How to Fly Without an ID

Co-authored by Dhenu Maru

Last Updated: January 6, 2023

If you have to catch a flight and you’ve lost your ID, don’t panic yet. If you’re flying within the US, you may be able to get through TSA by showing alternative forms of ID and verifying your identity. If you’re abroad and lost your passport though, you will have to apply for a replacement passport at the nearest consulate or embassy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Verifying Identity for Domestic Travel

1
Arrive at the airport 2 hours earlier than usual to go through extra screening. TSA recommends arriving 2 hours before you flight normally, so arrive about 4 hours before you flight is scheduled to depart. The process of verifying your identity and going through extra screenings will be time-consuming.^{[1]
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U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols
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- If you’re flying internationally, don’t bother attempting to fly without a passport. Extra time isn’t going to cut it.
2
Bring items that can verify your identity. It’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to get through, but bringing items that show who you are might help. If you have a card that has your picture on it, like an old student ID, it might help your case. Other items you can bring:
- expired IDs
- credit cards
- bills
- a photo of your ID
- Costco membership card or other card with your photo on it
- checkbook
- mail with your home address
- prescriptions
- police report about missing license if it was stolen.^{[2]
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3
Provide the TSA officer with identity-verifying information. They may ask you to fill out forms or answer questions. You may have to provide your name, address, phone number, and other personal information.^{[3]
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U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols
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- Explain to the officer right away that you don’t have your ID and are willing to go through the additional screening process.
- If TSA is unable to verify your identity, they won’t let you proceed through security.
4
Go through security if you make it through verification. If you make it through the checkpoint, it is likely that the TSA agents will put you through additional screenings, like full-body pat downs. They might swab your hands to check for dangerous substances, and go through your belongings even after they’ve been through the X-ray machine.^{[4]
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U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols
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- Try your best to stay calm and patient through this process, even though it is frustrating.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Dealing with Lost Passports For International Travel

1
Don’t attempt to return to the US without a passport. While it’s possible to fly without an ID between states in the US, international border control will be far less lenient. Call the consulate to explain your situation and make an appointment to get a new passport.^{[5]
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- If it was stolen while you were abroad, fill out a police report.
2
Get an emergency passport even if it’s for a child. Though kids don’t need to show ID to travel within the US, they need to show passports for international travel. If your child lost their passport, you’ll need to contact the consulate and help them get a new one.^{[6]
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3
Make an appointment at an embassy or consulate to get a new passport. Most embassies and consulates are closed on weekends and holidays, but if you have an emergency need to travel or have been victim of a serious crime, you can contact the after-hours duty officer. To make an appointment, go online and find your nearest embassy or consulate. Many allow you to make appointments online or over the telephone. If you are traveling soon, be sure to tell them, so they can schedule you in as soon as possible.^{[7]
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- If you can’t get an appointment in time, you may have to reschedule your travel plans, so make an appointment as soon as you realize your passport is lost.
4
Apply for a passport at an embassy or consulate with the necessary documents. You’ll need to bring a passport photo (for example from a photo-copied passport), an ID (driver's license, expired passport etc.), evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, photocopy of your missing passport), and your travel itinerary. While at the consulate, they will ask you to fill out the DS-11 Application for Passport and DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport.^{[8]
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- If your flight is in a few days, you should ask for an emergency passport.
5
Obtain your replacement or emergency passport. If you have urgent travel plans, the consulate may issue a temporary, emergency passport, which you will have to trade in for a real passport once you return to the US. However, if you have more time, you will receive a normal passport that is valid for the standard 10 years. The processing time for receiving your replacement normal passport varies depending on the consulate, but is often about a week.^{[9]
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