Website of the UK government

If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK

You must report the loss or theft of your passport to IPS. This will reduce the risk of anyone else using your passport or your identity. To report your passport lost or stolen, you should fill in and sign a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form and return it to IPS. The address is on the form.

You should report all passport thefts to the police. You will need the crime reference details for the LS01 form.

You can apply for a replacement passport at the same time as reporting your passport stolen provided you are:

• a British national
• in the UK at the time you are applying

To replace your passport at the same time as reporting it lost or stolen, see 'Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport'. 

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form

You can request this form online or get it from:

• the IPS Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000
• a Regional Passport Office
• your local police station
• certain Post Office branches that offer the Passport Check & Send service

You can also complete it online. In this case IPS will print out the completed form and send it back to you to sign and return.

• Request a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form Opens new window

• Download Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form (PDF, 231K)

• Help with PDF files

• Complete Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form online Opens new window

If your British passport is lost or stolen abroad

You should report all passport loss or thefts to the local police in the country you are in as soon as possible. You will need the crime reference details they provide for the LS01 form.

You should report the theft or loss to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) embassy, consulate or high commission of the country you are in. You can get details of your local FCO office wherever you are by calling +44 (0)20 7008 1500 (0870 606 0290 within the UK) or by visiting the FCO website.

When you make a report to the FCO office, they will give you a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form to fill in and sign. You can also download this form if you lose it or need another copy.

The FCO office will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to IPS. IPS will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else using your identity.

• Find British embassies, consulates and high commissions around the world Opens new window

Help travelling back to the UK

The FCO will issue you with replacement travel documents so you can travel back to the UK.

Getting a replacement passport

You can apply for a replacement passport once you are back in the UK. IPS recommends that you do this as soon as possible. You can apply for a replacement passport as long as you are a British national and in the UK at the time you are applying.

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

If your child was included on the passport

If your child was included on your lost, stolen or damaged passport they cannot be included on the replacement. You will need to apply for a first child passport for them if they are under 16.

• Applying for a new or renewed child passport

If you later find your passport

If you find your passport after reporting it lost or stolen, you must return it to IPS. When IPS has received your Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form they cancel your passport. Once this has been done, you cannot use it for travel, as legal proof of nationality or for any other legal purpose.

• Find your nearest Regional Passport Office Opens new window

• Find your nearest Regional Passport Office (Northern Ireland) Opens new window

If you find your passport while completing the online Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form

If you have completed an online form declaring your passport lost, but find your passport before returning the form to IPS, don't sign the form that IPS sends you. Instead you should return it with a separate signed note confirming that you have now found your passport and no longer wish to cancel it.