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 highcommission and apply for a replacement passport. To do this, you needto:

• complete the lost or theft of the passport notification form LS01
• complete the correct passport application form and provide therequired documents, including 2 identical passport photographs thatmeet 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 yourpassport. There may also be a call out fee for issuing a temporary oremergency passport outside 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

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, youshould contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) by phoning theirPassport 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, youmust take it to the nearest British embassy, consulate or highcommission 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 iselectronically cancelled. You will not be able to use it as a proof ofidentity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not useit as a means of identification as this may be detected as apotentially fraudulent act.

You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may causethe passport to be impounded by the Borders and Immigration Authorityat UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could facedeportation 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 tothe nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission by completingthe form below.

The form allows you to choose for us to send the passport back toyou or dispose of it. If you do not choose an option, we will disposeof 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