Form DS-64 is the State Department's paper statement for reporting a valid U.S. passport book or card as lost or stolen. You do not have to use paper. The fastest official route is the online report, which cancels the passport within 1 business day. The DS-64 is for people who need to report by mail. Filing it does not get you a new passport. For that, you need a separate Form DS-11, in person.
This guide walks through each step, in order, with the honest truth about timing.
TL;DR
- Report a valid passport lost or stolen right away. Do not report an expired one.
- Online reporting is the fastest method and cancels the passport within 1 business day. Mailing a DS-64 can take several weeks.
- The DS-64 only cancels the old passport. To get a replacement, you must apply in person with Form DS-11.
- A replacement adult passport book costs $165 for routine service ($130 to the State Department, $35 to the acceptance facility). Expedited service adds $60.
- Once reported, the passport is permanently canceled, even if you find it later.
Table of Contents
- What the DS-64 does and does not do
- Do you need a DS-64 at all?
- Option 1: Report online (fastest)
- Option 2: Report by phone
- Option 3: Mail a completed DS-64
- Option 4: Report while applying for a new passport
- Step by step: from missing passport to replacement
- What a replacement costs
- How long it takes
- If you lose your passport abroad
- Common mistakes that cost time
- Our perspective
- Need it faster? Start here
- FAQ
- Sources
What the DS-64 does and does not do
The form is called the Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen U.S. Passport. Its purpose is to make sure nobody holds more than one valid passport book and one valid passport card at a time, and to put a stop to misuse of the missing one.
People often get one thing wrong. They file the DS-64 and assume a new passport is on its way. It is not. Reporting a passport lost or stolen does not replace it. The report and the replacement are two separate actions.
Think of it as two jobs:
- Cancel the missing passport (online, by phone, by mail with the DS-64, or in person with your application).
- Apply for a new one (Form DS-11, in person at an acceptance facility).
If you do the second job and include the loss details on the application, you may not need a standalone DS-64 at all. More on that below.
Do you need a DS-64 at all?
Not always. Use this quick reference.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Valid passport lost or stolen, you need a new one | Apply with Form DS-11 in person and describe the loss on the form. You can also report online first. |
| Valid passport lost or stolen, you do not need a new one right now | Report online (fastest), by phone, or mail a DS-64. |
| Passport is expired and missing | Do not report it. An expired passport is already invalid for travel, and reporting it can needlessly complicate your records. |
| Passport is lost abroad | Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Phone reporting is not available to customers abroad. |
| You found the passport after reporting it | Do not use it. It stays canceled. |
The State Department lists three ways to report: online, by mail, or in person when you apply for a replacement. The form itself also lists a phone option.
Option 1: Report online (fastest)
If you can get to a computer, this is the method to use. The State Department's online form filler cancels the document within 1 business day, while a mailed paper form can take several weeks to register.
Have this information ready:
- Your full name, date of birth and place of birth
- Passport book or card number, if you have it (a photocopy or old record helps)
- Approximate date and place the passport was lost or stolen
- A short, factual account of what happened
Go to travel.state.gov, find the page for reporting a lost or stolen passport, and follow the prompts. Save or print your confirmation.
Option 2: Report by phone
The DS-64 itself says you can call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TDD 1-888-874-7793) and follow the representative's instructions. The form notes this option is not available to customers abroad.
Phone reporting is a reasonable choice if you do not have reliable internet. Write down the date, time and the name or ID of the person you spoke with.
Option 3: Mail a completed DS-64
Mail is the slowest option. Use it only if online and phone are not workable and you are not applying for a new passport at the same time.
Per the official form instructions, you send:
- The completed, signed DS-64
- A front and back photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state ID
The mailing address printed on the form is:
ATTN: CLASP, U.S. Department of State, CA/PPT/S/50/CLASP, 44132 Mercure Cir, P.O. Box 1227, Sterling, VA 20166-1227
The form says to use that address only for this form and other lost or stolen passport correspondence. Addresses can change, so check the current version of the form before you mail it.
How to fill out the DS-64
The form is short. Work through it in this order:
- Download the current version from the State Department's forms site, not a third-party copy. Search results are full of reposted versions, some with broken text.
- Enter your personal details exactly as they appeared on the passport: name, date and place of birth, Social Security number if requested.
- Identify the missing document: book, card, or both, with numbers and issue dates if you know them.
- Describe the loss or theft: when, where, and how. Stay factual and specific. "Left in a taxi in Chicago on the evening of October 3" is better than "lost recently."
- Read the certification and sign it. The form has you state that the information is correct and that you did not give the passport to another person or dispose of it in an unauthorized manner.
- Attach the ID photocopy (front and back) and mail it.
Unsigned forms and missing ID copies are easy ways to lose weeks. Check twice before you seal the envelope.
Option 4: Report while applying for a new passport
If you need a replacement, this is usually the cleanest path. You apply in person with Form DS-11 and report the loss as part of the application.
The catch: you must put the specifics of the loss on the DS-11 itself. If you leave out details such as when and where it happened, the State Department can pause your application and ask for a separate DS-64, which delays processing. Fill in that section completely the first time.
