Beyond the birth certificate and photo, a lost passport replacement runs through a specific set of official State Department forms. Here’s what each one is actually for.
Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport
This is the core form for the entire process — the same application used for first-time passports and lost-passport replacements alike. It collects your personal information, citizenship details, and physical description, and it must be signed in person in front of an acceptance agent — never signed in advance. You can fill it out ahead of time through the State Department’s online form filler or download a blank copy, but the signature step happens only at your appointment.
Form DS-64: Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport
This is the form specifically used if you’re reporting your loss by mail rather than online or by phone. It asks for your identifying information, details about the missing passport, and the circumstances of the loss. Submitting this form is what triggers the official cancellation of your old passport number — a required step before your replacement application (Form DS-11) can move forward. If you report online or by phone instead, you generally won’t need to submit this form separately, since those methods capture the same information directly.
Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent
This form applies specifically to passport applications for minors under 16, not adult replacements — but it’s worth knowing if you’re replacing a child’s lost passport alongside your own, or helping a family member navigate the process. It’s used when one parent can’t appear in person at the appointment; that parent completes and notarizes this form to grant consent for the child’s passport application, along with providing a copy of their photo ID.
Form DS-5525: Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances
Also specific to minors’ passports, this form addresses situations where the standard two-parent consent process (in person or via DS-3053) isn’t possible — for example, if one parent can’t be located, or if there’s a specific custody or family circumstance that prevents standard consent. It typically requires additional supporting documentation and can extend the processing timeline, so it’s worth starting this conversation with a passport agency as early as possible if it applies to your situation.
Form DS-82: Application for a U.S. Passport by Mail (Not Applicable to Lost Passport Replacements)
This form is worth mentioning specifically because it’s easy to confuse with the lost-passport process — DS-82 allows certain passport renewals to be submitted by mail rather than in person, but it explicitly does not apply if your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. A lost passport replacement always requires the in-person DS-11 application, regardless of how recently your prior passport was issued or how straightforward your renewal would otherwise be.
Which Forms Apply to Your Specific Situation
- Replacing your own lost adult passport: Form DS-11 (plus DS-64 only if reporting by mail).
- Replacing a lost passport for a minor, with both parents available: Form DS-11, both parents present.
- Replacing a lost passport for a minor, with one parent unavailable: Form DS-11 plus Form DS-3053 (notarized consent from the absent parent).
- Replacing a lost passport for a minor, with a more complex custody or family situation: Form DS-11 plus Form DS-5525.
Where to Find These Forms
All of these forms are available directly from the State Department’s official site (travel.state.gov), either as fillable PDFs or through an online form-completion tool for DS-11 specifically. It’s worth downloading directly from the official government site rather than a third-party service, since some non-official sites charge unnecessary fees for forms that are free directly from the source.
Learn More About the Full Replacement Process
For a complete walkthrough of how these forms fit into the broader reporting and replacement process, this guide on what to do if you lose your passport covers the full sequence.
Bottom Line
A lost passport replacement primarily requires Form DS-11, the standard application, submitted in person. Form DS-64 supports the reporting step if done by mail, while DS-3053 and DS-5525 apply specifically to minors’ passports in situations involving an absent or unavailable parent. Knowing which forms actually apply to your situation — rather than assuming you need all of them — keeps the paperwork manageable.
