Lost or stolen UK passport

Cancel the passport first

GOV.UK says you must cancel a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible. This reduces the risk of someone else using your passport or identity ¹.

You need a phone number to use the online service. A photocopy or photo of the passport can help you answer questions about it. You can report a lost or stolen passport for someone else if they cannot do it themselves ¹.

The GOV.UK cancellation page does not ask for a police report ¹.

Replace it from the UK

You replace a lost or stolen passport through the same online service used to apply for, renew or update a passport. You need a debit or credit card ².

GOV.UK warns that you should not book travel until you have a valid passport. Your new passport will not have the same number as your old one ².

If you need the new passport fast

The 1 week Fast Track service can be used to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport. It costs £192 for an adult passport (£206 for 54 pages) and £156.50 for a child passport (£170.50 for 54 pages). The earliest appointment is the day after you apply, and the passport is delivered by courier 1 week after your appointment ⁴.

The 1 day Premium service is only for renewing an adult passport and you must hand in your old passport, so it does not fit a lost passport ⁴. You cannot use the urgent services from outside the UK. GOV.UK sends people abroad to the emergency travel document instead ⁴.

If you are abroad

If you are abroad and need to travel urgently, you might be able to apply for an emergency travel document. If you do, you do not need to cancel the passport separately. You cancel it as part of that application ¹.

You can apply if you are a British national, you are outside the UK, you need to travel within 6 weeks, and you cannot renew or replace your passport before you travel. The online route needs a UK passport issued on or after 1 January 2006 ^5,6.

The application costs £125 and there is no refund. You need a digital photo, a phone number, an email address and a card. A relative or friend can pay for you ⁶.

The document is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply. You will be told whether you need an appointment at a British embassy, high commission or consulate. Do not book travel until you get the email with collection details ⁶.

• It is usually valid for one single or return journey ⁵.
• You can travel through up to 5 countries on it ⁵.
• Border control may keep it when you arrive in the UK ⁶.

What happens to the old passport

Once you cancel a passport through GOV.UK, the aim is to stop anyone else using it or your identity ¹. Your replacement gets a new number ², so check whether visas or travel bookings were linked to the old one.