What should I do if I lose my passport abroad?

Losing a passport abroad is a solved problem with a defined process. Every country's foreign service handles it routinely. The main variable is how much documentation you can produce, which is entirely within your control beforehand.

What you'll need

• Any identification you still have
• Photo or copy of the passport (optional)
• Travel insurance details (optional)

Step by step

1. Search thoroughly and check with the last places you had it.Hotel safes, transport lost property, the last place you showed ID. A large proportion of lost passports are found.
2. Report it to the local police and get a written report.The embassy will usually ask for it, and travel insurance almost certainly will.
3. Report it lost or stolen to your own country's passport authority.This cancels the passport so it cannot be misused. Once cancelled it cannot be used again even if found.
4. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of your country.Most have an emergency number outside office hours. They handle this constantly and will explain the exact process.
5. Gather whatever proof of identity and travel you can.A photo or scan of the passport, driving licence, birth certificate details, flight bookings. More documentation means a faster process.
6. Apply for an emergency travel document.It is usually single-journey and gets you home or to your next destination. There is normally a fee and it may take a day or more.
7. Check whether your onward travel is still viable.Emergency documents are not accepted everywhere and may not permit transit through some countries. Confirm the route before booking anything.
8. Contact your travel insurer.Many policies cover the replacement cost and additional accommodation or travel expenses. Keep receipts for everything.

Tips

• Photograph your passport and store it in your email or cloud storage before every trip. It is two minutes and it materially speeds up replacement.
• Carry a separate photocopy in different luggage from the passport itself, and never keep all your documents and cards in one bag.
• Note your embassy's emergency number before you travel. Finding it while distressed and without ID is considerably harder.

Common mistakes

• Delaying reporting it — An unreported passport can be used fraudulently, and both the embassy and your insurer will ask why you waited.
• Travelling with all documents in one bag — One theft removes passport, cards and copies together, which turns a manageable problem into a much harder one.
• Assuming an emergency document works everywhere — They are restricted and may not permit transit through certain countries. Confirm your route before rebooking.

Questions people ask