Lost or stolen passport

Lost or stolen passport, what do you do?

Your passport is a vital tool in proving your identity. Due to the increase of identity theft a lost or stolen passport does incur an additional fee on top of the application cost.

It is an offense to fail to report your passport lost or stolen as soon as you learn of the loss. By reporting it immediately it can be canceled and cannot be used to enter and leave any country by the wrong type of person. It is an offense to use a canceled passport with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of $110,000.

You can report your Australian passport online. This should be done as soon as possible.

To use the online service you must know your passport number. You will be required to confirm your identity, and then asked about the circumstances of the loss. If you wish to replace your passport at this time, you can also complete the appropriate passport application form online.

If you are in Australia, you can also telephone the Australian Passport Info service on 131232 to report the loss or theft.

If you wish to apply for a replacement you will need to go through most of the previous steps of applying for a passport.

If you are overseas you must immediately report your passport lost or stolen online or report to the nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission.

You will have to complete an overseas passport application form.If your passport goes missing in the mail and you report it within 60 days then you do not incur a penalty.

You may report your passport missing in the mail if:

* your passport was mailed to an Australian address and;

* it was dispatched from a passport office more than five working days ago.

It may take up to one week for delivery, depending on your location. Please check your local post office outlet before reporting it missing.

If your passport is missing in the mail and you need to travel urgently, please phone the Australian passport info service 131232.

Further information re lost or stolen passports is available from the DIY kit provided by the Attorney-general's department.

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