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.

What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen?

Any loss or theft should be reported immediately to the local police or Tourist Police. Then you must come to the Consular Section IN-PERSON to start the processing of a replacement passport.

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.

Lost Passport Application

1. Please complete the lost/stolen form below, LS01 and a passport application form (C1) complete with as much as detail as possible, Details of your old passport if you have them

• proof of ID, if available
• 2 identical photographs (45mm. high x 35 mm.) The UK Passport Agency have strict guidelines on the quality of passport photographs. Photographs which do not meet the guidelines will not be accepted. Full details can be found at the UK passport website.
• police report         
• passport fee (see passport fee page)  Please note that the passport fee must be paid at the time of the application. Passport fees are non-refundable. PDF British Passport Declared Lost or Stolen Form, please download (PDF, 490KB) 

2.  Prior issuing a new passport, we will need to confirm the details of your previous passport with the issuing office. 32 or 48 page passports may take up to 6 weeks and temporary passports can take 3 days from receipt of your application to issue of a new passport.

3. Once you have collected your replacement passport, you will need to obtain a recommendation letter from Immigration Department in Pansodan Street in order to apply for your stay permit if you are resident.  If you are a visitor, you will have to get a letter from their offices in Mahabandoola Street to show Airport immigration when you depart.

Immigration and National Registration Department Requires:

• replacement passport
• police report
  
  Copies of all the above are also required.
  
  Please note that a Visa Overstay currently incurs a fine of US $3 per day.