Quick answer

Report the loss or theft immediately. If you are in the Philippines, file a police report—especially if the passport was valid or stolen—and report the passport to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through a replacement application. If you are abroad, report it to the local police and contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate at once.

A lost or stolen passport should no longer be used if it is later found. Under the New Philippine Passport Act, Republic Act No. 11983, a passport reported lost must be turned over to the DFA if recovered. The DFA maintains records of lost and stolen passports, so attempting to travel with a recovered passport may lead to refusal at check-in or immigration.

For applications filed in the Philippines, the DFA currently requires an appointment and the documents required of a first-time applicant. A lost or stolen valid passport also requires a police report and an Affidavit of Loss and is subject to a 15-day clearing period before replacement processing. For a lost expired passport, the DFA’s domestic guidance requires an Affidavit of Loss but generally does not require a police report. Requirements at Philippine foreign posts may differ, and many posts require a police report even for an expired passport.

What to do immediately

1. Make a careful search—but do not delay reporting a likely theft

Check the places where the passport may reasonably be found: your luggage, hotel safe, vehicle, home, workplace, recent transport, and the lost-and-found offices of establishments you visited.

If the passport was taken during a robbery, pickpocketing incident, burglary, scam, or suspected identity theft, prioritize personal safety and report the incident promptly. Do not confront the suspected holder yourself.

2. Preserve the passport details

Gather any record showing:

Your full name exactly as printed in the passport
Passport number
Date and place of issue
Expiration date
A scan, photograph, or photocopy of the data page
Visas, entry stamps, or residence permits in the passport
Travel itinerary, boarding pass, hotel record, or other evidence showing when and where it was last used
Messages, CCTV requests, witness details, or transaction records connected with the loss or theft

A passport copy is helpful but does not replace the DFA’s identity and citizenship requirements. If no copy is available, tell the DFA or foreign post; additional proof, commonly a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued civil-registry document, may be required.

3. File a police report

For a valid passport lost or stolen in the Philippines, obtain a police report from the police station with jurisdiction over the place of loss or theft. Explain accurately when, where, and how the incident occurred. Ask for an official or certified copy and keep extra copies.

When abroad, report the incident to the local police. Ask the Philippine Embassy or Consulate whether the report must be in English, translated, certified, or accompanied by another local document. Foreign posts set procedures appropriate to the host country.

A delayed report is better than no report, but be ready to explain the delay truthfully.

4. Prepare a detailed Affidavit of Loss

The affidavit should ordinarily identify the passport and state:

When and where it was issued, if known
When, where, and how it was lost, stolen, or destroyed
When you last had possession of it
What efforts you made to locate it
When and where you reported the incident to the police
Whether the passport contained a visa, residence permit, or other important document
That you are requesting the passport’s cancellation and replacement, or an emergency travel document if appropriate

The affidavit must be truthful and properly notarized or otherwise executed in the form required by the DFA or foreign post. Do not guess important facts. If you do not remember a detail, say so and provide the best verifiable information available.

Knowingly making a false statement in an affidavit declaring a passport lost or destroyed is an offense under Section 22(e) of Republic Act No. 11983. The law provides imprisonment of six years and one day to twelve years and a fine of ₱100,000 to ₱250,000.

Replacing the passport in the Philippines

Book through the official system

Use only the DFA Online Passport Appointment System. Appointment slots themselves are free. Do not pay a fixer, social-media account, or unauthorized person to obtain a slot or handle the application.

The DFA’s published guidance says an appointment is necessary for lost-passport applications. Applicants who ordinarily qualify for a priority or special lane—such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant applicants, qualified OFWs, solo parents, young children, and people with emergency or exceptional cases—should confirm the procedure with the chosen consular office before appearing without an appointment.

Personal appearance is generally required for identity verification and biometric capture.

Prepare the documentary requirements

The precise documents depend on citizenship, age, civil status, the type of passport previously held, and whether its data page is available. An adult natural-born Filipino should ordinarily prepare:

Confirmed appointment and accomplished application form
Original and photocopy of a PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth, as applicable
Original and photocopy of an acceptable identification document
Photocopy or digital copy of the lost passport’s data page, if available
Notarized Affidavit of Loss
Police report if the lost or stolen passport was still valid
Civil-registry documents supporting any lawful name change
Citizenship documents, where citizenship was acquired, recognized, retained, or reacquired through a process other than birth

The DFA may require additional documents only insofar as necessary to establish identity, Philippine citizenship, or the absence of a legal travel restriction. Inconsistent names, birth details, unreadable records, late registration, multiple previous losses, or unavailable passport records may require further verification.

Check the current DFA passport information and contact page before the appointment.

Valid and expired passports are treated differently

According to the DFA’s current passport FAQ:

A lost or stolen valid passport requires a police report and an Affidavit of Loss. A 15-day clearing period applies before the replacement application is processed.
A lost expired passport requires an Affidavit of Loss; a police report is generally not required for a domestic application.
Lost-passport applicants must submit the requirements applicable to first-time applicants.

