The United States Mission in Nigeria has advised American citizens on the steps to replace lost or stolen passports, urging affected travellers to act quickly to avoid disruptions to travel plans.

In guidance issued by the US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos, officials said citizens whose passports are lost or stolen should immediately report the incident and begin the replacement process through official channels.

According to the mission, applicants are encouraged to obtain a police report from the nearest station where the loss or theft occurred, although this may not be mandatory in all cases.

The replacement process requires an in-person appointment at either the US Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos. Applicants must complete Form DS-11, the application for a US passport, and Form DS-64, which is used to report a lost or stolen passport.

Officials said applicants would be required to provide proof of US citizenship, a valid form of identification and a passport photograph that meets US requirements.

The mission noted that replacement fees apply and that processing may take several weeks, although emergency passports with limited validity can be issued in urgent situations.

US authorities also warned that once a passport has been reported lost or stolen, it is permanently invalidated and cannot be used for travel, even if it is later recovered.

The advisory urged citizens to be cautious of fraudsters offering unofficial passport services, stressing that all applications should be handled through authorised embassy channels.

Americans living in or visiting Nigeria were also encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides security updates and allows the embassy to contact citizens during emergencies.

The US Mission said further information on passport services, appointments and emergency assistance is available through its official website and consular offices in Abuja and Lagos.