If your passport is lost or stolen abroad

You should report the loss or theft of your UK passport to the local police and get a police report as soon as possible.

You must then inform the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission and apply for a replacement passport. To do this, you need to:

• complete the lost or theft of the passport notification form LS01
• complete the correct passport application form and provide the required documents, including 2 identical passport photographs that meet the required standards
  
• take both forms, along with the police report, to our local offices.

Remember that you will need to pay the correct fee for your passport. There may also be a call out fee for issuing a temporary or emergency passport outside of office hours.

Download form LS01
Read rules for passport photos and download the IPS Guide to taking a good photo for your passport Please note that when you are making an applications for a British passport overseas, the background of the passport photograph required can be white. The photographs also do not have to be printed on plain white photographic paper. This differs from IPS requirements, but otherwise the information in the link is correct.

If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, you should contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) by phoning their Passport Adviceline for guidance.

What to do if you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen

If you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, you must take it to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission as soon as possible.

If you are in the UK, you should take the passport to the nearest Identity and Passport Service office.

Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronically cancelled. You will not be able to use it as a proof of identity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it as a means of identification as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act.

You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the Borders and Immigration Authority at UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could face deportation or arrest.

List of British embassies, consulates and high commissions
Identity and Passport Service (IPS) UK offices

Returning the passports of deceased persons

It is important to cancel the passport of a deceased person so that it cannot be used illegally.

If you are abroad

You must return the passport with a copy of the death certificate to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission by completing the form below.

The form allows you to choose for us to send the passport back to you or dispose of it. If you do not choose an option, we will dispose of the passport.

When we receive the form, we will immediately cancel the passport.

‘What to do with a passport when the passport holder has died’ form (PDF, 55KB)

If you are in the UK

You should return the passport to the nearest passport office. There are details of passport offices in the UK on the Immigration and Passport Service website.

If your passport is lost or stolen in Taiwan

You should report the loss or theft of your UK passport to the National Immigration Agency and obtain a lost report as soon as possible. The application must be made in person, you will need to bring a 2-inch photo and any other form of photo identification when you report to the officer.

National Immigration Agency
No. 15, Kuang Chou Street, Taipei
Tel: 02 2389 9983
Fax: 02 2361 1598

You must then inform the BTCO and apply for a replacement passport (this application can only be made in person).

Required documents are as follow:

• A completed passport application form 
• Two countersigned photographs (taken in the last month) on a WHITE background 
• The appropriate fee 
• Any other form of photo identification or a photocopy of the previous passport. 
• Lost/Stolen passport notification form (Form LSO1)
• Lost report

Once you have obtained your replacement passport you will need to bring both the passport and lost report back to the National Immigration Agency to confirm your immigration status in Taiwan. They will issue you with an exit permit, which you will need when you leave Taiwan.

Important Notice on Countersignatory:

• The form and photograph should be countersigned and endorsed by a professional person, currently residing in Taiwan, e.g. teacher, lawyer, bank official, established civil servant, police officer, doctor or other person of similar standing, who is either a British citizen or Commonwealth citizen and has known you for at least two years. If this is not possible, then the application can be countersigned by a professional of any other nationalities. A note should be included supporting the countersignatures if they do not meet the countersignatory criteria. 
• For a child’s application, the countersignatory should be someone who has known the parent or guardian for at least two years. 
• Please note that relatives are not permitted to countersign.

Further detailed instructions on additional documents required are given in the notes which accompany the application form.