
Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Updated
After losing your passport, you need to invalidate the lost or stolen passport and apply for a new one at the nearest passport facility. If you’re already out of the country, that facility will be the nearest US embassy or consulate. While the normal processing time for passports takes several weeks even when expedited, you might receive a limited passport for upcoming travel.
Yes, travel insurance can cover extra expenses if a lost or stolen passport causes trip interruptions or cancellations. Some credit card companies also offer limited coverage for this event. However for trip delays or interruptions, the cost of the lost passport fee itself may depend on the insurance company. Some companies may not consider it a reasonable and ordinary expense. Typical trip interruption coverage includes meals, hotel stays and the cost of re-routing your travel plans.
Also, trip cancellations may depend on the insurance company and the type of policy you chose. For example, you’ll likely get coverage if you bought a policy with trip cancellation for any reason. But many policies cover specific reasons for the cancellation — lost passports not being one of them.
You can file a travel insurance claim in a few steps:
If you lose your passport at home, you’ll need to replace the passport at your nearest passport acceptance facility or passport agency. Passport agencies are emergency centers for those traveling abroad within the next 14 days.
What to do:
Your passport will be invalid after you report it lost or stolen. Even if you find your passport later, you’ll need to apply for a replacement since you can no longer use the old passport.
The processing time for replacing your passport may depend upon your travel plans. You can expect:
You’ll pay the standard fee unless the passport was stolen or you were involved in a catastrophic event. Possible fees include:
Consular officials may grant you an emergency passport for free if you can’t reasonably afford or access money for the replacement fee.
You can report your lost or stolen passport online using the US Department of State reporting system or by calling 1-877-487-2778.
If you’d prefer, you can also mail in the form DS-64 if you’re not planning to replace your passport. You can print the form from the Department of State website and mail it to:
ATTN: CLASP
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/L/LE
44132 Mercure Cir
P.O. Box 1227
Sterling, VA 20166-1227
If you’re traveling in a different country, you’ll need to find the nearest US embassy or consulate to report the passport lost or stolen and replace it.
Sydney was vacationing in Pisa when she had her purse stolen, including her passport and credit cards. She replaced her passport at the nearest US embassy, reported the stolen passport and called her bank to put a stop on her credit cards. To access funds, she had a friend wire money that she picked up in cash.
However, Syndey had to re-book her flight and stay at a hotel two days later than planned since the theft happened on a weekend. Once home, Sydney submitted receipts for the flight exchange fee and extra hotel stays to her travel insurance company, costing $300 for the first day and $100 for the second. Since her policy limited daily benefit to $200, Syndey paid $100 in expenses out of pocket.
Reduce the stress and expense of potentially losing your passport before you even leave for your trip:
While losing a passport can alarm you, you do have options for getting a new passport expedited for travel. If that lost passport leads to a delay or cancellation in your plans, your extra expenses may be covered by travel insurance under certain circumstances. If you’re planning for a trip ahead of time, make sure you have enough travel coverage for this kind of situation.
If your child gets sick or injured and has to take time away from college, tuition insurance can reimburse you for what you already paid.
13 best horror stories where insurance could have saved the day.
From bears to boats, know when your campout could use protection to cover all the possibilities.
Put down roots with discounted coverage for car and home insurance in 12 states.
Robust coverage and high limits on this startup’s standard policies if you own a high-value home.
Learn how your cyber risks might change during the coronavirus and how insurance covers you.
If you need emergency transit to a hospital, you might be glad you got repatriation coverage travel insurance.
Visiting the US could come with its share of delayed flights or doctor visits during your trip.
Learn when the coronavirus qualifies you for disability benefits and when it gets excluded entirely.
Renters insurance is a low-cost way to make sure your personal belongings are protected.