If you filed an online report before applying, mention it on the DS-11 and keep your confirmation with you.
Step by step: from missing passport to replacement
Here is the sequence that gets most people moving fastest.
- Report it immediately. Use the online form filler. If your passport was stolen, also consider a police report. Your local police can take one, and an identity theft police report can be useful if your personal details were exposed. A guide to filing an identity theft police report explains how that process works.
- Gather your documents for the DS-11. You need proof of citizenship, a photo ID, a passport photo, and the completed form. Do not sign the DS-11 until the acceptance agent tells you to.
- Find an acceptance facility such as a post office or county clerk's office. Adults applying for a replacement after a loss or theft must apply in person.
- Pay with two separate payments. A check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, and a separate payment to the facility. The fee chart states that two payments are required.
- Choose your speed. Routine, expedited, or an urgent appointment if you travel within 14 days.
- Track your application and watch for any letter or email requesting the DS-64 or more details.
Our own walkthroughs cover the details: what to do right now after losing a passport and how to report and replace a stolen passport in the USA.
What a replacement costs
For an adult (16 and older) applying in person with a DS-11, the State Department lists:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee (paid to the Department of State) | $130 |
| Acceptance facility fee | $35 |
| Routine total, adult book | $165 |
| Optional expedited service | +$60 |
Passport fees change, so confirm the amounts on the State Department fees page before you write your check. Add the cost of a passport photo and any faster return shipping you choose.
If your passport was lost in a federally designated disaster, fee waivers may be available. Depending on the disaster, applicants may have up to 3 years to request a waiver of the application fee and 18 months for file search fees.
How long it takes
Be realistic. The State Department's current processing times are:
- Routine: 4 to 6 weeks
- Expedited: 2 to 3 weeks, for an extra $60
- Urgent: you must make an appointment and have international travel within 14 calendar days
Those figures do not include mailing, which the State Department says can take up to 2 weeks each way. That means a full cycle can run 8 to 10 weeks. Add mailing delays on top of a DS-64 sent by paper and you can see why online reporting matters.
If your trip is close, read our guides on current processing times, urgent travel passports and how to expedite a passport.
If you lose your passport abroad
The steps differ. You contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The State Department notes that once you report a passport lost or stolen, it is not valid for international travel, and your next destination may deny entry if you try to use it. Do not try to keep using a passport you have reported.
Common mistakes that cost time
- Reporting an expired passport. It adds nothing and can complicate your file.
- Mailing a DS-64 and expecting a new passport. It will not arrive.
- Leaving loss details off the DS-11. This can trigger a request for a DS-64 and pause your application.
- Using a copy of the form from a random site. Download from the State Department.
- Using the old passport after you find it. Once reported, it is permanently canceled.
- Mailing the DS-64 to the general application address. Use only the address printed on the form, and only if you are not applying for a new passport.
Our perspective
We see the same confusion over and over: people treat the DS-64 as the main event. It is not. The cancellation is the quick, free step. The real clock starts when you apply for the replacement.
Our advice is plain. Report online the moment you know the passport is gone. Then spend your energy on the DS-11, because that is what decides when you can travel. Gather your proof of citizenship and photo ID while you wait for an appointment slot, and fill in the loss details completely. Most delays we hear about come from small paperwork gaps, not from the State Department being unreachable.
We are an informational site, not a government agency and not a passport service. Everything here points back to official State Department pages so you can check it yourself. If your trip is inside the routine window and you cannot afford to wait, the honest options are the government's expedited and urgent services, or a registered courier that handles the logistics for you.
— David
Need it faster? Start here
If you are short on time, our guide to the fastest legitimate ways to expedite a passport compares the government options and registered courier services side by side, so you can decide without guessing. You can also browse everything at PassportCenter.ai.
FAQ
Can you fill out the DS-64 online?
The State Department offers an online form filler for reporting a lost or stolen passport, and it is the fastest option. It cancels the passport within 1 business day. The paper DS-64 is for mail-in reports when you are not applying for a new passport.
Do I need a DS-64 if I am filing a DS-11?
Usually not, as long as you report the loss on the DS-11 and include when and where it happened. If those details are missing, the State Department can pause your application and ask for a separate DS-64. Fill in that part completely to avoid the delay.
Does the DS-64 get me a new passport?
No. It only reports the old passport as lost or stolen. To get a replacement, you must apply in person with Form DS-11, pay the fees, and submit your documents at an acceptance facility.
Should I report an expired passport as lost?
No. An expired passport is already invalid for international travel, so reporting it adds no security benefit and may complicate your records. Report only valid passports.
What if I find my passport after reporting it?
It stays canceled. You cannot use it for international travel, and trying to could mean delays or denied entry at a foreign border. Use your replacement passport instead.
Sources
- Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen, U.S. Department of State
- Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen, three ways to report
- Form DS-64 and instructions, eforms.state.gov
- Apply for Your Adult Passport
- Passport Fees
- Passport Fee Chart, February 2026
- Get Your Processing Time
- Passport Replacement After a Disaster
- Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad