Lost or stolen passport: What to do if you lose it

Picture yourself in a foreign land, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and cultures, only to realize that your passport has been stolen or you have lost it. You might be fazed:  Lost or stolen passport. You can feel vulnerable, but don’t worry, after reading this guide, you will know what to do with a lost or stolen passport, how to replace a passport and what happens if you lose your passport.

What Happens if You Lose Your Passport or it gets stolen?

Losing your passport is a big, but solvable problem. If you want to travel, you won’t be able to do so if you lose your passport. If you are already abroad, you won’t be able to board transportation to get home. 

If your passport is lost or stolen, you will have to report it missing to authorities and take steps to replace it immediately. A passport is a form of identification and proving your citizenship and, as such, criminals can use it to steal your identity or facilitate illegal activity. 

What Should You Do if You Lose or Have Your Passport Stolen at home? 

1. Contact the authorities: If you lose or have your passport stolen, you MUST contact the authorities at your nearest embassy or consulate of your home country and the local police.
2. Provide 1-2 recent passport-sized photos.
3. Get a replacement passport: After you inform authorities, you must apply for a replacement passport immediately. You will need to provide identification, a police report if applicable, and fill out forms.
4. Pay the application fees associated with a new passport.

What Should You Do if You Lose or Have Your Passport Stolen abroad?

1. Contact the authorities: If you lose or have your passport stolen, you must contact the authorities at your nearest embassy or consulate of your home country.
2. Get a police report: If your passport was stolen you should get a police report for the robbery.
3. Provide 1-2 recent passport-sized photos.
4. Apply for a replacement passport: you will need to provide identification and fill out a form for a new passport or emergency travel document or passport. Emergency travel documents are only valid for a limited period, and usually for a specific journey.  If you are given a temporary travel document to get back home, you will have to get an official passport as soon as possible. You can check out our guide on how to get a passport to learn all you need before getting one.
5. Pay the application fees associated with a new passport.
6. Notify your airline: If you need to board a plane and your passport is missing, you should let the airline know and see what kind of solution they can give. 
7. Keep a copy of your passport: Before you leave for your trip, make sure to take a photocopy or a picture of your passport.

Which is the fastest way to replace a lost passport?

The fastest way to replace a lost passport is through an expedited lost passport replacement process. In most cases you will be charged an extra fee, but you will have your passport quicker than through the ordinary way of applying for a passport.

In other instances you can use a passport expediter. Passport expediters are professional passport expediting services that can help speed up the process further. These services can assist with gathering documentation and submitting the application on your behalf.

How long will it take to get a new passport?

The processing times for passports depend largely on the country and the passport issuing authority. Additionally, factors like volume of passport applications and any specific circumstances in your case can also influence the processing time. 

Generally, the time frame can range from a few days to several weeks. If you urgently need your passport, there is usually an option to get it quicker by paying an additional fee to your issuing authority.

What happens to approved visas linked to my lost or stolen passport? 

The short answer is that you will have to replace these travel authorizations because your passport number will change and this will invalidate any visas that you had approved. 

Tips to protect your passport and travel documents while travelling

Some of the following tips can be useful when you are travelling abroad in order to avoid getting your passport stolen or lost.

• Photocopy all important documents before departure like your passport or ID.
• Keep the copies on you, not the original documents. You can leave them in your hotel if it has a safe.
• Send scanned copies of these documents to your email address. You will have them there in case you need to print them.
• Be cautious with sharing Information. Be wary of sharing personal information or showing your documents to strangers unnecessarily. 
• Stay alert in crowded places. In airports, train stations, and tourist attractions you should be vigilant against pickpockets and other potential threats.