Lost or Stolen British Passport

Key Takeaways 

• First, cancel your lost or stolen passport by going to this UK government page.
• Next, you renew your passport using the same HMPO website for standard renewals of passports.
• If you find your lost/stolen passport after applying for a renewal you cannot use it because you will have (hopefully) cancelled it. You must wait for your new UK Passport that you applied for.
• Remember to always replace a damaged UK Passport using the same procedure. If you try to travel with a damaged UK Passport you may be denied entry to countries.

Please note: this website gives information for British nationals living outside the United Kingdom.

Losing a passport is always a disruptive and confusing event, so spend a few minutes to see what steps you should take and who to contact when your British passport is lost or stolen.

Remember that you not only have to replace a lost or stolen UK passport as soon as possible. You also should replace any UK passport that is damaged. This means “more than reasonable wear and tear” according to HM Passport Office. So, if in doubt play it safe and apply to replace your UK passport, seeing that a worn-down UK passport may not be accepted by immigration authorities.

You should also cancel your stolen passport or lost passport as soon as possible.

How to: To cancel a stolen passport or when you have lost a passport, go to this UK government page and click the green Start now button. Indicate whether you are in the UK or abroad and then on the following page click the blue reporting it online link and follow the instructions in order to cancel your lost or stolen passport.

Your next step will be to replace your UK passport.

You can apply to replace your UK passport:

• Online, click here  for information on how to use the online option.
• (Optional – third-party paid service) Using a Paper Application form, click here to learn more

As well, you may need to attend an interview (this is unlikely if it’s the first time you have lost your British passport) which currently are taking place online.

Tip for Renewing your UK Passport: Click here for country-specific information: Canada and USA. 

FAQ’s

Do I need a police report if my British passport was stolen?

The British government states that: stolen passports should be reported to the police. If you haven’t already reported the missing passport to the police when you report your stolen passport to the UK government online, you are given the option to do so after reporting your stolen passport to authorities in the UK online.

How do I file a police report for my British passport outside of the United Kingdom?

You need to contact local police in the country and city/town where your British passport was stolen. You should make a police report at your nearest local police station and make sure you get a copy of the police report as you may need to provide an official copy of your local police report to the British embassy. Remember that your local police report is a key piece of information needed by authorities in the UK so contact local police about as soon as possible.

Tip: Most municipal police websites will have an online option. Completing a report this way will be a lot faster. Look for the heading ‘lost property’.

What is considered a damaged British passport?

Anything beyond a “reasonable amount” of wear and tear is considered damaged. You should err on the side of caution to avoid having your passport refused by immigration authorities because of its damaged condition. Remember, there are over 190 countries with different standards for documents like a passport. Make sure your passport is always in good condition.

I lost all my identification, including my British passport, what do I do?

First, contact the local police and file a police report with them. Next, cancel your stolen passport by going to this UK government page here and providing the requested information.  As well, if you have urgent travel plans, you may have to apply for an Emergency Travel Document which may involve an appointment at a British embassy, consulate, or high commission. Go to this UK government page to apply for an emergency travel document. You will need to upload copies of travel plans as well as a photo of the person applying for the emergency travel document. The fee is £100.

Tip: If you lost everything, the best way to start replacing your missing documents is the following:

1. First, get your birth certificate
2. Remember to replace a federal document first. For example, in Canada it would be your citizenship certificate, and/or record of landing, and/or PR Card. In the United States it would be your Green card, and/or Certificate of Citizenship. Again, keep in mind you need to replace a Federal document first, not a Provincial or State document; this comes later.

Tip: There are private companies that assist in replacing lost or stolen documents. In Canada you can contact Immigroup.com.

How many times can I lose my British passport before I am not given one anymore?

The rule apparently is if you have lost a British passport 3 times within a 10-year period (the normal period of validity for an adult UK passport) then you will be issued a passport by HM Passport Office with a restricted validity of only 1 year, as opposed to the normal 10-year validity for an adult passport. If you lose your restricted British passport, then you may run the risk of being refused a replacement passport.

How common is it to lose a passport?

Over a 5-year period from 2008 to 2013, over 160,000 UK passports lost or stolen, which works out to about 30,000 passports lost per year. The worst place was Spain with over 37,000 passports lost or stolen over the period. Next on the list was the US with over 16,000 missing, followed by France with almost 12,000. Slightly more than 4,300 British passports were reported missing in North Africa and the Middle East.

Can someone steal my identity with my lost UK Passport?

Absolutely. A UK passport can be used as ID for government services and benefits and even other services as well. If your passport is stolen and then sold to criminals specializing in ID theft, you run the risk of having a bank account opened in your name or even a mortgage taken out in your name by a criminal. This can be ruinous financially and sometimes even result in you being arrested overseas for crimes committed using your stolen UK passport as ID.

Note: This risk is very low in places like Canada but high for places like Spain.

I reported my British passport lost/stolen but now I found it. What do I do?

