Have you seen my passport?

I'm not sure about you , but my biggest concern when traveling is the possibility of misplacing my passport. Interestingly, I once misplaced my driver's license during a trip and didn't even flinch because my passport was safely in my possession. Consequently, I've become exceptionally vigilant about ensuring I have my passport with me at all times. However, in the rare event that you do happen to lose your passport during your vacation, here are the essential steps to swiftly obtain a replacement:

**What to Do If You Misplace Your Passport While Abroad:**

**1. Report the Loss of Your Passport:**

- Reach out to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate office and specifically request the Consular Section's assistance. This is the first crucial step in reporting a lost passport abroad and initiating the replacement passport process necessary for your return home.

- When contacting the Consular Section, schedule an appointment to visit the office and provide the required information. Although filing a report with local law enforcement is optional, it can expedite your passport replacement process.

**2. Assemble Your Documentation:**

- Prepare the following list of documents and items to take with you to the embassy/consulate. Even if you cannot present all of these documents, the consular staff will make every effort to assist you in expediting your passport replacement:

- A passport photo (one photo is mandatory; having it in advance speeds up the passport replacement process).

- Proof of identification (such as a driver's license or an expired passport).

- Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate or a photocopy of the lost passport).

- Travel itinerary (including airline or train tickets).

- If available, a police report.

- DS-11 Application for Passport (can be completed during the application process).

- DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport (can be completed during the application process).

**3. Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport:**

- When reporting the loss or theft of your passport, you must fill out a statement describing the circumstances of its loss or theft. The U.S. Department of State form DS-64 can be used for this purpose.

**4. Police Report:**

- While not obligatory, a police report can assist in confirming the circumstances surrounding the loss or theft. It is advisable to report the loss or theft of your U.S. passport to the local police in the country where it occurred. However, refrain from obtaining a police report if doing so would lead to missing a flight or unreasonably delaying your travel.

**5. Pay the Required Fee:**

- Whether it's an emergency or not, standard passport fees apply for replacement passports. If applicants are unable to pay the fee, they may be asked to provide names of individuals who could financially assist them.

- In exceptional circumstances, such as being a victim of a serious crime or a disaster and being unable to obtain the funds needed to pay the fees before continuing travel, the passport fee may be waived, and a limited-validity passport will be issued. Upon the person's return to the United States, the regular passport fee will be charged for a replacement passport.

**Please Note: Just like government facilities in the U.S., most U.S. embassies and consulates do not issue passports on weekends or holidays when the embassy/consulate is closed. However, all U.S. embassies and consulates have after-hours duty officers available to assist with life or death emergencies involving U.S. citizens abroad. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate after-hours duty officer for assistance if you have an emergency need to travel or have been the victim of a serious crime. Duty officers primarily prioritize life or death emergencies, so in most cases, aside from serious emergencies, a replacement passport will not be issued until the next business day.**

And remember, if you happen to find your old passport after getting a replacement, consider framing it as a keepsake. Unfortunately, once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it becomes invalid and cannot be used for international travel. Attempting to use a U.S. passport that has been reported as lost or stolen may result in complications while traveling, including foreign countries denying you entry.

For more information please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/lost-stolen-passport-abroad.html#:~:text=What%20Should%20a%20U.S.%20Citizen,in%20our%20country%20information%20pages.