The 15-day period is a clearing period before processing, not a promise that the new passport will be released on the fifteenth day. Production, release, holidays, verification, and courier delivery add time.

Fees and expected processing time

The DFA’s current domestic FAQ lists:

Regular processing: ₱950
Expedited processing: ₱1,200
Lost or mutilated passport charge: ₱350

Based on those published amounts, a lost-passport application is generally ₱1,300 with regular processing or ₱1,550 with expedited processing, excluding courier and other authorized service charges.

The same FAQ lists 12 working days for regular processing at consular offices, six working days for expedited processing in Metro Manila, and seven working days for expedited processing outside Metro Manila. These periods do not include courier delivery or, for a lost valid passport, the preceding 15-day clearing period. Verification issues may cause further delay.

Fees, payment arrangements, and release periods can change. Confirm them in the official appointment system before paying. Avoid buying a non-refundable international ticket until the replacement passport is physically in your possession.

If the passport is lost or stolen abroad

Contact the nearest Philippine foreign post

After making the local police report, contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your location. Use the DFA’s directory of Philippine foreign service posts.

Tell the post:

Where you are
Whether you are a tourist, worker, student, resident, seafarer, or transit passenger
Whether the passport was valid
Your next scheduled journey
Whether you need to return directly to the Philippines or continue essential travel
Whether you have another proof of identity or Philippine citizenship
Whether you are in danger, detained, stranded, or without funds or lawful immigration documents

Do not assume that another Embassy or Consulate outside the correct jurisdiction can process the case.

Replacement passport when travel is not urgent

If you have enough time and lawful status to remain in the country, the post may process a regular replacement passport. Common requirements include personal appearance, an application form, a notarized Affidavit of Loss, a local police report, proof of Philippine citizenship, proof of identity or immigration status, and a copy of the lost passport if available.

Fees and processing times are set and collected in the local currency by each post. Follow that post’s current checklist rather than domestic fee information.

Emergency travel when waiting is not possible

Republic Act No. 11983 authorizes two forms of emergency travel document:

An Emergency Passport, valid for one year from issuance, for a Filipino who lost a passport while traveling overseas and justifiably needs to complete intended overseas travel before returning to the Philippines or to the person’s overseas residence.
An Emergency Travel Certificate, valid for 30 days up to six months from issuance, for a Filipino returning to the Philippines after losing a passport overseas or when a regular passport cannot be issued.

Issuance is not automatic. The consular officer must assess the identity, citizenship, circumstances, urgency, proposed journey, and documents presented. A foreign post may issue a document with a shorter validity appropriate to the trip.

Before accepting an emergency document, confirm with the airline and the immigration authorities of every departure and transit country that they will accept it. Some countries or carriers may not permit entry or transit using a limited-purpose travel document.

An emergency travel certificate ordinarily facilitates return to the Philippines; it should not be treated as a substitute for a regular passport for future travel.

Deal separately with visas and residence documents

Reporting the passport to Philippine authorities does not automatically replace a foreign visa, work permit, residence card, or entry record that was inside it. Notify the appropriate immigration authority or issuing embassy and follow its replacement procedure.

Keep copies of the police report, DFA or consular acknowledgment, emergency document, old visa, entry stamp, residence permit, and correspondence. Airlines and immigration agencies may ask for them.

If the passport belonged to a child

A minor must still personally appear where biometric or identity procedures require it. Under Republic Act No. 11983, either parent may file the minor’s application. If a person other than a parent files it, a Special Power of Attorney executed by the person exercising parental authority is generally required.

Prepare:

The minor’s PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth or Report of Birth
Identification documents of the minor, where applicable
Identification and passport documents of the accompanying parent or authorized adult
Police report and Affidavit of Loss for a lost valid passport
Copy of the lost passport, if available
Special Power of Attorney, guardianship order, or other authority required for the particular family situation

The affidavit and police report should be made by the parent, legal guardian, or properly authorized person who has knowledge of the incident. Adoption, guardianship, parental absence, conflicting parental instructions, and discrepancies in the child’s civil-registry records can require additional documents.

Confirm the case-specific requirements before the appointment; do not assume that a consent letter alone will be sufficient.

If the passport is later found

Do not use it.

Section 15 of Republic Act No. 11983 requires a person who later locates a reported-lost passport to turn it over to the DFA. If physical turnover is not feasible, an affidavit must state the passport’s location and identify the person or entity holding it.

Contact the DFA office or foreign post to which the loss was reported and ask how to surrender it. Do not destroy it yourself unless the DFA expressly directs you to do so, and do not keep it as a spare travel document.

When someone else is holding the passport

A passport is government property entrusted to its holder. Under Section 13 of Republic Act No. 11983, no person or entity other than the DFA has authority to confiscate it. Other government agencies that obtain a passport must promptly turn it over to the DFA.

