Guide
Lost your passport? What to do in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India
- US
- Report with DS-64, replace in person with DS-11
- UK
- Cancel online, then replace for £102
- Canada
- Call 1-800-567-6868, then form PPTC 203
Report it, then replace it: that order is the same everywhere. The forms, fees and phone numbers are not, so here is each country's official route.
A real moment
“You reach for your passport at the hotel desk and it is not there. Your flight home is in three days, and you cannot remember the passport number, let alone where you would find it.”
Report the loss first: with form DS-64 in the US, online on GOV.UK in the UK, by phone in Canada and Australia, and to the police and Passport Seva in India. Then apply for a new passport. If you are abroad, contact your country's embassy or consulate for an emergency document.
The checklist
What to have ready
Last checked against the official sources on 26 September 2026
United States
- Report it with form DS-64Online with the State Department's form filler, which cancels it within 1 business day, by phone on 1-877-487-2778, or by mail. Once reported, it cannot be used even if you find it.
- Apply in person with form DS-11In the US, a lost or stolen passport is replaced with a new application made in person.
- The nearest US embassy or consulateApply in person with a passport photo, ID, proof of citizenship (a copy of the lost passport counts) and your travel plans. If time is short, you may get an emergency passport valid for up to a year.Only if you are outside the US
United Kingdom
- Cancel it onlineAs soon as possible, on GOV.UK. You need a phone number. The Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000 can help.
- Replace it: £102 online, £115.50 on paperOnline needs a digital photo and someone to confirm your identity. On paper, 2 printed photos and a countersignatory.
- Expect a new numberYour new passport will not have the same number, so do not book travel until you have it.
- An emergency travel document, £125Usually valid for one journey and ready 2 working days after you apply. Applying cancels your old passport.Only if you are abroad and need to travel within 6 weeks
Canada
- Call 1-800-567-6868From Canada or the US. Once reported, it is no longer valid for travel.
- Form PPTC 203The declaration about a lost or stolen passport, sent with your renewal or new passport application.
- The regular fee plus $45The extra fee for replacing a lost or stolen passport.
- The nearest Government of Canada officeEmergency passports are not offered at every office. The 24/7 emergency line is +1 613 996 8885.Only if you are abroad
Australia
- Call 131 232Or your nearest embassy or consulate if overseas. It is cancelled and cannot be used again, even if you find it.
- Apply for a new passportA lost passport cannot be renewed or replaced. Allow at least 6 weeks.
- A police reportRecommended: report the theft and keep a copy of the report.Only if it was stolen
- An emergency passportValid for up to one year, with no chip.Only if you are overseas
India
- A police reportReport the loss to the nearest police station and to the Passport Office. Keep the original report.
- An affidavit in Annexure FSaying how and when the passport was lost, and where the police report was made.
- A reissue applicationWith address and date of birth proof. No duplicate is issued: you get a new passport with a new number, and Tatkaal is not available.
- Your old passport's detailsIts number, dates of issue and expiry, and place of issue, plus copies of its pages if you have them.
- An Emergency CertificateGenerally issued by the Indian Mission for your return to India.Only if you are abroad
Report and replace, country by country
What to do if it happens abroad
Why a copy of the photo page saves time
US
Report with DS-64, replace in person with DS-11
UK
Cancel online, then replace for £102
Canada
Call 1-800-567-6868, then form PPTC 203
Australia
Call 131 232, then apply for a new one
India
Police report and Annexure F, then a reissue
Report it before anything else
Every country wants the loss reported first, so nobody else can use your passport or your identity. In the US, Canada and Australia, a passport you have reported cannot be used again, even if it turns up. The UK asks you to cancel it as soon as possible.
Replacing it at home
The US replaces a lost passport with a new application in person on form DS-11. The UK lets you replace it online for £102. Canada adds form PPTC 203 and a $45 fee to a normal application, Australia needs a whole new application, and India treats it as a reissue with a police report and Annexure F.
If you lose it abroad
Go to your country's embassy, high commission or consulate. The US may issue a limited-validity passport, the UK an emergency travel document, Canada and Australia an emergency passport, and India an Emergency Certificate to get you home.
A copy of the photo page saves time
The US State Department suggests keeping copies, including photos on your phone, to help replace a lost original, and a copy of the lost passport counts as proof of citizenship abroad. GOV.UK says a copy helps you answer questions when you cancel, Canada says copies speed up a replacement, and India asks for the old number, dates and place of issue.
Where DigiSafe fits
A scan of your passport in DigiSafe keeps the number, dates and photo page on your phone, encrypted and readable offline. It is not a travel document, but it answers every question the replacement form asks.
Step by step
- 1
Search once, properly, then report it without waiting.
- 2
Open your passport copy in DigiSafe for the number and dates.
- 3
Report it through your country's official route.
- 4
If it was stolen, tell the police and keep the report.
- 5
Apply for a replacement, or an emergency document if you are abroad.
- 6
Scan the new passport into DigiSafe as soon as it arrives.
Questions people ask
Can I use my passport if I find it after reporting it lost?+
Not in the US, Canada or Australia: reporting it cancels it for good. Canada asks you to send a found passport back with form PPTC 203.
How much does it cost to replace a lost UK passport?+
£102 online or £115.50 on paper, when we checked. An emergency travel document from abroad costs £125.
Do I need a police report for a lost passport?+
In India, yes: the original police report goes with your reissue. The US says one is not mandatory but helps confirm what happened, Australia recommends one if the passport was stolen, and Canada says it may help with an insurance claim.
Can I travel on a copy of my passport?+
No. Canada says copies cannot be used as identification, but they do help confirm who you are and speed up a replacement.
Where this comes from
Official sources, dated.
Every requirement on this page comes from the official pages listed here, last checked on 26 September 2026. Rules change and offices can ask for more, so check the official page before you go.
- 1USA.gov: Lost or stolen passportsusa.gov
- 2US State Department: Report your passport lost or stolentravel.state.gov
- 3US State Department: Lost or stolen passport abroadtravel.state.gov
- 4US State Department: International travel checklisttravel.state.gov
- 5GOV.UK: Cancel a lost or stolen passportgov.uk
- 6GOV.UK: Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passportgov.uk
- 7GOV.UK: Travel urgently from abroad without your passportgov.uk
- 8Canada: Lost, stolen, damaged or found passportscanada.ca
- 9Travel.gc.ca: Lost or stolen belongings outside Canadatravel.gc.ca
- 10Australian Passport Office: Lost and stolen passportspassports.gov.au
- 11Australian Passport Office: Caring for your passportpassports.gov.au
- 12Australian Passport Office: Emergency passportpassports.gov.au
- 13Passport Seva: Lost or damaged passportspassportindia.gov.in
- 14Passport Seva: Annexure F (PDF)passportindia.gov.in
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