Quick summary
#Applicants whose issued U.S. passport book or card was mailed but never received.
After checking status and contacting the National Passport Information Center, within 120 days of issue.
Mail DS-86 and a photo-ID copy to the issuing passport agency.
Passport application and status record Original delivery address Government-issued photo identification
Overview (What is Form DS-86?)
#Use DS-86 only when the Department of State issued and mailed a passport book or card that you did not receive. First check the application status and tracking, then contact the National Passport Information Center. The form itself recommends waiting 14 days from the issue date unless you have immediate travel. Mail the signed statement and a photocopy of your photo identification to the passport agency that issued the missing passport, following the instructions you receive.
Context and workflow
#DS-86 is not a visa form and is not the process for a passport that reached you and was later lost or stolen. Reporting non-receipt causes the missing passport to be entered in the Consular Lost and Stolen Passport System and canceled. If it later arrives, do not use it.
Why this matters
- A timely DS-86 allows the Department to address non-receipt without forcing a new paid application.
- Cancellation protects against misuse of the undelivered passport.
Where it fits in the workflow
- Check status and tracking
- Call the National Passport Information Center after more than two weeks from mailing
- Mail signed DS-86 and ID copy to the issuing passport agency
- Missing passport is canceled and the agency handles the replacement process
Who uses it
A U.S. citizen or non-citizen national whose newly issued passport book or passport card was mailed by the Department of State but was never received.
When it is used
- When application status or tracking shows that a new passport was mailed but it has not arrived
- After waiting more than two weeks from the mailing date and contacting the National Passport Information Center
- Within 120 days of the passport's issue date
- Not when a passport was received and later lost or stolen; that situation uses the lost-or-stolen passport process
Requirements snapshot
#- Passport was issued and mailed but never received
- Call after more than two weeks from mailing
- File within 120 days of issue
- Mail to the issuing passport agency
- No separate DS-86 fee for a timely report
- Reported passport is canceled
Failure prevention (What causes Form DS-86 rejections?)
#Technical rejections
- Use the current DS-86 and leave the issuing-office section blank
- Attach a legible front-and-back photo-ID copy
- Sign and mail to the issuing passport agency
Substantive weaknesses
- Distinguish non-receipt from a passport lost after delivery
- File before the 120-day deadline
- Do not use a passport after it has been reported and canceled
What it asks for (What does Form DS-86 ask for?)
#- Whether the missing item is a passport book, passport card, or both
- Applicant name, Social Security number, date of birth, telephone number, and intended travel date
- The original and current mailing addresses and whether the passport was sent to the correct address
- Whether delivery was confirmed, what steps you took to locate the passport, and whether supporting documents are also missing
- A certification that you did not receive the passport and will not use it if it later arrives
- The applicant's signature at age 16 or older, or a parent or legal guardian's signature for an applicant under 16
Sources for this section
Field-by-field guidance
#| Field | What it should match | Common mistake | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport issue and mailing dates | Online application status | Using one date for both deadlines | Use mailing date for the two-week contact point and issue date for the 120-day deadline |
| Mailing address | Original application | Reporting only a new current address | Enter the delivery address exactly and update contact information separately |
| Applicant signature and ID | Government-issued photo ID | Unsigned form or one-sided copy | Sign and include a clear front-and-back copy |
What you need (What do you need for Form DS-86?)
#- Application status and available tracking information
- Identifying details requested by the National Passport Information Center to locate the application
- The exact mailing address used on the passport application
- A clear photocopy of the front and back of valid government-issued photo identification
- The issuing passport agency and mailing instructions provided for your case
- The current DS-86 form, completed and signed
Evidence checklist
#- Completed and signed DS-86
- Clear photocopy of the front and back of valid government-issued photo identification
- Accurate mailing and contact information
- Tracking or delivery information if available
- Proof of mailing retained for your records
Checklist (What is the Form DS-86 checklist?)
#- Check the passport application status and tracking information
- If more than two weeks have passed since mailing, call 1-877-487-2778
- Confirm the passport issue date and the 120-day deadline
- Complete the applicant sections of DS-86; leave the issuing-office section blank
- Describe the steps taken to locate the missing passport
- Attach a clear copy of the front and back of valid photo identification
- Sign and date the statement
- Mail the package to the passport agency that issued the missing passport using the supplied instructions
- Keep a copy and delivery proof
Sources for this section
Fees
#| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Timely DS-86 reportNo separate DS-86 filing fee is listed. | See official schedule |
| After the 120-day deadlineYou must submit a new passport application and pay all applicable fees. | See official schedule |
Fee waiver: The key distinction is timely DS-86 replacement versus a new paid application after the deadline.
Processing times
#Where to file
#Mail the signed DS-86 and photo-ID copy to the passport agency that issued the passport you did not receive.
Submit application
Use the issuing agency and mailing instructions provided by the National Passport Information Center.
Do not send DS-86 to USCIS or a visa-processing address.
Form sections (What sections does Form DS-86 have?)
