If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged and your trip is coming up fast, you will usually need to apply in person for a replacement passport using Form DS-11. The route is usually a passport agency appointment. If you cannot get there yourself, you may need a courier-assisted process that starts at a local passport acceptance facility.
Quick Answer: Replacing a Passport Before Travel
The fastest official route is a passport agency appointment. You generally need international travel within 14 calendar days, or a foreign visa needed within 28 calendar days, to qualify for urgent travel service at a passport agency or center.
If your passport was lost or stolen, report it and apply in person with Form DS-11. If your passport is damaged, bring the damaged passport and a signed statement explaining the damage.
- Go to a regional agency yourself if you can get an appointment, gather the right documents, and travel to the agency.
- Consider a registered passport courier if you cannot get to an agency, cannot find a workable appointment, or the added expenses to attend an appointment outweigh the cost of using an expediting service.
Same-day passport replacement may be possible in some urgent cases, but it is not guaranteed.
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide is an independent passport information resource. We explain the official process first, then point out courier options when getting to an agency yourself is not realistic.
Important: Private expediting services cannot approve your application, waive DS-11 requirements, bypass State Department rules, or guarantee passport issuance. They can review paperwork, handle eligible agency submissions, help track the application, and arrange return delivery.
Who This Page Is For
This page is for U.S. citizens who need to travel soon and cannot use their current passport. Use this guide if:
- your valid passport was lost before international travel;
- your valid passport was stolen;
- your passport has serious damage, such as water damage, mold, stains, a major tear, unofficial markings, a hole punch, or missing pages;
- your passport card was lost, stolen, or damaged and you need a replacement; or
- you need a replacement passport in 2 weeks or less and cannot wait for routine processing.
Not the right situation? If your passport is expired but still available and undamaged, start with our urgent passport renewal guide. If you never had an adult passport, use the urgent first-time passport guide. If the applicant is under 16, also review the urgent child passport guide because parent/guardian consent rules apply.
Report a Lost or Stolen Passport, or Prepare a Damage Statement
Start here before you book an appointment or pay for courier help.
| Situation | What to do before you apply |
|---|---|
| Lost passport | Report the passport lost and apply in person with Form DS-11. You can report it online, by mail, or in person when you apply. See our lost passport replacement guide. |
| Stolen passport | Report the passport stolen and apply in person with Form DS-11. If this is a stolen passport before travel and you filed a police report, bring a copy. See our stolen passport replacement guide. |
| Damaged passport | Bring the damaged passport and a signed statement explaining the damage. If this is a damaged passport before travel and the passport cannot be used as proof of citizenship, bring separate citizenship evidence. See our damaged passport replacement guide. |
Do not use a passport after reporting it lost or stolen. Once reported, it is canceled and cannot be used for travel even if you find it later.
How to Replace a Passport in 2 Weeks or Less
Your next steps depend on whether you can appear directly at a passport agency or need to start locally and use a courier.
- Make sure the old passport cannot be used. A lost, stolen, or seriously damaged passport generally cannot be renewed online or by mail.
- Report the passport or prepare your statement. Lost or stolen passports usually require Form DS-64 or the lost/stolen report information on DS-11. Damaged passports require the damaged passport and a signed damage statement.
- Check your travel date. Passport agency appointments are for urgent international travel, usually within 14 calendar days. If a foreign visa is required, the window may be 28 calendar days.
- Gather every document before building travel plans around an appointment. Missing citizenship proof, ID, a passport photo, proof of travel, or damage/loss documentation can delay the replacement.
- Choose the agency or courier route. Go to a regional agency yourself if you can. Consider a registered passport courier only if the logistics make sense and your documents qualify.
- Track the application and delivery. Keep your appointment confirmation, payment receipts, tracking numbers, and any agency or courier instructions.
Passport Agency vs. Passport Courier: Which Should You Use?
Start with this question: can you get to the nearest regional passport agency yourself, or would a registered passport courier make more sense?
Apply at a Regional Agency Yourself
This is usually the most direct route if you can get a passport appointment, bring the right documents, and get to the agency.
- Best when you live near a regional agency or can travel there without major extra costs.
- Requires a confirmed appointment.
- Requires printed proof of international travel.
- You pay government passport fees, the expedite fee, and any travel-related costs.
Use a Registered Passport Courier
This can be worth comparing if you cannot find an appointment that works, cannot travel to a regional agency, or would spend heavily to get there yourself.
- Can review paperwork and help with agency submission steps.
- May submit or pick up documents if your case qualifies.
- Charges a private service fee in addition to government fees.
- Cannot approve your passport, skip State Department rules, or guarantee issuance.
Most replacement cases use Form DS-11, which still requires an in-person step. A courier cannot sign DS-11 for you. If you use a courier, you generally must first go to an authorized passport acceptance facility so an acceptance official can witness your signature and seal the application packet. Do not open the sealed packet.
Trying to decide whether a courier fee is worth it? Compare the service fee with what it would cost to go to a regional agency yourself. That may include transportation, parking, hotels, meals, childcare, missed work, and the risk of not finding an appointment that fits your travel date.
