How to replace lost documents: Social Security card, ID and passport
To replace lost documents in the United States, contact each issuer: your state motor vehicle agency for a driver's license or state ID, Social Security for a Social Security card, the State Department for a US passport, and the relevant vital records office for certificates. Online options, identity checks, fees and delivery times depend on the document and jurisdiction.
A missing wallet can leave you with several applications to make. Start by listing what is gone, then use the issuing agency's replacement service. A replacement license, a certified birth certificate and a passport application follow different rules.
This guide covers common US documents, including what to do when you have lost all your ID. Once the replacements arrive, give their copies a place you can find again.
Where to replace each document
| Missing document | Official starting point | Can you do it online? |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's license or state ID | State motor vehicle agency | Some replacements qualify; state and card rules differ |
| Social Security card | Social Security Administration, or SSA | Depending on eligibility; otherwise an office appointment is needed |
| US passport | US Department of State | Report a valid passport lost online; replacement requires an in-person application |
| Birth certificate | Vital records office for the state or territory where you were born | Ordering options depend on the jurisdiction |
| Marriage certificate | Vital records office for the state where you married, which can direct you to the local custodian | Ordering options depend on where the record is held |
The USAGov replacement directory also provides official starting points for Medicare, Medicaid, Green Cards, naturalization certificates and military IDs. Use the service for the actual document you lost.
Lost your wallet? Separate reporting from replacement
Contact your bank or card issuer promptly if payment cards are missing. If documents were stolen, contact local law enforcement and keep any report or reference number. Check each issuing agency's instructions rather than assuming a police report automatically orders a new card.
If someone may be using your information, follow SSA's identity theft guidance, which directs victims to the Federal Trade Commission's IdentityTheft.gov recovery service. Replacing a card and addressing misuse of its information are separate tasks.
For a valid US passport, report the physical document lost or stolen to the State Department promptly. The report cancels it, including if you later find it. Do not submit that report for an expired passport. The official passport reporting page explains the options; reporting alone does not order a replacement.
Replace a lost driver's license or state ID
Start with your state motor vehicle agency, often called the DMV, and select its replacement or duplicate service.
- Check eligibility for your card type and whether you can apply online.
- Review the identity evidence, mailing address and fee requirements before submitting.
- If a visit is required, bring the documents on that state's checklist.
- Check whether the agency issues a temporary credential and what it permits while the card is mailed.
California is one example: its DMV replacement page offers an online driver's license replacement application, but excludes ID cards and commercial licenses from that service. For those cards, starting the application online still requires an office visit. Other states have their own rules.
If your license has expired, check renewal instructions before paying for a duplicate. Also check separately if you want to upgrade to REAL ID: replacing a missing card does not mean every application or identity-check requirement is the same.
Get a free replacement Social Security card
An official replacement Social Security card is free. You may not need a physical card if you know the number and the organization requesting it does not require the card itself.
Start at SSA's replacement card service. It determines whether you can complete the request online or need an office appointment. SSA mails the card after processing; the local office cannot print one for immediate pickup.
If evidence is required, follow Form SS-5's document instructions. SSA requires originals or copies certified by the record custodian, rather than ordinary scans or notarized photocopies. A birth certificate may establish age or citizenship, but does not establish identity for this application. Noncitizens should check the immigration-document requirements for their situation.
Replace a lost US passport
A missing passport is handled through an in-person application. Follow the State Department's adult passport instructions, using Form DS-11 and providing the requested details about the missing passport.
Prepare the required citizenship evidence, identification and photocopies, a passport photo and the applicable fees. Do not sign DS-11 until the acceptance agent tells you to. Children's applications have additional requirements, so use the child application route linked from the official page.
If your primary photo ID is also missing, read the passport identification requirements. The State Department lists a route using at least two secondary IDs. Confirm what you can present before your appointment; a phone photo is not a substitute for presenting the required evidence.
Lost it abroad? Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate and explain your travel plans. The official overseas replacement guidance says consular staff will try to help even when you cannot produce every listed document. Ask about urgent assistance if travel is imminent.
