DS-86 Fillable PDF & Form Guide

Quick answer

What is DS-86 used for?

Report that an issued U.S. passport book or card did not arrive in the mail and request handling through the passport agency that issued it.

Use this form when

Use DS-86 after the passport status shows the document was issued and mailed but the passport book or card was not received. The form says to report non-receipt within 120 days of the issue date and generally recommends waiting 14 days unless travel is immediate.

Do not use it for

DS-86 is not the form for a passport that arrived and was later lost or stolen, for missing supporting documents alone, or for a passport application that has not yet reached issuance.

What to prepare for DS-86

Collect the relevant records before typing. The exact set depends on the applicant and the government instructions or case-specific request.

The issue date, tracking number, and name and address of the issuing passport agency
A clear front-and-back photocopy of valid government-issued photo identification
The exact mailing address used on the original passport application
A description of steps taken with the shipping company or postal service
Details identifying whether the book, card, or both were not received

A reliable fillable-PDF workflow

1. Map answers to source records

Make a people-and-authority map for the filing. Identify the applicant, parent or guardian, representative, acceptance agent, witness, notary, agency contact, and any person supplying evidence. Record each role precisely; similar names or family relationships do not establish legal authority to sign, consent, or submit.

2. Fill a downloaded working copy

Download a fresh DS-86 directly from the State Department. Save it locally before typing, use a PDF application that preserves AcroForm values, and do not overwrite the untouched source. Complete only facts supported by records; flag missing information instead of inserting a plausible answer.

3. Reopen, inspect, and print

Review the completed PDF by subject rather than page order. Check identity everywhere it appears, then passport history, dates, contact details, selections, explanations, attachments, and signatures. This catches conflicts between repeated fields that ordinary top-to-bottom proofreading can miss.

Critical DS-86 review points

01
Calculate the 120-day reporting window from the passport issue date, not the original application date.
02
Contact the National Passport Information Center and carrier before submitting the statement.
03
Leave the section marked for the issuing office blank.
04
Send the form to the passport agency that issued the missing document, not a generic renewal address.

How to submit DS-86

Mail the signed DS-86 and identification photocopy to the specific passport agency that issued the passport. Applicants outside the United States should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for instructions.

Print passport forms single-sided on 8.5-by-11-inch letter paper in portrait orientation. Use the current PDF and case-specific directions because destinations, fees, evidence, and processing options can change after this guide is reviewed.

Official DS-86 download and guidance

DS-86 fillable PDF State Department guidance

Clerks AI PDF skill

Prepare DS-86 from your evidence

Add the official blank PDF and your source records. Clerks AI can map supported facts to interactive fields and flag missing evidence for review. It does not decide citizenship, identity, consent, eligibility, fees, or whether a passport will be issued.

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DS-86 fillable PDF FAQ

Is this DS-86 PDF actually fillable?

Yes. We inspected the official file's AcroForm tree on 2026-08-09; it contained 24 interactive field definitions. Always download a fresh copy because the Department may replace the file.

Can I submit the filled PDF electronically?

Fillability does not imply electronic submission. Follow the submission section above and the official instructions. Many passport PDFs must be printed, signed as directed, and presented or mailed with evidence.

Can I sign DS-86 before printing?

Follow the signature rule printed on this specific form. Passport forms commonly require an original handwritten signature, and DS-11 or notarized consent documents have special timing and witness requirements.

Related passport form guides

DS-11

DS-86 fillable PDF: Statement of Non-Receipt of a U.S. Passport