#Applicant and Passport Information
Identity, contact, and missing-document details.
- Name, date of birth, Social Security number, and telephone number
- Passport book, card, or both
- Original and current mailing addresses, delivery information, and intended travel date
Search and Non-Receipt Statement
What you did to locate the document and your certification that it was not received.
- Status and tracking checks
- Contact with the delivery service or passport center
- Signed promise not to use the passport if it arrives
Key terms
#- Non-receipt
- The Department mailed the passport, but it never reached you.In this form: DS-86 records the missing delivery and authorizes cancellation of the undelivered passport.
- Issue date
- The date printed as the date of issue for the passport.In this form: The 120-day DS-86 deadline runs from this date.
Strategy tips
#Mistake severity
#| Mistake type | Severity | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Missing the 120-day deadline | New application and fees | Calculate from the passport issue date and submit promptly. |
| Using DS-86 after receiving and losing the passport | Wrong process | Use the lost-or-stolen passport process instead. |
| Missing signature or photo-ID copy | Delay | Sign the statement and attach a clear front-and-back copy. |
| Using the passport if it arrives later | Invalid document | Do not use it; contact the Department and return it as instructed. |
Examples (What are examples for Form DS-86?)
#- Tracking says a new passport was mailed, but it has not arrived after more than two weeks. The applicant calls the National Passport Information Center, completes DS-86 within 120 days, and mails it with an ID copy to the issuing agency.
- An applicant received a passport and misplaced it months later. DS-86 does not apply; the applicant follows the lost-or-stolen passport process.
Common misconceptions (What misconceptions surround Form DS-86?)
#- DS-86 should be filed exactly 120 days after issuance — 120 days is the deadline, not the waiting period.
- The official rule is a 10-day wait — current Department guidance says more than two weeks after mailing, while the form recommends 14 days from issue unless travel is immediate.
- DS-86 always requires a new DS-11 application — a timely DS-86 is the non-receipt replacement process; reapplication and fees are required after the 120-day deadline.
- A passport reported on DS-86 can still be used if found — it is canceled and cannot be used for travel.
- DS-86 has more than one fee component (e.g. Timely DS-86 report and After the 120-day deadline); paying only one or paying the wrong amount can result in rejection of the entire filing.
- A fee waiver for DS-86 is not automatic — only specific qualifying categories are eligible, and a waiver request can be denied while the underlying form is still expected to be filed.
Edge cases and variations
#- If you have immediate international travel, call the National Passport Information Center instead of waiting.
- If you applied outside the United States, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that handled the passport.
- If only supporting documents are missing, use the Department's separate missing-documents guidance rather than DS-86.
In-depth guidance
#Use the correct dates
The public contact rule and filing deadline measure different events. Call when more than two weeks have passed since mailing. Complete DS-86 no later than 120 days after the passport issue date. The 120-day point is not a required waiting period.
Treat a later-arriving passport as canceled
Submitting DS-86 places the missing passport in the Consular Lost and Stolen Passport System. If the book or card later arrives, do not travel on it. Contact the Department and return it as instructed.
Self-audit before mailing
#- I checked application status and tracking.
- I contacted the National Passport Information Center.
- I am within 120 days of the passport issue date.
- The passport was never received, rather than lost after delivery.
- I completed the applicant sections and left the issuing-office section blank.
- I signed the form and attached a clear front-and-back photo-ID copy.
- I am mailing it to the issuing passport agency.
- I saved a copy and proof of mailing.
Scenarios
#A passport was mailed 18 days ago and has not arrived.
The applicant calls the National Passport Information Center and receives DS-86 instructions.
The official contact point is more than two weeks after mailing.
A passport was issued 130 days ago and never arrived.
The DS-86 window has closed; the applicant must reapply and pay all fees.
The 120-day issue-date deadline is mandatory.
A passport reported on DS-86 arrives later.
The passport remains canceled and is returned according to Department instructions.
Never travel on a passport reported as not received.
Key differentiators
#- Unlike DS-64 lost or stolen passport report: DS-86 is for a passport that never arrived in the mail; DS-64 is for a passport that was received and later lost or stolen.
- Unlike DS-11 passport application: A timely DS-86 reports non-receipt; DS-11 is a new passport application and may be required if the DS-86 deadline is missed.
Why it matters
#What happens after you submit
#- Track delivery of the DS-86 package
- Follow any instructions from the issuing passport agency
- Do not use the reported passport if it arrives
- Contact the National Passport Information Center if travel is urgent or the replacement process is unclear
Verification
#Reviewed against the current Department of State DS-86 form, passport forms page, and mailed-but-not-received guidance as of August 17, 2026.
Resources
#Free United States planning tools
#Itemize the government fees that go alongside Form DS-86.
United States eligibility checker
See which United States visas your profile fits before you finalize Form DS-86.
United States processing times
Get the typical wait time for the visa associated with Form DS-86.
United States interview practice
Practice United States interview questions if your filing route includes one.