Lost or stolen passports
If your passport is lost or stolen abroad
You should report the loss or theft of your UK passport to the local police and get a police report as soon as possible.
You must then inform the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission and apply for a replacement passport. To do this, you need to:
- complete the lost or theft of the passport notification form LS01
- complete the correct passport application form and provide the required documents, including 2 identical passport photographs that meet the required standards
- take both forms, along with the police report, to our local offices.
Remember that you will need to pay the correct fee for your passport. There may also be a call out fee for issuing a temporary or emergency passport outside of office hours.
Download form LS01
Read rules for passport photos and download the IPS Guide to taking a good photo for your passport Please note that when you are making an applications for a British passport overseas, the background of the passport photograph required can be white. The photographs also do not have to be printed on plain white photographic paper. This differs from IPS requirements, but otherwise the information in the link is correct.
If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK
If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, you should contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) by phoning their Passport Adviceline for guidance.
What to do if you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen
If you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, you must take it to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission as soon as possible.
If you are in the UK, you should take the passport to the nearest Identity and Passport Service office.
Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronically cancelled. You will not be able to use it as a proof of identity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it as a means of identification as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act.
You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the Borders and Immigration Authority at UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could face deportation or arrest.
List of British embassies, consulates and high commissions
Identity and Passport Service (IPS) UK offices
Returning the passports of deceased persons
It is important to cancel the passport of a deceased person so that it cannot be used illegally.
If you are abroad
You must return the passport with a copy of the death certificate to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission by completing the form below.
The form allows you to choose for us to send the passport back to you or dispose of it. If you do not choose an option, we will dispose of the passport.
When we receive the form, we will immediately cancel the passport.
‘What to do with a passport when the passport holder has died’ form (PDF, 55KB)
If you are in the UK
You should return the passport to the nearest passport office. There are details of passport offices in the UK on the Immigration and Passport Service website.
Form LS01
From 8 December 2003, any loss or theft of your passport should be reported on the new LS01 form, which you will have to complete in order to obtain a replacement passport. Please complete form LS01 in addition to the relevant passport application form provided above.
Form R01
Form R01 should be used by law enforcement agencies to report details of passports that have been recovered in circumstances where identity fraud or related crime is known to have taken place.
What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
If you are overseas, report the incident to the local police as soon as possible and obtain a police report in the cases of stolen passports.
Following this immediately inform the nearest British Consulate, this will reduce the risk of someone stealing your identity or attempting to enter the UK on your passport. Send or take a copy of the police report along with a completed LSO1 form, which is available online or from one of our offices, to the Consulate who will then be able to cancel your passport.
If you are in the UK, contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on their Passport Advice Line 0870 521 0410 for guidance.
What if I later find a passport I have reported as lost or stolen?
You must return it to the nearest British Consulate as soon as possible. If you are in the UK you should return your passport to the nearest Identity and Passport Service office.
Once you report your passport as lost or stolen the passport is electronically cancelled and you are not able to use it as legal proof of identity, nationality or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it to travel, as this may cause the passport to be impounded by the Immigration Service at UK ports or airports, and if attempting to travel overseas, you could face deportation or arrest. You must also not use it as a means of identification, as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act."
You need to apply to replace the passport that has been stolen or lost. You’ll have to pay passport fee and there may also be a call out fee for issuing a temporary or emergency passport outside office hours.