What to do if you lose your passport while traveling in foreign countries? Everything you should know

A passport is a travel document issued by a country’s government to its citizens that verifies the identity and nationality of the holder for the purpose of international travel. As per official records, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of travelers around the world lose their passports each year. If your passport is lost or stolen you will need to report it missing to the respective authorities and take necessary steps to replace it immediately. Here we outline the necessary steps that you should take in case your passport gets lost while traveling in foreign countries.

A passport is a government-issued ID. It can therefore be used by criminal networks to either steal your identity or facilitate other illegal activity. By alerting the authorities quickly, you will be able to ensure that someone else cannot use your passport illegally. Losing your passport in another country while you are traveling can be very stressful. You also lose a visa for the countries you are traveling to if you lose your passport.  However, it is possible to get help from your home country making sure you get home safely and do not miss any flights.

If you lose your passport in a foreign country then you must:

1. File a Complaint about a stolen or missing passport at Your Nearest Police Station

You must file a complaint at the nearest police station in case of a stolen or lost passport and collect a copy of the police report as it serves as documentary proof for the lost passport. It is also an essential document when applying for an emergency certificate or a new passport.

2. Immediately inform about lost passport to Your Country’s Embassy

Contact your country’s embassy to report the loss of your passport. Your country embassy will help you by issuing an emergency certificate to return to your home country after verifying your nationality safely.

3.Secure Your Identity and Belongings

You should cancel your credit cards, ATM cards, and traveler’s checks to prevent any fraudulent use. Keep your valuables and personal documents, such as your driver’s license, birth certificate, and insurance papers, in a safe place.

4.Apply for a Re-issuance of Visa

In case you have lost your passport, you also need to apply for the lost visas. Visit your country’s embassy and submit relevant documents such as a photocopy of the old visa and police report to get a new one.

5. Reschedule Your Flight Well in Advance

You are not allowed to return to your country if you have lost your passport, and it will take time for your application request for a new passport or emergency certificate to process. In this case, it is always better to inform the airline about your situation and reschedule it accordingly. You may save the amount on rescheduling flight if you tell them well in advance.

6.Apply for a New Passport/Emergency Certificate

Getting a new passport from your home country’s embassy may take 1-2 weeks. But if you want to travel on an urgent basis in case of illness or any emergency situation then you can also ask for an emergency travel document from the embassy.

7. Keep Several Copies of Your Important Documents with You

Keep several copies of your passport and other important documents with you in separate locations physically or electronically. You can store electronic copies on your phone or email or on a cloud storage

What precautions you should take to keep your passport safe while traveling?

Here we present very important tips for you to keep your passport safe while traveling:

1. Keep your passport in the hotel safe you are living in, and carry a photocopy with you, carry the original passport only wherever necessary.
2. Keep 2-3 copies of your passport in separate places in your luggage, keep a soft copy of it on your mobile, send it to your email, and upload it to Google Drive.
3. Always carry your passport in crossbody bags, a fanny pack, or a passport pouch that will always be with you. You can also use anti-theft money belts, and anti-theft travel purses with anti-theft zippers.
4. Never give your passport to anyone for safekeeping whether you are traveling in a group or solo as that person may also get robbed.
5. Protect your passport from damage, especially during rain, if you carry it to a beach or a place with water sports activities.
6. Each person who’s old enough should carry their own passport. Spread out the kids’ passports among the adults to minimize the impact of a single theft.
7. Regularly check for your passport that you’re still carrying your passport where you think you are, but do this in private only.
8. Use RFID shield passport cover. RFID Wallets Stop Electronic Pickpocketing

Q: What are the most common places where you may lose your passport?

A: Some of the most common places to leave your passport behind are: Check under the blankets and in the safe in your hotel room. Hotel reception while checking in or out. Train station while buying a ticket, Any other local transport like a taxi you may have used, etc.

Q: Do I get a new passport or a travel document from the embassy?

A: It totally depends on your country and the location of the embassy or consulate. They may issue a new passport or an emergency travel document that will help you to return to your home country. Both may take a significant amount of time up to 2-3 weeks.

Q: Will my travel insurance cover the cost of a new passport?

A: It totally depends on your travel insurance policy. There are some policies that cover the cost of a new passport, while others do not.

Final Words:

You may get an emergency travel document or a new passport from your country’s embassy with which you can travel to your home country safely. So in case you lose your passport in a foreign country, don’t worry we mentioned above all the necessary steps that you should follow and also some necessary tips to keep your passport safe while traveling in foreign countries.