Form DS-86 Passport Not Received: Fill Online Free

What is Form DS-86?

Form DS-86 tells the U.S. Department of State that a passport book, a passport card, or both never reached you in the mail, and asks for a replacement. The passport you report is entered in the Consular Lost and Stolen Passport System and cancelled, so nobody can travel on it, including you if it turns up later.

Timing matters. The form gives you 120 days from the date the passport was issued to report non-receipt. Miss that window and you have to apply again and pay the full fees. Unless you are traveling soon, the State Department suggests waiting 14 days after the issue date, checking your status with the National Passport Information Center, and tracking the envelope with the carrier before you send the statement.

FileIt asks each question on the page in plain steps, then prints your answers onto the State Department's own DS-86 PDF. Names with accents or letters such as ł and ș come out right, and your search notes wrap neatly inside their box. Your name and date of birth are pre-filled from the person's record in your vault, and the finished statement is saved to their folder, ready to print, sign and mail.

Who fills it: The passport applicant. A parent or legal guardian signs for an applicant under 16.
Deadline: Within 120 days of the date the missing passport was issued.
Send with it: A clear photocopy of the front and back of your valid government-issued photo ID.
Where it goes: By mail to the passport agency that issued the passport you didn't receive, or as your embassy or consulate tells you if you applied abroad.
Edition: DS-86 10-2024 (OMB 1405-0146, expires 10-31-2027)

Who needs to fill out Form DS-86?

Anyone whose new U.S. passport book or card was issued and mailed but never arrived.
Parents and guardians reporting a child's passport that went missing in the mail.
Applicants whose supporting documents, such as a birth certificate, also never came back.
Travelers who moved after applying and need the replacement sent to a new address.

When to use Form DS-86

After you have checked your status with NPIC (1-877-487-2778 or [email protected]) and traced the tracking number with the carrier.
Ideally 14 days or more after the issue date, unless you have travel coming up.
No later than 120 days after the issue date. After that the form says you must reapply and pay again.
Not for a passport you received and then lost or had stolen. That is reported on Form DS-64 instead.

What you need before you start

Your name, date of birth, phone number and Social Security number (giving it is voluntary, but leaving it out may slow things down).
The mailing address on your original application, and your current address if it has changed.
A short account of what you did to find the passport, such as calls to NPIC or the delivery service.
A list of any supporting documents that weren't returned to you.
A photocopy of the front and back of your valid photo ID.
Your next travel date, if you have one, so it can be noted on the statement.

What’s on Form DS-86

The 2024 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts:

What you didn't receiveApplicant
About youApplicant
Mailing address on your original applicationApplicant
Current mailing address (if it has changed)Applicant
What you have done, and your documentsApplicant

How to fill out Form DS-86, step by step

1 Pick what's missing

Tick whether you never received the book and card, the book only, or the card only.

2 Your details

Enter your name, Social Security number, date of birth, phone number and, if you have one, your next travel date.

3 Addresses

Give the mailing address from your original application. If you have moved since, switch on the current address part and enter the new one.

4 Your search

Explain what you have done to track the passport down. The box takes about five lines; FileIt tells you if your text runs over so you can attach a sheet.

5 Supporting documents

Say whether the documents you sent with the application came back. If they didn't, list them, for example a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting past 120 days from the issue date, which means a full new application and fees.
Using the DS-86 for a passport that arrived and was later lost or stolen.
Forgetting the photocopy of both sides of your photo ID.
Not signing the form, or having a child over 16 leave the signing to a parent.
Correcting mistakes by hand. The form asks for black ink and a fresh form if you make an error.
Expecting to use the missing passport if it arrives later. Once reported, it is cancelled.

After you fill it out

Print the statement, sign and date it in black ink, and mail it with the photocopy of your ID to the passport agency that issued the missing passport.

If the reported passport shows up afterwards, don't use it. Call NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 to find out where to send it.

When the replacement arrives, add it to your FileIt vault so you get reminders well before it expires.

Keep a copy of the signed statement and your mailing receipt until the replacement passport arrives.

Fill out Form DS-86 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 21 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Department of State form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form DS-86 now — it’s free

Form DS-86: frequently asked questions

How long do I have to report a passport that never arrived?

The form gives you 120 days from the date the passport book or card was issued. After that you need to reapply and pay the full fees.

Should I send the DS-86 right away?

The State Department suggests waiting 14 days from the issue date unless you have immediate travel plans, and checking with NPIC and the carrier first.

What happens to the passport I report?

It is cancelled and can't be used for travel. If it reaches you later, call NPIC for instructions on returning it.

Where do I mail the DS-86?

To the passport agency that issued the passport you didn't receive. If you applied outside the United States, contact your U.S. embassy or consulate.

Can FileIt send the form for me?

No. FileIt fills the official PDF and saves it to your vault. You print, sign and mail it yourself.

Is the DS-86 the same as the DS-64?

No. The DS-86 is for a passport that never arrived. The DS-64 is for a valid passport that you had and then lost or had stolen.

Can a parent fill out the DS-86 for a child?

Yes. The statement has a separate signature line for a parent or legal guardian when the applicant is under 16. Applicants 16 and older sign for themselves.

What if my supporting documents never came back either?

Answer No to the documents question and list what's missing, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, so the State Department can look into it.

Do I need to pay again for the replacement?

Not if you report within 120 days of the issue date. The form says that after 120 days you must reapply and pay the full fees.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of State: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds86.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds86.pdf
Edition shown on this page: DS-86 10-2024 (OMB 1405-0146, expires 10-31-2027) (checked 2026-10-19).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of State or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.