For a detailed breakdown, read our guide to the hidden costs of urgent passport applications.
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Documents to Bring
Bring the standard DS-11 documents plus the extra paperwork for the lost, stolen, or damaged passport. Complete Form DS-11 before your appointment, but do not sign it until the acceptance official tells you to sign.
Urgent passport replacement checklist
- Form DS-11: completed but unsigned.
- Form DS-64 or lost/stolen report details: required if your previous passport was lost or stolen.
- Damaged passport and signed damage statement: required if you are replacing a damaged passport.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: such as a certified birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or previous U.S. passport if available and usable.
- Government-issued photo ID: bring the original ID and required photocopies.
- Passport photo: bring one compliant color passport photo.
- Proof of international travel: bring a printed itinerary, ticket, cruise confirmation, or other accepted proof.
- Child documents, if applicable: bring proof of parental relationship and consent documents if replacing a child passport.
- Payment: bring government fees and a payment method accepted at your application location.
How to Make a Passport Agency Appointment
Passport agencies and centers require appointments. They do not accept walk-ins, and appointment availability is not guaranteed.
- If you have not applied yet, use the State Department online appointment system or follow our passport appointment guide.
- Make the appointment when you are within 14 calendar days of international travel, or within 28 days if you need a foreign visa.
- Bring printed proof of international travel to the appointment.
- Do not pay anyone just to book a government passport appointment. Appointment booking itself is free.
For travelers who need a passport in 24 hours or the same day, see our same-day passport guide before deciding whether to travel to an agency or compare courier help.
Passport Replacement Costs
Most last-minute replacement cases include the regular application fee, the $35 execution fee, and the $60 government expedite fee. The 1–3 day return delivery fee is optional for passport books, but it is usually worth adding when your travel date is close.
| Adult replacement option | Government fees | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passport book Most international air travelers need the passport book. |
$130 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $225 Add $22.05 for 1–3 day return delivery: $247.05 |
| Adult passport book + card Useful if you also want a card for land or sea travel to limited destinations. |
$160 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $255 Add $22.05 for 1–3 day return delivery of the passport book: $277.05 |
| Adult passport card only Not valid for international air travel. |
$30 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $125 Note: Passport cards are only sent by First Class Mail. |
| Child replacement option | Government fees | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Child passport book For applicants under age 16. |
$100 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $195 Add $22.05 for 1–3 day return delivery: $217.05 |
| Child passport book + card For applicants under age 16 who need both documents. |
$115 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $210 Add $22.05 for 1–3 day return delivery of the passport book: $232.05 |
| Child passport card only Not valid for international air travel. |
$15 application fee + $35 execution fee + $60 expedite fee | $110 Note: Passport cards are only sent by First Class Mail. |
| Additional cost | When it applies |
|---|---|
| $22.05 1–3 day return delivery | Optional for passport books. This is paid to the U.S. Department of State with your application fee. |
| Passport photo | Applies if you need a new photo. Prices vary by provider. |
| Private courier fee | Applies only if you hire a passport expediter. This is separate from government passport fees. |
| Travel costs | Applies if you go to a regional agency yourself and need transportation, parking, hotel stays, meals, childcare, or time away from work. |
For the full fee chart, see our passport fees guide. Passport cards cost less, but they do not work for international air travel.
What Happens After the Appointment?
If the agency approves your application, you may receive your passport the same day or be told when to return or expect delivery. Timing depends on your travel date, the agency workload, and whether your paperwork is complete.
If you use a courier, follow the courier’s instructions for tracking, return shipping, and supporting documents. Keep the tracking numbers and any written instructions you receive.
Passport Replacement FAQ
Yes, but you must report the passport lost and apply in person for a new passport. If your trip is within the urgent travel window, try to get a passport agency appointment or compare registered courier services.
No. Once a valid passport is reported lost or stolen, it is canceled. Do not try to use it for travel, even if you find it later.
Damage can include water damage, mold, stains, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing pages, or a hole punch. Normal wear, such as a small bend or fanned pages, usually does not mean the passport is too damaged to travel.
Not for a DS-11 case. A courier cannot sign DS-11 for you. You must first appear before an authorized acceptance official so your signature can be witnessed and your application packet can be sealed.
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The steps are different when you are already abroad and need a replacement passport to return home or continue travel.
You may be able to use expedited passport replacement service instead of an agency appointment. Expedited processing is currently 2 to 3 weeks and does not include mailing time. If your situation is not urgent, start with our standard lost passport, stolen passport, or damaged passport guides.
More Help for Urgent Passport Situations
- Urgent Passport Guide
- Same-Day Passport Guide
- Emergency Passport with DS-11
- Urgent First-Time Passport Guide
- Urgent Child Passport Guide
- Urgent Passport for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
- Passport Expediting Services Directory
Compare Your Fast Passport Options
If routine service is too slow, you may need an agency appointment or help from a registered courier. Compare your options before you decide.
Last reviewed: May 18, 2026.
Note: Some links on this page may earn U.S. Passport Service Guide a commission at no extra cost to you.
