Official-source guide
Lost US passport in Mexico
- Passport report
- US Department of State 1
- In Mexico
- Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate 2
- Police
- Make a Mexican report for theft or when the consulate requests it
- Emergency option
- Limited-validity US emergency passport may be available 2
- Recovered passport
- Do not use after reporting it lost 1
Report the passport
Use the State Department's official lost or stolen passport route. A reported passport is invalid and must not be used if recovered 1.
For theft or when the consulate requests local evidence, report to Mexican police and keep the case record. Mexico's foreign ministry advises travellers to protect and report travel documents through the appropriate official channels 3.
Contact a US consular section
Use the US mission in Mexico's official contact and passport-service route. Explain your location, travel date, identity evidence, and whether the loss involved crime 2.
Bring a passport copy if available, another photo ID, evidence of US citizenship, a compliant photo, the loss statement, and itinerary. The consular section can request more evidence.
Emergency travel and fees
The consular section decides whether to issue a full-validity replacement or a limited-validity emergency passport. Issue time depends on identity, citizenship, office access, and travel need 2.
US passport fees follow the State Department schedule. Ask the consular section for the exact amount and payment method for the document it approves 4.
Before leaving Mexico
Confirm the new passport is accepted for the route, including any transit. If Mexican immigration needs evidence of the missing entry record or stay, follow the official instruction given for your case.
Report any missing visa or residence document separately to its issuing authority.
Common questions
Can the US embassy replace the passport?
A US embassy or consulate can assess a replacement after identity and citizenship checks 2.
Can I use a recovered passport?
No, not after reporting it lost 1.
Will I receive a full passport?
The consular section decides between a full-validity or limited-validity document 2.
Who sets the fee?
The US Department of State 4.
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
- US Department of State: lost or stolen passport
- US Department of State: lost or stolen passport abroad
- Mexico Secretariat of Foreign Affairs: theft of travel documents
- US Department of State: passport fees
Related
- Lost or stolen US passport
How to report a lost or stolen US passport, the DS-11 replacement fees, and how to get an emergency passport at a US embassy abroad.
- Lost or stolen Mexican passport
How to report and replace a lost Mexican passport in Mexico or abroad, current 2026 fees, and emergency passport help from a consulate.
- What to do if your passport is lost at the airport
A calm airport checklist: search safely, report the loss, contact the passport authority or embassy, and check emergency travel options.
- 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.