Your Ecuadorian Passport Was Lost or Stolen: What Now
Losing a passport abroad is unsettling, especially with a trip coming up. The reassuring part is that the procedure exists and is anticipated: the consulate does not need the document to reappear in order to issue a new one, but it will ask you to prove the loss formally. That is the key point, because simply explaining it is not enough.
Start with two things before reading on: gather any Ecuadorian document you still hold (your ID card above all), and note whether the lost passport was still valid, because that changes what you will be asked for.
Contents
What to do in the first few hours
- Report the theft to local police if it was taken. A passport in circulation can be used fraudulently, and the report protects you.
- Gather what you still have: Ecuadorian ID card, copies, photos of the document, the passport number if you noted it down.
- Book an appointment at the consulate covering your jurisdiction. There is no service without one, so this is urgent.
- Flag the urgency if you have a dated trip: write to the consulate as well as booking.
Two ways to prove the loss
When the lost passport was still valid, the consular route accepts two alternatives, and one is enough:
📝 Sworn declaration
A declaration about the loss of the passport, with an extra fee set by each office.
🚔 Police report
A report filed with the police in due form, as an alternative to the declaration.
🪪 Your ID card
The original Ecuadorian document proving your identity is still required to issue the new passport.
Requirements published by the Consulate General of Ecuador in New York, retrieved on 10/19/2026. Source: cancilleria.gob.ec. Confirm with your own office, as some list additional steps.
Mind the language of the document
This detail stalls many applications. If the declaration or the report is in a language other than Spanish — and a US police report is — it must be submitted translated and with signature recognition before a notary public.
In other words: the translation alone is not enough, it needs the notarial step. Budget time for it when planning your appointment. And if the consulate also asks you to apostille a US-issued document, remember the apostille must appear on the original and on the notarised translation: see apostille and legalization.
How much extra you pay
The declaration for a loss is an added payment on top of the passport fee, not a replacement, and the amount changes by office:
| Office | Sworn declaration | Page retrieved |
|---|---|---|
| New York | USD 15 (7.50 seniors and disabilities) | current |
| Washington DC | USD 25 (12.50 from age 65) | 2022 |
| Connecticut | USD 25 | 2021 |
Add it to your office's passport fee and check the accepted payment method before leaving home: some offices take money orders only. Details in consular fees.
What an emergency passport is actually for
Emergency passports do exist, but it is worth understanding their scope before relying on one: according to consular information, ordinary passports are valid for ten years, except emergency ones, which are issued solely to return to Ecuadorian territory.
In practice: if your trip is to Ecuador, it may be your way out; if your trip is anywhere else, it is not the document you need. Raise your specific situation with the consulate as early as possible, with your dates in hand.
Another rule that surprises people: passport revalidations do not exist. A document's expiry date cannot be extended, so if yours expired or was lost, the route is issuing a new one.
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 loss and theft
I lost a valid passport. What will they ask for?
A sworn declaration about the loss or, alternatively, a police report filed in due form. It is handled alongside the new passport application and carries an extra fee depending on the office.
Do I have to report it to the police?
It is one of the two accepted routes. Even so, if it was stolen, reporting it is advisable: a passport in circulation can be used fraudulently in your name.
My police report is in English
Then it has to be submitted translated into Spanish and with signature recognition before a notary public. The translation on its own does not meet the requirement.
How much is the declaration?
It varies by office: New York publishes an additional USD 15 (7.50 with senior status or a disability) and Connecticut USD 25. It is added to the passport fee.
I travel in a few days. Is there a fast option?
Emergency passports exist, but they are issued solely to return to Ecuador. If your destination is elsewhere, it is not the right document. Contact your consulate with dates and reasons as soon as possible.
My passport turned up. Can I extend its validity?
No. Passport revalidations do not exist, so the expiry date cannot be extended. If you already started the new application, ask the consulate how to proceed.
What if I lost my ID card too?
Raise it with the consulate when booking, because the identity document is what proves who you are for the passport to be issued. ID card requirements are in our Ecuadorian ID card guide.