If your passport is lost or stolen while traveling outside the U.S., you are required to report this fact immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Passports that are reported lost or stolen are immediately invalidated and can no longer be used for travel.
To get your passport replaced, it helps to have the passport number and other details. If you followed the steps in Protecting your Identity when you Travel, you should have a copy of your passport available, either digitally or printed. A replacement passport can often be issued within 24 hours at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
See the list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates by country.
If your travel insurance plan includes coverage for replacement passport fees, then you’ll at least get some of the processing fees back.
It’s still important to report any lost or stolen passport to the U.S. Department of State. See the instructions to report a lost or stolen passport.
If you find another person’s lost U.S. passport, you are requested to mail it in a sturdy envelope to the address shown on this page.
Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.