Since both situations use the same reporting system, here’s how to actually file the report — with the two paths shown side by side so you can see exactly where they overlap and where they diverge.
Step 1: Decide Which Applies to You
| Lost | Stolen | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Misplaced, no one took it | Deliberately taken by someone else |
| Police report needed? | Not typically | Recommended |
| Urgency of reporting | Same — report once confident it’s gone | Same — report as soon as possible |
Step 2: File a Police Report (Stolen Only)
- Lost: Skip this step.
- Stolen: File with local police before or alongside reporting to the State Department. This supports any later insurance claim and can help with expedited processing requests.
Step 3: Choose Your Reporting Method (Same for Both)
Both lost and stolen passports get reported through the same three channels:
- Online — fastest, typically processed within one business day.
- By phone — through the National Passport Information Center.
- By mail — using Form DS-64, the slowest option.
Step 4: Provide the Same Core Information (Same for Both)
Regardless of lost or stolen, you’ll need:
- Full legal name, as on the passport.
- Date and place of birth.
- Passport number, if known (a photocopy of the data page helps here).
- Approximate date of the loss or theft.
- Circumstances — a general description of what happened.
Step 5: Select the Correct Status (This Is Where It Diverges)
When completing the report — whether online, by phone, or via DS-64 — you’ll indicate whether the passport was lost or stolen:
- Selecting “lost” triggers standard cancellation of the passport number.
- Selecting “stolen” triggers the same cancellation, plus additional fraud monitoring flags on that specific passport number in international databases.
If you’re genuinely unsure which applies, and there’s no clear evidence of theft, “lost” is the reasonable default — you can still file a police report separately if circumstances later suggest theft was involved.
Step 6: Receive Confirmation (Same for Both)
Both paths result in confirmation that your report has been processed, after which your old passport is permanently invalid — a status that applies identically whether it was lost or stolen, and cannot be reversed if the passport is later found.
Step 7: Move to Replacement (Same for Both)
Once reported — lost or stolen — you’re clear to apply for a replacement using Form DS-11 at an in-person appointment. The fee structure, required documents, and processing tiers are identical either way.
A Full Side-by-Side Summary
| Step | Lost | Stolen |
|---|---|---|
| Police report | No | Yes, recommended |
| Reporting method | Online/phone/mail | Online/phone/mail |
| Information required | Same | Same |
| Status selected | “Lost” | “Stolen” |
| Fraud monitoring | Standard | Enhanced |
| Replacement process | Form DS-11, in person | Form DS-11, in person |
| Cost | $165 standard | $165 standard |
The One Genuine Difference That Matters
Out of this entire process, the only step that meaningfully diverges is the police report — recommended for theft, unnecessary for simple loss — and the status you select when reporting, which affects the level of fraud monitoring applied but not the replacement process itself.
Bottom Line
Reporting a lost or stolen passport follows nearly the same path either way — same reporting channels, same information required, same replacement process afterward. The only real difference is whether a police report makes sense (yes, for theft) and which status you select when filing, which adds extra fraud monitoring for a stolen passport specifically.
