Lost your passport abroad: first steps

1. Stay safe and check it is really gone

The Government of Canada tells travellers not to confront a thief. Your safety matters more than your belongings. Move to a safe place, then report the incident to local police ⁴.

Make sure the passport is really lost before you report it. Australia warns that once you report it, the passport is cancelled and cannot be used again, even if you find it ⁵.

2. Report it to your own government

Most governments want the report made quickly so no one can use your passport or identity. The US State Department's online tool cancels a passport within 1 business day ¹. GOV.UK says to cancel a lost or stolen UK passport as soon as possible ⁶.

Some countries take the report by phone or through a mission. Australians overseas contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate ⁵. Canadians outside Canada and the US contact the nearest Government of Canada office ⁴.

If you apply for a UK emergency travel document, you do not need to cancel your passport separately. It is cancelled as part of that application ⁶.

3. Get a police report if you can

Rules differ. The US says police reports are not mandatory but can help confirm the circumstances ². Canada says a report is not required for passport replacement but may help with insurance claims ⁴.

Other countries need one. German missions abroad need a police loss report before they issue a travel document in place of a passport ⁷. Australia recommends reporting thefts to local police and to Australian police once you are home ⁵. New Zealand requires a police report number if the lost passport was still valid ⁸.

4. Go to your embassy or consulate

US citizens must appear in person at an embassy or consulate. Bring a passport photo, ID, proof of citizenship such as a copy of the lost passport, your travel itinerary, Form DS-11, any police report and the fee ².

Not every office can help on the spot. Emergency passport services are not available at every Canadian office abroad ⁴. Most US embassies do not issue passports on weekends or holidays, though duty officers handle life-or-death cases ². German missions say a document may only be issued on the next working day, as authorities at home cannot be reached on weekends ⁷.

If your passport is lost overseas and you need a travel document to get home, Ireland says your nearest Irish embassy or consulate may be able to help ⁹.

5. Choose the right travel document

Many countries issue a short-term document to get you home. The UK emergency travel document costs £125 and is usually valid for one single or return journey through up to 5 countries ³. Germany's Reiseausweis als Passersatz is valid for the journey home and at most one month ⁷. A US emergency passport is valid for up to 1 year ².

Some countries may require an exit visa if your entry stamp was in the lost passport. Germany warns this can delay your trip ⁷. Do not book travel until your new document is confirmed ³.

6. Do not use the old passport

Once reported, a passport is no longer valid for travel. The US says this holds even if you find it later ¹. GOV.UK says your new passport will have a different number from the old one, so update bookings ⁶.