I lost my U.S. passport or Green Card. Help!

Traveling without a passport may be worse than driving without a driver’s license because your passport confirms your citizenship, while a driver’s license just permits you to drive a vehicle. More importantly, a passport allows you to travel internationally (except in cases where you also need a visa) and, of course, back into your home country. If you’re trying to re-enter the United States without your Green Card, you may be denied entry.

If you lost your U.S. passport or it was stolen from you, you’ll need to report that before applying for a new one. To do that online, click here.

By phone, call 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793). Operators are available 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST) Monday to Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

By mail, you will have to complete Form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport and mail it to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036

To apply for a new passport, see our blog entry about obtaining a U.S. passport.

If you’ve lost or need to renew your Lawful Permanent Resident card (also known as a Green Card), you’ll need to fill out Form I-90. For more information on where to send the form, visit our website page about it.

However, if you are a conditional resident — based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident — and your status is expiring, you must use Form I-751. If you became a conditional resident based on a financial investment in a U.S. business, you must use Form I-829.

If you have been a Lawful Permanent Resident for more than five years as an individual, or more than three years as married to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. There are many benefits to being a U.S. citizen, including becoming eligible for Social Security and social assistance benefits and earning the right to vote. Visit our website for more information.