Order a replacement birth certificate
For a US birth, request a certified copy from the state or territory where the birth occurred, even if you now live elsewhere. USAGov's birth certificate guide links to the appropriate vital records offices and explains the separate route for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Check who is eligible to order, which identity evidence is accepted, the required birth details and the full price, including delivery. Confirm that you are ordering the certified version required for your application. An ordinary scan of an old certificate is useful for reference, but is not a new certified copy.
Get a copy of a marriage certificate
For a marriage in the US, start with the vital records office in the state where you married. It can tell you who holds the record, the cost and whether to order online, by mail or in person. Follow USAGov's marriage certificate guidance to find the correct office.
Check the document name before ordering: a marriage certificate records a marriage that happened; a marriage license authorizes the marriage. If you need proof of marriage or a name change, confirm the certified record the receiving organization requires.
What if you lost all your ID documents?
There is no single nationwide order that works for everyone. Ask the issuers about alternatives before assuming each replacement requires another missing card.
- Check your existing license record first. Your state's duplicate service may let you request a replacement without starting a first-time application.
- Ask your birth state's vital records office about its no-ID process. USAGov notes that states may accept alternatives such as a sworn identity statement or documentation from a parent listed on the record. The office decides what applies to you.
- Ask SSA about alternative identity evidence. Form SS-5 lists other possibilities when primary ID is unavailable or cannot be replaced within 10 workdays, including certain employee, school, health or certified medical records. Ask which evidence meets its requirements.
- Check the passport secondary-ID route if you are applying for a passport. Its evidence rules differ from SSA's.
Gather records you still have and copies that help you check names, dates and document details. Use the issuer's checklist to rebuild the required evidence. A scan helps with reference; it does not automatically qualify as identification.
What does replacement cost, and how long does it take?
SSA replacement cards are free. License, state ID and vital record fees vary by jurisdiction and service. Passport costs depend on the application, document and processing options. Check the issuer's current instructions for fees and any applicable waivers.
Allow separately for appointments, processing and mailing. An online submission confirmation is not a finished document. If a deadline is close, tell the issuing office what you need and ask which official service applies.
Keep the new copies somewhere you can find them
Once you have the replacement, scan it or import a photo or PDF into Dokus, a document wallet for iPhone. Keep the document's name, front and back together, with encrypted storage on your device, Face ID or Touch ID protection and offline access. Your documents are not sent to Dokus servers.
If you want your copies available on another device after losing your phone, enable optional sync through your own iCloud before the loss. Keeping a copy only on the missing device does not give you a recovery route.
For documents that expire, Dokus Plus adds expiration reminders. Record the expiration date and turn reminders on so you have time to plan a renewal.
See how to store ID and passport copies on iPhone and the safe document storage checklist. When a recipient accepts a marked copy, you can add a watermark naming its purpose.
Dokus helps you organize and protect copies. It cannot prevent physical loss, issue or renew a document, or turn a scan into an official ID or certified original.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace all my lost documents online?
No single online application replaces them all. Some state ID and Social Security card requests qualify for online processing, and vital record ordering depends on the jurisdiction. Replacing a missing US passport requires an in-person application even when you report the loss online.
Is a replacement Social Security card free?
Yes. SSA does not charge for a replacement Social Security card. Start with the official SSA service to check whether you can finish online or need an appointment.
How do I replace a birth certificate with no ID?
Contact the vital records office in the state or territory where you were born and ask about its alternative verification process. The accepted evidence varies; there is no one no-ID procedure for every state.
Does a police report replace my driver's license?
No. A police report records the incident. You still need to request a replacement through the state agency and follow its rules for any temporary credential.
Can I use my passport if I find it after reporting it lost?
No. Reporting a valid US passport lost or stolen causes it to be canceled. It cannot be used for travel afterward, even if you find it.
Can I use a birth certificate to replace my Social Security card?
A birth certificate can serve as evidence of age or citizenship, but SSA does not accept it as identity evidence for a card application. Check the identity documents and alternatives in SSA's instructions.
Does keeping a copy in Dokus replace the official document?
No. Dokus keeps encrypted copies organized and available offline, but an issuer or recipient can still require the official ID or a certified document. Recovery on another device depends on enabling optional personal iCloud sync beforehand; expiration reminders require Dokus Plus, a recorded date and enabled reminders.
