A passport that is lost or stolen while you are overseas need not ruin your travel experience. Fortunately the U.S. State Department and its various embassies and consulates around the world have adopted procedures to address this problem. Knowing what action to take in case this happens to you can make the difference between a ruined trip and a mild inconvenience.
The U.S. State Department urges those who lose a passport while traveling abroad to immediately contact the local U.S. embassy or consulate. If you do not know the location of the nearest embassy or consulate, find it on the State Department's website in the travel section under "country specific information." Not every embassy has identical procedures for replacing a lost or stolen passport; although the minor details may differ, the main steps in getting a new passport are the same.
The basic procedure for replacing your passport are given on each embassy's or consulate's website. The steps outlined by the U.S. embassy in London are typical of those around the world. First you should report the loss or theft to the British police in the area where the loss or theft occurred. Then go the the embassy in person as soon as possible after you discover your passport is missing.
Bring both proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of your identity with you. The embassy will accept the following as proof of U.S. citizenship: a U.S. birth certificate: a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; a consular report of birth abroad; an expired passport. Proof of identity can include: a valid passport of any country; a valid driver's license with photograph; a national identity card with photograph; a valid U.S. or state government ID card; a U.S. military ID card.
Fill out the passport application form called DS-11 and form DS-64 regarding how your passport was lost or stolen. You will also need two identical passport photographs; the embassy will not accept vending machine photographs or photographs printed on a home computer. As of 2010, the embassy charges a fee of $100 for adults and $85 for children under the age of 16. You can pay with cash, credit card, money order or banker's draft. Your new passport will be mailed to you after your processing is complete.
Although the outline given above is typical for replacing a passport that is lost or stolen abroad, you will want to check the website of the relevant embassy or consulate for the exact requirements for the individual location.
