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.

Youmust then inform the nearest British embassy, consulate or highcommission and apply for a replacement passport. To do this, you needto:

• complete the lost or theft of the passport notification form LS01
• completethe correct passport application form and provide the requireddocuments, including 2 identical passport photographs that meet therequired standards
  
• take both forms, along with the police report, to our local offices.

Rememberthat you will need to pay the correct fee for your passport. There mayalso be a call out fee for issuing a temporary or emergency passportoutside of office hours.

Download form LS01
Download IPS Guide to taking a good photo for your passport (PDF, 301KB)

If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK

Ifyour passport is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, you shouldcontact 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

Ifyou find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, you musttake it to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission assoon as possible.

If you are in the UK, you should take the passport to the nearest Identity and Passport Service office.

Onceyou report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronicallycancelled. 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 ameans of identification as this may be detected as a potentiallyfraudulent act.

You will also not be able to use it for travel.Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the Borders andImmigration 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

Youmust return the passport with a copy of the death certificate to thenearest British embassy, consulate or high commission by completing theform below.

The form allows you to choose for us to send thepassport 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.