I Lost My Passport and I Fly Tomorrow—Here’s What to Do Before Your Trip

Your passport is lost, and you’re scheduled to fly tomorrow—what now? 

If you’re flying domestically, you can use your driver’s license as proof of identification to board any flight within the US and its overseas territories (as long as it’s REAL ID compliant). 

But what happens if you lose your passport and must fly internationally? Let’s find out.

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Related articles about US passports:

• How to Replace a Damaged Passport
• Lost Expired Passport—What to Do & How to Renew One?

I Lost My Passport Before a Flight [Domestic]

If you lose your passport a day before your flight within the US, don’t worry: you don’t need their passports to catch a domestic flight. This is true for travel to all fifty American states, including Alaska and Hawaii. You only need a Real lD-compliant document, such as your driver’s license, to board the plane.

That’s also true for travel to the US overseas territories of:

• Guam 
• American Samoa 
• The Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific 
• Puerto Rico 
• The US Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix in the Caribbean 

These destinations are considered domestic. According to immigration requirements, passengers need only an official US identification document.

So, enjoy your trip! You can worry about replacing that missing passport when you return. 

Pro tip: When replacing lost or stolen passports, US citizens must fill out the “lost or stolen passport” form, DS-64, and the usual application for a new passport, Form DS-11.

I Lost My Passport Before a Flight [International]

If you lose your passport before an international flight, you have a serious issue. You won’t be permitted to board a plane without a valid passport, as the document is essential for international travel—even to our neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico. 

So, what do you do if you lose your passport and you fly tomorrow?

Unfortunately, you’ll most likely have to cancel or postpone your trip, as it can take up to 13 weeks from applying until you get your replacement passport.

There are, however, several things you can do.

Avoid trip delays and additional costs

Losing your passport before a flight can lead to bureaucratic delays, costly changes, and missed travel plans. Here’s how to minimize disruptions:

• Schedule an appointment for a replacement at the nearest passport agency or consulate as soon as possible.
• Opt for expedited passport service to speed up processing.
• Check your travel insurance plans or credit card travel insurance for policy coverage on trip delay expenses or cancellation costs. Some policies cover the costs of rebooking flights, accommodation, and transportation.
• If you must reschedule travel plans, contact your airline and hotel immediately to explore waivers or reduced change fees. 

Emergency passport procedures

If traveling due to the death or hospitalization of an immediate family member, you may qualify for life-or-death passport service, where you’ll receive a new US passport within 72 hours. 

To make an appointment at one of 26 regional passport agencies in the US, call the National Passport Processing Center at 1-877-487-2778 (between 8 AM and 5 PM) or 202-647-4000 (after regular business hours).

Passport expeditors

Third-party expeditor services work with passport agencies to provide an expedited service with a faster timeline than standard government processing.

Companies like RushMyPassport and CIBT specialize in securing US passports quickly, sometimes in 1–3 days. Instead of waiting for an appointment at a passport agency or post office, an expeditor can handle the process for you, reducing the risk of missed flights.

To use an expediting service, you’ll need to provide all required documents, including a passport photo. PhotoAiD®, our passport photo maker app, can help you quickly get a compliant photo. 

You can also download the PhotoAiD® passport photo app on iOS or the PhotoAiD® passport photo app on Android.

Lost Passport Abroad, Flight Tomorrow: When You’re Abroad

Losing your passport overseas is a major problem because you can only return to the US with a valid passport.

Here’s what to do if you lose your passport abroad:

1. Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate to report your travel document lost or stolen. They will tell you what to do next. If your flight is tomorrow, give them your flight details so they can do their best to help you quickly.
2. Fill out the DS-64 “lost or stolen passport” form and the standard DS-11. Give the consular staff your travel itinerary (such as your plane ticket/boarding pass info) and, in the event of theft, the police report (if any). 
3. Show the consular officer a valid photo ID (e.g., a driver’s license) and proof of citizenship, such as your birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or expired passport. And don’t worry if you’re unable to present any of these documents—the consular staff will do their best to assist you in replacing your passport quickly.

All that’s left is to get a compliant passport photo to apply for an emergency passport that you can use to return to the US.

Remember to replace the emergency passport with a regular one upon returning to the United States.

Lost Passport Before a Trip: Recap

Depending on your travel situation, you can fly without a passport. Let’s recap the three scenarios described in the blog post.

Can I fly if I lost my passport:

1. In the US and flying domestically: No passport is required (a valid driver’s license will suffice).
2. In the US and flying internationally: You need a new passport. Reschedule your trip to a new date or see if you qualify for life-or-death emergency passport service.
3. Outside of the US and scheduled to fly back home: Contact the nearest US consulate or embassy to have an emergency passport issued.

FAQ

Sources:

1. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html
2. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/lost-stolen.html 

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.