If your foreign passport is lost, stolen, or damaged while you are in the United States, it must be replaced through your country’s embassy or consulate. U.S. authorities do not issue replacement passports for foreign nationals.
Your embassy or consulate will determine the type of replacement document that can be issued.
What happens
When a passport is reported lost or stolen, the diplomatic mission representing your country usually cancels the original passport.
You may then apply for a replacement through the embassy or consulate.
Depending on your country’s procedures, the mission may issue:
- A full replacement passport.
- A temporary passport.
- An emergency travel document intended for limited travel.
Appointments are often required, and some consulates only process passport services during specific hours.
What determines the replacement process
The process depends on several factors:
- Your nationality.
- Embassy or consulate policies.
- Whether the passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
- Availability of supporting identification documents.
You may be asked to provide:
- Proof of citizenship.
- Identification documents.
- Passport photographs.
- A completed passport replacement application.
Some embassies also require a police report if the passport was stolen.
What it may lead to
Common outcome:
- Issuance of a temporary passport or replacement passport.
Possible escalation:
- Additional verification if identity documents are missing.
- Delays if the embassy must confirm citizenship with authorities in your home country.
Worst realistic outcome:
- Travel plans delayed while documents are verified.
- Emergency travel document issued that is valid only for return to your home country.
Temporary documents may have limited validity compared with standard passports.
Common escalation triggers
Replacement procedures may take longer if:
- No identification documents are available.
- Passport photographs or forms are incomplete.
- Consular appointments are limited.
- Identity verification requires additional confirmation.
Processing times vary between embassies.
What this depends on
Passport replacement depends on:
- The policies of your home country’s diplomatic mission.
- Identity verification procedures.
- Consular appointment availability.
- Urgency of travel plans.
Each country manages passport replacement through its own consular system.
Who controls the process
Foreign passports are issued and replaced by the traveler’s home government through embassies or consulates.
U.S. immigration authorities do not replace foreign passports, though airlines and border authorities may verify passport validity during travel.
Last reviewed: March 2026
This page describes typical operational outcomes. Individual cases vary.