If you lose your passport today, what will you do? You know how stressful getting a passport is, the long days you have to wait for it to be processed.
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It’s not something you want to do often which is why keeping your passport safe is very important, however, even in safe deposit boxes, things go missing.
One of the many things you should hope to never experience when you travel (especially when you are out of your home country) is losing your passport.
It doesn’t matter where you lose it, but it is quite less stressful when you lose it while in your home country than when you are outside the country.
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Losing your passport during your travels is not a good experience, but knowing how to handle the situation can make a significant difference.
Like everyday problems, you have various options to take when you lose your passport and we will walk you through what to do here.
If I lost my passport what do I do?
If you lose your passport, immediately report the loss to local authorities and get a police report, then contact your embassy or consulate so they can help you further, you can either get a replacement or get emergency travel documents for your travel if you are outside your home country.
In any case, you need to follow all the instructions that will be given to you by your country’s embassy or consulate.
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Finally, you need to take the necessary precautions to make sure that you don’t lose your passport again in the future.
The first step you need to take when you lose your passport is to search for it in all possible locations.
Search for it properly
Once you can’t find your passport, you need to do a thorough search.
Don’t panic, it can cloud your judgment and make it harder for you to search for it in the right places.
Check where and when you last had it. Check your bags, pockets, and recent places you visited; turn everything upside down.
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If you are unable to find it after a thorough search, then go and report it to local authorities immediately and get a police report.
Go and report your missing passport to the police
If you are unable to locate your passport and suspect it’s lost or stolen, report the incident immediately to the local authorities.
Whether you are in your country or outside your country, visit the nearest police station and file a report detailing the loss or theft of your passport.
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After filling out a report, get a copy of the police report – you will need it for further processing.
If it was stolen, police will place a BOLO on your passport and monitor any suspicious activity from whoever took it.
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Reach out to your embassy or consulate
After filing a police report, contact your country’s nearest embassy or consulate.
This is an important step, especially if you need to travel urgently or your passport contains important visas.
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When you reach out to the embassy, they will need your details:
- Your full name and passport number (if known).
- Details of when and where the passport was lost or stolen.
- A copy of the police report filed for the lost passport.
Your country’s embassy can help you in two ways, either to replace the lost passport or get an emergency travel document.
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If you are opting for a replacement of your passport, then you will be asked to submit some identifying documents.
What documents do I need to replace a lost passport?
If you’ve lost your passport and need to replace it, you need the following documents:
- Form DS-64 (Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport): (For USA citizens only) You must complete this form – it serves as an official statement about the loss or theft of your passport. You can find this form on the U.S. Department of State’s website.
- Form DS-11 (Application for U.S. Passport): (Also for US citizens only). You’ll need to fill out this application form for a new passport. You need to apply in person when replacing your lost passport.
- Citizenship Evidence: You also need to provide proof of your citizenship. Here, you can use your birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Make sure you bring the original certificate and a photocopy.
- Valid Identification (ID): Bring a valid photo ID with you when applying in person. You can use your driver’s license, state ID, or military ID. Again, bring both the original and a photocopy.
- One Passport Photo: You’ll need a recent 2-inch-by-2-inch colour photo of your face. Make sure that it’s an original, front-facing image.
Apply for your passport replacement
Your embassy or consulate will guide you through the process of applying for a replacement.
The process involves:
- Completing a lost passport form that the embassy will provide for you.
- Submitting your documents and
- Paying the applicable replacement fees.
The processing time for a replacement passport is usually two weeks but it can get longer depending on the country and circumstances.
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Your embassy or consulate will give you an estimated timeline.
While waiting for your replacement passport, you won’t be travelling, so, if you already had plans of travelling within the time before you lost your passport, you need to adjust your travel plans accordingly.
Once you get your passport replaced, you need to take more precautions to ensure that you don’t lose your passport again.
How to protect your passport when travelling
Here are ways to protect your passport when travelling:
- Use a passport holder: You shouldn’t leave the house without a passport holder or wallet that provides RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) blocking – this will prevent unauthorized scanning of your passport’s chip.
- Always keep your passport safe: When you are on a trip, the safety of your passport matters just like yourself. Take the security of your passport seriously. Always keep your passport in a secure place like a hotel safe or a hidden pocket in your clothing. Avoid leaving it unattended in your hotel room or exposed in public places.
- Make copies: Before your trip, make photocopies or digital scans of your passport’s identification page and any relevant visas. Keep these copies separate from your actual passport.
- Use a travel belt: You can always use a travel belt with a hidden pouch to keep your passport and other valuables close to your body.
- Be careful at airports: When passing through airport security or immigration checkpoints, keep a close eye on your passport and ensure you retrieve it immediately after inspection.
- Avoid excessive display of your passport: While travelling, avoid the unnecessary display of your passport in public places. Only present it when official authorities require it.
- Be careful in crowded places: In crowded tourist spots or public transportation, be extra careful of pickpockets and store your passport securely.
- Use a lockable bag: If you’re carrying your passport in a bag or backpack, get one that has lockable compartments.
- Report loss or theft immediately: In case your passport is lost or stolen, report it to the nearest embassy or consulate immediately. Do not waste time.
Conclusion
Losing your passport and going through the replacement process is stressful – which is why it is always great to keep your passport safe.
However, anything can happen, and even when kept safe, you can still lose your passport, the good thing is, it is not the end of the road.
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You can either get another one (a replacement) which takes time or get emergency travel documents and come back to your home country (if you are outside the country).