I Lost My Passport During an Incident. What Should I Do?

1. Confirm Whether It Is Truly Missing

Check pockets, luggage, hotel safe, front desk, rental car, hospital property, police property receipt and the belongings of any companion who may have secured valuables.

Ask whether the passport appears on an arrest property inventory or was separately logged as evidence.

2. If Police or a Facility Has It

Ask which unit holds the passport, whether it is ordinary stored property or evidence, and what receipt, report or booking number identifies it.

Confirm who may collect it, which identification or authorization is required, collection hours and whether the arrested person must be present.

3. If It Was Lost or Stolen

Make a written timeline of when and where it was last seen. Contact local police or the relevant property office when a report is appropriate, and keep the report number.

Notify the passport holder’s embassy or consulate. Most foreign visitors must obtain replacement instructions from their own government rather than from a U.S. passport office.

4. Contact the Embassy or Consulate

Use the traveler’s government website to find the office responsible for Hawaiʻi. Explain the travel date, current identification available and whether the passport was lost, stolen, damaged or retained.

Ask about appointment requirements, photographs, application forms, fees, proof of citizenship, police reports and emergency travel documents.

5. Gather Replacement Evidence

Useful items may include a photograph or copy of the lost passport, national identity card, driver license, birth or citizenship records, visa details, airline itinerary, police report, passport photographs and a contact who can help verify identity.

Requirements vary by country. Follow the instructions issued by the consulate handling the case.

6. A Lost Passport May Also Mean a Lost U.S. Visa

For many foreign visitors, a U.S. visa inside a lost passport cannot simply be reprinted inside the United States. The U.S. Department of State directs travelers to contact their own embassy or consulate to replace the passport and provides separate instructions concerning a lost or stolen U.S. visa and Form I-94.

Keep copies of police reports and travel records in case they are requested later.

7. Speak With the Airline Before Going to the Airport

An airline may require a valid passport or emergency travel document before boarding an international flight. Do not rely on a photograph of the passport without confirming acceptance.

Ask the consulate and airline what documentation is required, and allow time for identity checks and rebooking.

8. Preserve Evidence and Avoid Identity Misuse

Cancel or monitor payment cards and accounts that were lost with the passport. Save any messages, surveillance information or witness details connected to a theft.

Do not post the full passport number or an uncensored passport image publicly.

Official Resources

Use official agency and government sources for current procedures and contact information.