Official-source guide

Lost or stolen Japanese passport

Q: Can I use a recovered passport?

No. The loss notification invalidates it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026 · By country of passport

Short answer

File a lost, stolen, or burned passport notification at a prefectural passport office in Japan or a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad ¹. The notification invalidates the passport, so it cannot be used if found later ¹. You can file the notification and a new passport application together. Abroad, you can instead apply for a travel document for return to Japan with proof of Japanese nationality and the return itinerary ¹. From 1 July 2026, an adult ten-year passport costs ¥8,900 online or ¥9,300 at the counter ².

Loss form: Lost General Passport Notification ¹
Police evidence: Police loss record or disaster certificate ¹
Adult ten-year passport: ¥8,900 online or ¥9,300 at counter ²
Processing in Japan: Normally about two weeks, with 2026 congestion warnings ²
Processing abroad: Normally about one month ²
Found later: Invalid after the loss notification ¹

If you are at home

File the Lost General Passport Notification at a prefectural passport application office. Take the police document that proves the loss or theft, one passport photo, and identity evidence. A disaster certificate can support a passport destroyed by fire or disaster ¹.

You can file the loss notification and the new-passport application at the same time. A new application needs the general passport application form, a family-register certificate or approved electronic record, and a passport photo ¹.

If you are abroad

Report the loss or theft to local police and take the record to the Japanese embassy or consulate. File the lost-passport notification with a photo and identity or residence evidence requested by the mission ¹.

Apply for a new passport if you can wait for delivery. The Foreign Ministry says an overseas application normally takes about one month due to delivery from Japan. The July 2026 fee change created a warning that heavy demand could extend the estimate to about one and a half months ².

Emergency travel document

For return to Japan, you can apply at the mission for a travel document instead of a new passport. The application needs the travel-document form, evidence of Japanese nationality such as the family-register record, a photo, and evidence of the return itinerary ¹.

The Foreign Ministry tells applicants to check the mission for case-specific documents and fees. Issue time depends on nationality and identity checks. The document is for the confirmed return journey, so discuss every transit point with the mission and carrier ¹.

Replacement fees and forms

New fees apply to applications accepted from 1 July 2026. An adult ten-year passport is ¥8,900 for an electronic application or ¥9,300 for a counter application. For a person aged 12 to 17, a five-year passport is ¥4,400 online or ¥4,800 at the counter ².

The ministry says issue in Japan is normally about two weeks. It warned that applications after the July fee change could take three weeks to one month during congestion. Overseas applications normally take about one month and can take longer during the same surge ².

If you find your passport later

Do not use it. Filing the lost-passport notification invalidates the passport, and the Foreign Ministry states that it cannot be used even if found later ¹.

Give the recovered passport to the prefectural passport office or Japanese mission and follow its return instructions. Travel on the new passport or return travel document ¹.

Common questions

Can I file the loss report and replacement together?

Yes. Japan permits the lost-passport notification and new-passport application at the same time ¹.

How much is a ten-year adult passport?

From 1 July 2026 it costs ¥8,900 online or ¥9,300 at the counter ².

Can I get a document just to return to Japan?

Yes. A Japanese mission can accept an application for a travel document for return to Japan ¹.

Can I use a recovered passport?

No. The loss notification invalidates it ¹.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

Lost or stolen Chinese passport
How Chinese citizens report and replace a lost passport at home or abroad, use the Chinese Consul app, and get an emergency travel document.
Lost or stolen Singapore passport
How to report a lost Singapore passport within 14 days, pay the replacement fee, and get a S$15 Document of Identity abroad.
Lost your passport abroad: first steps
What to do first when your passport is lost or stolen abroad, from official advice by the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Germany.
Emergency travel documents and emergency passports
What an emergency travel document is, how it differs from an emergency passport, and the rules in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the EU.