When you report your British passport lost or stolen, you must cancel your stolen/lost passport and request a replacement passport. Once reported and cancelled, you can no longer use a passport declared lost, even if it later turns up. You must apply for and obtain a replacement passport.

What is RFID technology in your British Passport?

RFID stands for radio frequency identification and is a very small memory chip that has been used in your British passport since around 2006. The chip contains the passport holder’s facial biometrics (usually your eyes but also can include information on other facial aspects) and is now located at the front of the passport on the personal details/biodata page which is now one continuous sheet of paper. Think of it as an additional information and support for your digital photograph. In other words, the information provided by RFID makes identity fraud using a stolen passport even more difficult to achieve.

Note: Below you’ll find information reflecting the old paper application rules.

Replacing Your British Passport

To replace your lost, stolen or damaged UK passport, the procedure is a little different from a regular renewal application.

• The most important difference is that you must cancel your passport passport before replacing it by using the LS01 form to report it lost or stolen.
• Then you must renew your UK passport.

Cancelling Your British Passport

Please note: If your passport is damaged and you want to replace it, you do not have to cancel your passport first.

The first step to cancelling your lost of stolen UK passport is to get the LS01 form. You can do that in one of two days:

• download the LS01 form, print it off, and complete it by hand OR
• complete the LS01 form online, print it off and sign it.

Completing the LS01 Lost or Stolen British Passport Notification Form

Complete the following steps, identified by the section number on the form:

1. Details of the Lost/Stolen Passport:
   • Surname (last name)
   • Forename(s) (given first and middle names)
   • Date of Birth in DD/MM/YYYY format
   • Town of birth (or city, or village)
   • Country of birth
   • Passport number (only if you know it)
2. Details of what happened to the Passport:
   • Indicate whether it was Lost of Stolen
   • Date you lost it or it was stolen in DD/MM/YYYY format – approximate date if you are not sure
   • Town or City of loss/theft – if you know where it happened
   • Country of loss/theft
   • How was the passport lost/stolen? A list of options is provided but if your situation doesn’t fit into a category, you need to write an explanation
3. Police Report: Only mandatory if your passport was stolen. Immigroup strongly recommends reporting a stolen passport to the police before submitting this form
   • If stolen, has the theft been reported to the police? Yes or no answer.
   • If it has been reported to the police, complete the following details:
     • Date reported to the police in DD/MM/YYYY
     • Police Station where the theft was reported – try to get the name of the police station and its contact information
     • Police crime or incident reference number – it’s better if you have this
4. Name of the Person Completing this Form – Someone else can report your passport stolen or lost in special circumstances, which is why this section exists. If you’re a parent reporting your child’s passport lost or stolen, you must have custody of the child.
   • Surname
   • Forename(s)
   • Relationship to Passport Holder (i.e. parent)
5. Contact Detail of the Person Completing this Form – Because they are not going to contact the passport holder directly if someone else is completing the form
   • Phone Number – must be a number you can be reached at
   • Email Address – should be an email address you check often
   • Current Address – include the number, street, city or town but not the zip or postal code
   • Country
   • Post Code – include the postal or zip code here
6. Completing on behalf of a child (under 16) – Only complete if you are reporting your child’s passport stolen or missing
   • Do you have parental responsibility for the passport holder? – this means “do you have custody?”
   • Is there anyone else with parental responsibility who has the passport that you are reporting as lost/stolen? – This question concerns separated or divorced parents who have had an acrimonious split and one parent is holding the passport hostage
   • Is everyone with parental responsibility aware that you are reporting the passport lost/stolen?
7. Declaration: “I understand that completing and returning this form will result in the related passport being cancelled, that it must never be used again and, if subsequently found, it should be returned to Her Majesty’s Passport Office. I also understand that I will need to make a separate application if I wish to replace the passport declared lost or stolen. The information on this form is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I understand that I shall be liable to prosecution and could face a prison sentence if I include anything that I know to be false or do not believe to be true. I also understand that Her Majesty’s Passport Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 (which may be consulted at www.ico.org.uk). Information about the lost or stolen passport may be shared with appropriate public and private sector authorities who can assist in locating and recovering the missing passport.”
   • You acknowledge the passport will be cancelled and cannot be used again.
   • You acknowledge that if you find the passport, you will send it to the Passport Office in Durham.
   • You acknowledge that if you want to replace your passport, you still need to complete a renewal application.
   • You attest that the information you supplied is true to the best of your knowledge.
   • You acknowledge that you could be prosecuted for making false statements.
   • You agree that information provided in this form can be shared with the appropriate authorities trying to look for the passport.

Once you have completed all the applicable questions, you must sign the form. So, if you completed the form online, you have to print it off first.

Submitting the LS01 Lost or Stolen British Passport Notification Form

You can submit the LS01 form at one of the following locations:

If you are in the UK, you can report the passport online here.

Renewing Your Passport

Once you have cancelled your lost or stolen passport, you can renew. Please see our guide to renewing your passport.

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