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If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK

You must report the loss or theft of your passport to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). This will reduce the risk of anyone else using your passport or your identity. To report your passport lost or stolen, fill in and sign a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form and return it to IPS. The address is on the form.

You should report all passport thefts to the police. You'll need the crime reference details for the LS01 form.

You can apply for a replacement passport at the same time as reporting your passport stolen provided you are:

• a British national
• in the UK at the time you are applying

To replace your passport at the same time as reporting it lost or stolen, see 'Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport'.

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

If your child's passport is lost or stolen in the UK

If your child's passport is lost or stolen in the UK, you should report it on their behalf using an LS01 form. Note that IPS will compare your signature with the signature on the original passport application form. If the original application was made by someone else, you will need to send a signed letter from them with the LS01. The letter should confirm that the original passport has been lost or stolen. This is to reduce the risk of child abduction.

• More about passport applications and child abduction

You can then apply for a replacement passport in the normal way. See 'Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport' for more information.

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

Getting the Lost or Stolen (LS01) form

It's easiest to get the Lost or Stolen (LS01) form online. You can either:

• complete the form online – in this case, IPS will print out the completed form and send it back to you to sign and return
• request it online and get IPS to send it to you
• download it online, complete it and then send it to IPS

You can also get the form from:

• a Regional Passport Office
• your local police station
• certain Post Office branches that offer the Passport Check & Send service
• the IPS Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000

You can also report your passport lost over the phone – request a call back from IPS by using the link below.

• Complete Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form online Opens new window

• Request a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form Opens new window

• Download 'Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification' (PDF, 231K) Opens new window

• Request a call back to report your passport lost or stolen Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

If your British passport is lost or stolen abroad

If you're abroad, report any passport losses or thefts to the local police in the country you're in as soon as possible. You'll need the crime reference details for the LS01 form.

You should also report the theft or loss to the UK embassy, consulate or high commission of the country you are in. You can get details of your local embassy, consulate or high commission by:

• calling +44 (0)20 7008 1500 (or 0870 606 0290 if you're in the UK)
• visiting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website

When you make a report to the embassy, consulate or high commission, they will give you a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form. You should fill this in and sign it. You can also download the form if you lose it or need another copy.

The embassy, consulate or high commission will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to IPS. IPS will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else using your identity.

• Find British embassies, consulates and high commissions around the world Opens new window

Help travelling back to the UK

The FCO will issue you with replacement travel documents so you can travel back to the UK.

Getting a replacement passport

You can apply for a replacement passport once you're back in the UK. IPS recommends that you do this as soon as possible. You can apply for a replacement passport as long as you are a British national and in the UK at the time you are applying.

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

If your child was included on the passport

If your child was included on your lost, stolen or damaged passport, they can't be included on the replacement. You'll need to apply for a first child passport for them if they are under 16.

• Applying for a new or renewed child passport

If you later find your passport

If you find your passport after reporting it lost or stolen, you must return it to IPS. When IPS has received your Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form, they cancel your passport. Once this has been done, you can't use it for travel, as legal proof of nationality or for any other legal purpose.

• Find your nearest Regional Passport Office Opens new window

• Find your nearest Regional Passport Office (Northern Ireland) Opens new window

If you find your passport while completing the online form

If you find your passport before returning your completed LS01 form to IPS, don't sign the form that IPS sends you. Instead you should return the form with a separate signed note confirming that you have found your passport and no longer wish to cancel it.

If a third party finds your lost or stolen passport

If a third party, like another government department or the police, finds or is given your passport, they will return it to IPS. They will not send it to you. All lost passports returned to IPS are destroyed for security reasons.

Useful contacts

• Foreign Office Travel Advice

• Identity and Passport Service (IPS)