Passport lost or stolen abroad: what to do

Only the state that issued a passport can replace it. Abroad, this therefore goes through your home country's embassy or consulate, not through the host country's authorities. Depending on the country and situation, the mission issues a new passport, a temporary passport or an emergency travel document, which is often valid only for the journey home.

The mission has to be sure that you really are who you say you are and that you hold the nationality. This is where your copies help: passport number, date of issue and photo can be checked faster. The police report documents the loss or theft and is often required – and you usually need it for insurance too.

Which documents are issued, how long it takes and what it costs is set by each country. Expect hours to days. Weekends, public holidays and the distance to the nearest mission can make it longer.

Before you set everything in motion, search calmly and systematically: accommodation, vehicle, the places you were last. Ask at the lost property offices of the hotel, railway or airport. A passport surprisingly often has just slipped into the wrong pocket.

If it is really gone, go to the local police and have the loss or theft confirmed in writing. If bank, credit or SIM cards were stolen too, have them blocked immediately – that is what the blocking numbers on your emergency card are for. Then call the embassy or consulate and ask about an appointment, the required documents and fees.

Bring copies of your passport, the police confirmation and, if possible, passport photos to the appointment. Afterwards inform the airline, tour operator and insurer. If you had a visa for the host country, the host country's immigration authority may also be involved so that you can leave properly.

Someone who has just lost their passport is stressed and under time pressure – exactly what fraudsters exploit. There are fake websites, fake phone numbers and “agents” who promise fast replacements for money. Use only the official contact details of your mission, which you can find on your own foreign ministry's website or have already written on your emergency card.

A stolen passport can be misused for identity fraud. That is why reporting it matters, even if you get a replacement at once: a passport reported lost usually becomes invalid. If the old passport turns up later, ask your mission what to do with it instead of simply continuing to use it.

If you get into legal trouble or are arrested, also contact your embassy or consulate immediately. That is a different case from a lost passport, but the same office is the right point of contact.

For children, extra documents may be needed, for example the consent of both parents or guardians. Ask the mission exactly before you go to the appointment so that you do not have to come twice.

Losing a passport can delay a trip by days and costs fees and perhaps rebooking. Whether insurance covers part of it is stated in your terms. The best preparation still happens before the trip: copies kept separate from the original, passport photos and the mission's contact details on paper, as described in the entry on travel documents.