What to do if you lose your passport

Lost your passport while traveling abroad? As experienced travelers know, even the most carefully planned trips can encounter unexpected challenges. 

Whether your passport was misplaced during a busy day of sightseeing or taken in an unfortunate theft, knowing exactly what to do next can make the difference between a minor setback and a significant disruption to your travel plans.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to handle a lost passport abroad, from immediate actions to dealing with embassies, and share valuable prevention strategies that seasoned travelers rely on. 

Let’s get started!

First steps: What to do immediately

Start breathing – this is not the end of the world (or your trip).

1. If you’re traveling with a partner or companion, let them know immediately so they can help you think clearly and assist with the necessary steps.
2. Start by retracing your most recent steps, but don’t exhaust yourself with an intensive solo search. If you’re at your hotel, contact the front desk immediately. They have experience with these situations and can often help coordinate with housekeeping, security, and the concierge.
3. Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate right away. Many travelers are encouraged to know that the staff is well-versed at helping Americans abroad, and they can guide you through the process.
4. File a report with the local police. If you’re not comfortable speaking the local language, ask the hotel concierge for assistance (they can often call the local authorities and have them come to you).
5. Request a copy of the police report — in English, if possible. This will help you with a travel insurance claim and assist the embassy with expediting your new passport.

Pro tip: If you are managing any medical conditions or have an immediate travel need, make sure to mention this when speaking with embassy staff, as it may help prioritize your new passport.

While you’re contacting people, send your travel companion to the last place you remember having your passport just in case someone has turned it in. Also, keep careful notes about the numbers you call and the names of people you speak with; this will help ensure that you can confirm details with them later.

Start the Emergency Passport Process

Sometimes, getting a passport can seem daunting, and it can be; however, getting an emergency replacement is often a streamlined process.

Go figure.

Before heading to the embassy, gather all the forms of identification you have, including any of the following:

1. A driver’s license
2. Medicare card or any other identification with your photo on it
3. Your passport card, if you have it
4. A photo of your missing passport
5. Your travel itinerary
6. Return plane tickets (might be in the airline app on your phone)
7. A copy of the police report, if you have it
8. Spare passport photos, if you have them

The embassy will require a DS-11 application form, which you can complete on-site or online. You’ll also need to fill out a DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport.

While the standard fee for emergency passport services is currently $165, you may need extra funds for new photos or other costs. You can usually pay by credit card.

Understanding Emergency Travel Passports

Depending on what services are available and the immediacy of your next flight, you may be issued an emergency travel document or limited validity passport, which are called ‘emergency passports’ for ease of reading.

Key differences:

• Emergency passports are typically valid for only one year (sometimes less).
• Emergency passports look different – they’re thinner and have fewer pages.
• In many cases, emergency passports can be issued within 24 hours (but it’s not guaranteed).

What this means for you:

• Some countries don’t accept an emergency passport for entry.
• You cannot use an emergency passport for international travel once you return to the US (it’s only valid for getting you home).
• Once back in the US, you must apply for a new regular passport and pay the fee (again).
• Some cruise lines and tour operators may not accept an emergency passport.

If your trip continues through other passport checkpoints, keep the police report and other travel documents handy in case you’re asked about the funny-looking document. Check each country into which you plan to travel and see if they accept emergency passports – the embassy staff can help with this too.

Getting Home or Continuing Your Trip

Depending on how long it takes to receive your emergency passport and whether the countries you plan to travel through will accept an emergency passport, you may have to adjust your travel itinerary. Remember that you’ll be traveling with a limited-validity document specifically designed for urgent return travel.

If your flights are due to leave before your new passport is issued, contact the airline right after your appointment with the embassy staff. Most carriers will be willing to adjust your ticket if they can, and they will need to update your travel documentation in the system when you arrive for your flight. Be sure to mention that you are traveling with an emergency passport so they can note this in your reservation, as this may help with your security and boarding process.

If you have airline status or are working with a travel agent, mention this so that the airline staff and/or travel agent can assist you.

For travelers with special needs or medical considerations, this is also the time to reconfirm any arrangements you originally had in place.

Smart Prevention: Essential Steps to Take Before You Leave

As always, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ and a potential passport crisis can be significantly eased with preventative steps.

Before you leave for any international trip, take these steps so you are prepared to manage a lost or stolen passport:

1. Take two color copies of your passport’s photo page, specifically the passport number and that long row of digits at the bottom. 
2. Leave one copy with a trusted family member and keep the other with you but separate from your actual passport. (Try tucking it in an envelope zipped in the suitcase’s liner away from prying eyes. If you prefer a digital option, store it in a passport-protected cloud service that you can access globally.)
3. Take another photo of your passport photo page with your phone and store it in your files. You can also email it to yourself.
4. Locate and store the address and local phone number of each US embassy in the destination(s) you’ll be traveling.

This way, if your passport goes missing, you’ll have all the documents you need to expedite the emergency replacement.

Pro tip: When you update your passport next time, ask for a passport card too. This can act as a substitute in some situations and will also improve your chances at getting a speedy replacement. Keep it separate from your actual passport.

Think of passport protection as part of your overall travel wellness plan – just as you pack your medications and travel insurance documents, make passport safety an essential part of your travel routine. With digital copies safely stored, emergency contacts at your fingertips, and a clear understanding of what to do in a crisis, you can travel with confidence, knowing you’re prepared for any situation.

Related topics

• Never make these common passport mistakes.
• Clever uses for extra passport photos.
• 7 Passport Travel Safety tips.