a replacement, and obtaining travel documents from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you’ll be more prepared for your future travels – domestic or abroad. Also, remember to make copies of all important documents while traveling, so that in case any of them get lost or stolen, they are easily retrievable and replaceable.
Finally, it is always wise to never keep important documents such as a passport on your person while traveling – keep them safe at home when possible, and utilize travel safety accessories like money belts or holders on trips when necessary.
