Is birth certificate needed to replace lost US passport abroad?

I think I read somewhere that if you are out of the country (US) and need to replace a lost or stolen passport you need an original birth certificate. Is this true?

Note: I called US Passport office of Lost and Stolen passports and they had no clue.

Thanks.

Make a copy of the pertinent pages from your passport before you leave and then if your passport gets stolen the copy should be enough to get you a temporary passport, one that will get you home, from the local US embassy.

Lost passports (mainly thru theft) has got to be the main reason for unschuleded visits by US citizens to foreign embassies.

If you are going to 1 country contact that embassy directly and explain that you plan to travel there and wants to be aware of all necessary information for US citizens in that country, including procedure in the event of theft/loss of passport. They deal with that a lot and should be able to help.

Also go the the state department website (www.state.gov????)

And yes make sure you have a copy of the id page of your passport (or at least the passport number). And leave a copy with relatives at home.

-J

It is unwise to seek information from chat rooms and Usenet Newsgroups for something as serious as passport loss. It is always the best practice to get the information from the Source.

True, But when was the last time your local DMV agreed with the rules stated on thier website????

Certainly get a copy of the state dept. rules but bring plenty of id.

-J

Seven or eight years ago I had my passport (plus wallet with all my ID, credit cards, plane ticket, etc., etc.) stolen in the Philippines. I got myself to the US Embassy in Manila within the next day or two. Some consular officials interviewed me and, on the basis of that interview plus whatever other checks they might have done, issued me a new passport with a one-year validity within four or five hours after I presented myself at the embassy.

Once back in the US, I took the passport to a local post office, filled out a form requesting a replacement, and sent it in. Instead of giving me a replacement passport, they extended the one-year validity to a ten-year validity. I'm still using that passport today.

Or, even better, leave a copy to someone at home who can use a fax

Not sure I'd want personal ID like that so easily retrieved. At least encrypt it.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Taking a moment's reflection, David Horne mused: True, but a URL is usually going to be easier to retrieve, especially if you want to direct someone else to it.

That's a good point.