My Guatemalan passport was lost or stolen: what to do
Losing your passport is not just losing a document: it means losing the way you prove who you are to any authority and, if you have a trip coming up, the ability to travel. The good news is that there is a way out and the consulate knows it well, because this is one of the cases it handles most often. What makes the difference is the order you do things in and how quickly you call. This guide covers what to do in the first few hours, which documents you will need, how the emergency travel document works if your flight is imminent, and how to apply for the new passport.
Contents
First things, in the first hours
Before thinking about paperwork, do these four things in this order:
- Make sure it is really gone. Check the last place you used it: airport, bank, office. A fair number turn up.
- If it was stolen, report it. To the local police. Ask for a copy of the report.
- Call your consulate and explain. If you have a trip coming up, say so in the first sentence: it changes the procedure.
- Gather whatever you still have: DPI, copies, photos of the passport on your phone, birth certificate. Every document you have makes the rest simpler.
If you are detained, in hospital or in an emergency, do not go through the ordinary process: call your consulate’s emergency number, staffed 24 hours with no appointment. They are in the list of emergency phone numbers.
The police report: when you need it
The practical distinction is simple:
Theft. Always report it. Not just for the consulate: a stolen passport can be used to impersonate you, and a dated report is your protection.
Loss. Many consulates do not ask for a report and it is resolved with the declaration of loss you sign at the office. Confirm by phone before your appointment.
The report is filed with the police department of the city where it happened. You do not need immigration papers to report a theft, and you can ask for an interpreter if you need one.
The declaration of loss
This is the document by which you formally tell the consulate that your passport is no longer in your possession. Many consulates publish the form on their website and others hand it to you at the counter; you sign it before the officer.
Be ready to state, if you remember:
- The passport number and its issue date. This is where a saved photo is worth its weight in gold.
- When and where it was lost or stolen.
- Whether it was reported, and the report number.
Which documents to gather
- A valid DPI or, failing that, your RENAP birth certificate.
- A recent passport-format photograph, if your consulate asks for one.
- Proof of address in the United States.
- The declaration of loss and, if it was stolen, the police report.
- A copy or photo of the lost passport, if you have one.
- Your appointment confirmation and the fee.
If your DPI is also expired or lost, read the DPI guide: the consulate can advise how to prove your identity while you replace it.
If your trip is imminent
An ordinary passport takes weeks, so it is no use for a flight the day after tomorrow. That is what the emergency travel document is for: a temporary document, for a specific trip, that does not replace the passport.
It is granted in urgent, documented situations. The typical cases:
- The death or serious illness of a relative in Guatemala. Bring the certificate or medical report.
- A stolen passport with a flight already booked. Bring the police report and the ticket.
- An urgent court matter in Guatemala, with the summons or supporting document.
Call the consulate and explain the urgency before booking through the normal system: they will tell you how to proceed and what to bring.
How to apply for the new passport
Once the urgent part is covered, the replacement is the ordinary passport procedure, with the declaration of loss added to the file.
Book the appointment
On the official portal, choosing your consulate and the passport service.
citaconsularguatemala.comFull requirements
Documents, validity by age, cost and timings for the Guatemalan passport.
Passport guideYour consulate
Direct phone number and opening hours of the office covering your state.
See the consulatesIf it happens while travelling or passing through another state
Your consulate is the one for your state of residence, but if you are left without a passport far from home, call the consulate nearest to where you are. Explain that it is urgent and where you live: they will tell you whether they can help or whether it is better to go back to your own district.
For passports, most Guatemalan consulates in the US can process the application, although each office serves residents of its own area first. See also the tips for getting an appointment.
If everything was stolen at once
Passport, DPI, wallet. It is the worst case and there is still a route:
- Report the full theft, with a list of the documents.
- Get your RENAP birth certificate if you do not have it: it is the root document. See the civil registry guide.
- Call the consulate and say exactly what you still have. If nothing is left, ask about the sworn statement of identity.
- Watch your identity. With your documents in circulation, check your accounts and tell your bank.
How to be ready next time
- A photo of the data pages of your passport and DPI, saved on your phone and in your email.
- Write down your CUI separately from the document.
- A paper copy at home, kept apart from the original.
- Save your consulate’s number in your phone, along with the emergency line.
- Do not carry the passport around daily if you do not need to. For everyday identification, many Guatemalans use the TICG.
Consular assistant
Still have a question?
Ask the assistant about your specific case: requirements, timings and what to do when what you need is not explained anywhere.
Frequently asked questions about a lost or stolen passport
Do I need a police report to apply for a new passport?
If it was stolen, a report is strongly advisable: it backs up your account, records the date and protects you against fraudulent use of the document. If you simply lost it, many consulates do not require one and the declaration of loss signed at the office is enough. Ask your consulate, because the requirement is not identical everywhere.
Can I travel to Guatemala without my passport?
Not on the lost passport, but there may be a way: in urgent, documented cases the consulate can issue an emergency travel document, valid for a specific trip. You have to prove the urgency and your Guatemalan identity. Call your consulate’s emergency number as soon as you can — do not wait for a regular appointment.
How long does the new passport take?
The same as any passport: four to eight weeks from the appointment, and up to ten or twelve in peak season, because it is printed in Guatemala. Losing it does not speed the process up. What can be expedited, where justified, is the emergency travel document.
My passport and DPI were stolen together. How do I prove who I am?
That is the most awkward scenario and it also has a route. The consulate can work with your RENAP birth certificate, with copies or photos of the lost documents, with your CUI if you remember it, and with a sworn statement. Call and explain exactly what you still have: the answer depends on that.
Is a photo of my passport on my phone any use?
It does not replace the document, but it helps a lot: it establishes the number, the issue date and your details as recorded. Bring it to the appointment. That is why it is worth always keeping a digital copy, of the DPI too.
Do I have to pay for the passport again?
Yes, a replacement is paid for like a new issue. According to the sources we checked, the passport fee is around 40 to 60 dollars for adults, but confirm it with your consulate before you go, along with the payment methods it accepts.
What if the lost passport turns up later?
If you have already declared it lost and a new one has been issued, the old one is void: do not travel on it even if it has not expired. Tell the consulate and follow their instructions about what to do with the recovered document.