A stolen passport is one of the most serious forms of identity theft you can experience. Your passport contains your full legal name, date of birth, photograph, passport number, and nationality -- everything a criminal needs to commit identity fraud, open financial accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or even travel under your name. Whether your physical passport was stolen or your passport information was compromised in a data breach, here is exactly what you need to do to protect yourself.
Why Stolen Passport Information Is So Dangerous
A passport is one of the most trusted forms of identification worldwide. When criminals gain access to your passport information, the potential for abuse is extensive:
- Identity fraud: Your passport data can be used to create counterfeit documents or verify a stolen identity when opening accounts
- Financial fraud: Criminals can open bank accounts, apply for credit cards, and take out loans in your name
- Tax fraud: Your name, date of birth, and identifying information can be used to file fraudulent tax returns and claim your refund
- Travel fraud: A stolen passport number can be used to book travel, create forged documents, or commit border-related crimes in your name
- Employment fraud: Your passport serves as proof of identity and work authorization, making it valuable for employment-related fraud
Immediate action is critical. Every hour you delay gives criminals more time to exploit your information.
1. Report the Stolen Passport Immediately
If You Are in the United States
Report your passport as lost or stolen as quickly as possible through the U.S. Department of State. You have two options:
- Online: Submit a report through the official form at travel.state.gov. Your passport will typically be canceled within one business day of the report being processed.
- By phone: Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY: 1-888-874-7793) during business hours.
Once reported, your passport is permanently invalidated and cannot be used for travel by anyone. This is a necessary step to prevent the thief from using your document.
If You Are Abroad
If your passport is stolen while you are traveling outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate immediately. They can:
- Issue an emergency travel document or temporary passport so you can return home
- Report the theft and cancel your stolen passport
- Help you navigate local law enforcement procedures
Find the nearest embassy or consulate at usembassy.gov. Most embassies have an emergency after-hours phone number.
Act Within 24 Hours
The U.S. Department of State typically cancels a reported passport within one business day. The faster you report, the smaller the window for criminals to misuse your document. Do not wait to see if your passport turns up -- report it immediately and get a replacement later if it is found.
2. File a Police Report
Contact your local police department to file a report about the stolen passport. A police report creates an official record of the theft and serves multiple important purposes:
- Establishes a timeline showing when you reported the theft, protecting you if the thief uses your identity
- Provides a police report number that banks, credit bureaus, and government agencies may require
- Creates legal documentation that helps you dispute fraudulent activity tied to your passport
Provide as much detail as possible about the circumstances of the theft. Keep a copy of the police report and the report number in a safe place.
3. File a Report With the FTC
Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-382-4357. The FTC will:
- Guide you through a personalized recovery plan
- Generate an official Identity Theft Report with legal weight for disputing fraudulent accounts
- Provide pre-filled letters and forms to send to creditors and banks
- Create a permanent record that supports your case if fraud is discovered later
Combined with your police report, your FTC Identity Theft Report gives you the documentation you need to fight back against any fraudulent activity resulting from the theft.
4. Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Reports
A stolen passport gives criminals enough personal information to apply for credit in your name. Place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus -- by law, the bureau you contact is required to notify the other two:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or equifax.com
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or experian.com
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or transunion.com
An initial fraud alert lasts one year. If you have filed a police report or FTC Identity Theft Report, you can request an extended fraud alert lasting seven years.
5. Freeze Your Credit at All Three Bureaus
A credit freeze is stronger than a fraud alert. It completely blocks new creditors from accessing your credit report until you lift the freeze. Freezing and unfreezing your credit is free by federal law.
You must place a freeze separately with each bureau:
- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze
- Experian: experian.com/freeze
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
For maximum protection, also consider freezing your credit with Innovis and NCTUE, two lesser-known bureaus that some creditors and utility companies use for verification.
Do Not Skip the Credit Freeze
A fraud alert asks creditors to verify your identity before opening accounts, but compliance is voluntary -- not all creditors follow through. A credit freeze legally blocks access to your credit file, providing a much stronger barrier. Since a stolen passport gives criminals your full name, date of birth, and other identifying details, they have enough to pass many basic identity checks. A freeze stops them cold.
6. Apply for a Replacement Passport
To obtain a replacement passport, you need to complete Form DS-64 (Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen U.S. Passport Book and/or Card). Here is the process:
- Complete Form DS-64 online at travel.state.gov, then print it, sign it, and mail it
- Complete a new passport application (Form DS-11) -- you must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency
- Provide proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate)
- Provide a valid form of identification (such as a driver's license)
- Submit a new passport photo
- Pay the applicable passport fees
Standard processing typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. Expedited processing (an additional fee) can reduce this to 2 to 3 weeks. For immediate travel needs, contact a regional passport agency for emergency processing.
7. Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Companies
Notify the fraud departments of your bank, credit card issuers, and any other financial institutions. Inform them that your passport has been stolen and your identity may be compromised. They can:
- Place additional security alerts on your accounts
- Issue new account numbers or cards if necessary
- Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
- Walk you through their fraud protection procedures
Ask about adding verbal passwords or multi-factor authentication to your accounts for extra security.
8. Monitor Your Credit Reports for 12+ Months
Identity thieves do not always act immediately. Some sit on stolen information for months before using it. Pull your free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com and review them carefully for:
- Accounts you did not open
- Hard inquiries you did not authorize
- Addresses where you have never lived
- Incorrect personal information
- Unfamiliar balances or collections
Continue monitoring for at least 12 months. Set up transaction alerts with your bank and credit card companies for immediate notification of unusual activity.
9. Check for Tax-Related Identity Theft
Stolen passport information can be used to file fraudulent tax returns. If you suspect your information may be used for tax fraud:
- File your tax return as early as possible each year to beat potential fraudsters
- Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 if you believe your tax identity has been compromised
- Consider applying for an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), which is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number
Remove Your Information From Data Broker Sites
When your passport information is stolen, the thief may already have access to additional personal data through data broker sites. The more information available about you online, the easier it is for criminals to build a complete profile and commit further fraud.
PrivacyOn removes your personal information from 100+ data broker sites, reducing the amount of data available to criminals and making it harder for anyone to piece together your identity. With dark web monitoring included at no extra cost, PrivacyOn also alerts you if your passport information, email addresses, passwords, or other sensitive data surface on the dark web. Family plans cover up to 5 people starting at $8.33/month, so you can protect your entire household.
A stolen passport is a serious situation, but it is one you can manage effectively if you act quickly and follow these steps. Report the theft, freeze your credit, file with the FTC, and let PrivacyOn handle the ongoing work of keeping your personal information off data broker sites and monitoring the dark web for your exposed data. The faster you respond, the less damage a thief can do with your identity.