I Lost Passport My in Mexico (What Happens, Costs & What to Do)

As much as we all try to avoid it, there may come a day when your passport gets lost in a foreign country and you will need to know what would be the best course of action.

If you lose your passport in Mexico, there’s no need to worry, you can easily get a replacement with just a short delay to your plans. You also have a couple of options depending on how much time you have.

So, in this article, we will walk you through how to replace a lost US passport in Mexico, explaining all the possible options available to you.

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Lost US passport in Mexico – report

Whenever you lose a passport in Mexico or any other country, the first thing to do is to report it.

So, head to the nearest police station and file a report for your lost or stolen passport and then notify the US Embassy. If you don’t speak Spanish, it’s a good idea to contact the embassy first- they will be able to offer help during the whole process.

Remember to ask for a copy of the report the Mexican police will file, it will be useful when you come to apply for a new passport.

Wherever you are in Mexico, it will be easy to find a nearby US embassy or consulate. The embassy is located in Mexico City, and there are nine consulates in these cities:

• Ciudad Juárez
• Guadalajara
• Hermosillo
• Matamoros
• Merida
• Monterrey
• Nogales
• Nuevo Laredo
• Tijuana

You will also need to report the missing passport to the US State Department, which can be easily done on the phone or on their website. They will ask you to compile a DS-64 Statement, fill it out and keep a copy.

In the event that you find your missing passport after the report, remember to notify the authorities as soon as possible, to avoid it being canceled.

Note that, if you are in possession of a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license, or a trusted traveler card, you are allowed to cross the border between Mexico and the USA on land or by sea. If you plan to fly back home, these documents will not be accepted.

At this point, you are ready to apply for a replacement passport.

Lost US passport in Mexico – applying for a replacement

To get a new passport in Mexico, you need to make an appointment at the nearest US embassy or consulate. Bear in mind that there is no walk-in service for passport replacement, so it might take a few days. You also need to remember  that the service is not available on weekends.

They will ask you to provide:

• A filled DS-82 form (which you can find on the embassy’s website)
• Proof of US citizenship (photocopy of the passport or birth certificate)
• Photo ID
• A passport photo (2×2 inches)
• The report you filed with the Mexican police
• Payment for the lost or stolen passport fee (about $170)

Once this part of the process is over, you will be mailed a replacement passport in 10 to 15 business days. This will be a regular, full validity (10 years) passport, just like the one you lost.

This is usually the best course of action if you are planning on staying in Mexico long-term or you live there.

Find out more about passports from these articles:

Lost US passport in Mexico – emergency passport

If you have immediate travel plans that make it impossible to wait for 10 or more days, you can ask for an emergency passport.

This emergency travel document has limited validity, but it will allow you to return home to the USA. If you need to travel to another country, bear in mind that not all of them will allow entry with emergency passports. In most cases, US port officials will keep the document after checking it. Usually, it’s a good idea to apply for the renewal of your  passport book as soon as you get back.

To apply for an emergency passport, you will need the following documents:

• A completed application form (provided by the consular personnel)
• Proof of US citizenship
• A passport photo
• Airline tickets (to prove the urgency)
• The police report
• Method of payment for the fee

If everything is in order, you’ll be able to get your temporary passport in about 2 hours, but, depending on the circumstances, it might take longer.

Lost US passport in Mexico – minors

If you are traveling with your children and one of them loses their passport, the situation might be different.

For a minor’s application, in addition to the other documents, the parents are required to provide:

• Proof of parentage/legal guardianship of the minor
• Proof of custody, if the parents are separated
• A valid government-issued photo ID

You should also remember  that, if you are planning to cross the border on land or by sea, children under 15 years of age can simply use their birth certificate as identification, without the need for a new passport. However, even in this case, it will be necessary to file a report with the State Department.

Lost passport in Mexico – tips

When you go to the police station to report the lost or stolen passport, bring someone who can speak Spanish fluently, if you can’t. While it’s possible to find officers who speak English, it’s better to be sure. If you don’t know anyone that can translate, call the nearest consular post, they will definitely be able to help you.

Make a copy of both the police report and the DS-64 Statement, they will prove useful for all the procedures you will have to follow.

If you have enough time, always apply for a regular replacement passport, it will save you the time and money necessary to apply for a renewal in the USA.

For any application, you will need at least one passport photo following US standards. With Passport Photo Online, you can get pictures for any documents you might need quickly and cheaply, try it on your iOS or Android device!

Lost US passport in Mexico – conclusions

As you now know, getting a replacement for your US passport in Mexico is fairly easy. You just need to find the nearest embassy or consulate and follow their instructions.

Always remember to report missing passports, even if you are not applying for a new one right away.

Gather all the documents and make an appointment and, before you know it, you will be able to travel freely again.

FAQ

Sources

• [1] https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/
• [2] https://mx.usembassy.gov/passports/u-s-passport-renewal-by-mail/

Karolina Młodzka

Karolina’s passion for law, technology and photography led her to PhotoAiD S.A., where for the past 3 years she has been an expert in the implementation of passport photo compliance procedures in +80 countries around the world.