If an employer, recruiter, lender, agency, partner, landlord, or other private person refuses to return your passport, clearly tell the DFA and police that the document is being withheld rather than merely misplaced. Preserve messages, receipts, employment records, witness details, and any demand for money or compliance in exchange for its return.

Unauthorized confiscation, retention, or withholding is punishable under Section 22(a) by imprisonment of twelve years and one day to twenty years and a fine of ₱1 million to ₱2 million, without prejudice to possible liability under other laws.

For an overseas worker, also contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate and the appropriate Migrant Workers Office. Seek urgent assistance if the withholding is connected with trafficking, forced labor, threats, confinement, or abuse.

Evidence worth preserving

Keep originals where possible and create secure digital copies of:

The police report and incident or blotter number
The signed and notarized Affidavit of Loss
Passport data-page copies
DFA appointment confirmation, payment receipt, and application record
Emails or messages acknowledging the report
Travel itinerary and proof of urgent travel
Visa, residence permit, work permit, or immigration-status records
Insurance policy and loss-related receipts
Photographs or CCTV information
Communications with a suspected holder
Courier receipt and tracking number for the replacement passport

Do not publicly post an unredacted passport copy or police report. Passport numbers, birth details, signatures, and machine-readable information can be misused.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting until the travel date is near before reporting the loss
Treating theft as an ordinary loss and omitting relevant facts
Giving different versions of the incident to the police, notary, and DFA
Inventing a passport number, date, or place of issue
Using a recovered passport after it has been reported lost
Paying a fixer or buying an appointment slot
Bringing only photocopies when originals are required
Assuming a police report alone cancels the passport
Assuming an airline will accept an emergency travel document
Forgetting to replace a visa or residence permit separately
Booking non-refundable travel before the replacement is released
Using outdated requirements from a different Embassy, Consulate, or country

When help is urgent

Contact the DFA or nearest Philippine foreign post immediately if:

You are abroad and have a flight within days
You are stranded in transit or at a border
You have no other identity or citizenship documents
Your visa or lawful stay will expire soon
The passport was taken together with money, a phone, or immigration papers
Someone is using or threatening to use the passport
An employer or recruiter is withholding it
A child’s passport was taken during a custody dispute
You are detained, hospitalized, trafficked, threatened, or unable to travel safely
There is evidence of fraudulent use or identity theft

A lawyer may be needed when the incident involves criminal allegations, conflicting custody claims, disputed identity or citizenship, a court-issued travel restriction, repeated passport losses under suspicious circumstances, or unauthorized withholding by another person.

Frequently asked questions

Can I simply renew a lost passport online?

No. Reporting and replacing a lost passport requires documentary review, and personal appearance is generally required. Begin through the official DFA appointment system or contact the Philippine foreign post with jurisdiction over you.

Is a police report always required?

For a lost or stolen valid passport in the Philippines, yes under current DFA guidance. For a lost expired passport filed domestically, the DFA FAQ says an Affidavit of Loss is required but a police report is no longer necessary. A foreign post may require a police report for any lost passport, including an expired one.

Does the 15-day clearing period apply to every case?

The DFA’s domestic guidance states that it applies before processing the replacement of a lost valid passport. Foreign posts and emergency-document cases may have different procedures. Confirm the timetable with the office handling the application.

Can the clearing period or documentary requirements be waived?

Republic Act No. 11983 authorizes the DFA Secretary to waive statutory passport requirements and fees on humanitarian grounds. A waiver is discretionary, fact-specific, and not guaranteed. Present documentary proof of the emergency and ask the DFA or consular officer for the available procedure.

Can I board a flight using a photocopy of my passport?

No. A photocopy may help establish the passport details, but it is not a travel document.

What if the passport was lost together with my visa?

Report the passport to the DFA or Philippine foreign post and separately contact the country that issued the visa. A replacement Philippine passport does not automatically restore the visa.

What if I do not know my passport number?

Proceed with the report and application. Bring any copy, prior application record, visa document, airline record, or other evidence containing the number. Do not invent it.

Can a representative replace the passport for me?

Generally, no. Passport issuance normally requires the applicant’s personal appearance and biometric capture. Special rules apply to minors and certain applicants, but a representative cannot ordinarily substitute for the passport holder.

Should I report the loss to the Bureau of Immigration or NBI myself?

The current New Philippine Passport Act requires immediate reporting to the DFA or, abroad, a Philippine foreign service post through a detailed affidavit. Follow any additional referral instructions given by the DFA, police, or consular officer; do not rely on procedures from the repealed 1996 passport law.

What official sources should I check?

Use the New Philippine Passport Act, its 2024 Implementing Rules and Regulations in the Supreme Court E-Library, the DFA Passport Appointment System, the DFA’s passport FAQ, and the published instructions of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate handling the case.

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice for a particular case. Passport requirements and foreign-post procedures may change or depend on the applicant’s documents and circumstances. Official sources last checked on 18 August 2026.