Travel topic · Safety
Lost or stolen passport abroad: step by step
Report the loss to local police and contact your passport authority's nearest embassy or consulate; ask them what document you need to travel and confirm requirements, fees and timing directly before booking anything.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
More
Quick decision and detailed steps to replace a lost or stolen passport while traveling, including costs, timing and common pitfalls for 2026.
Key facts
- Police reportcheck
- File a report with local police and ask for a written copy with a reference number; deadlines and fees vary by place — check
- Embassy contact
- Find your nearest embassy or consulate only through your own passport authority's official website
- Emergency travel document costcheck
- Set by your passport authority and the mission handling the case; confirm the fee with them
- Processing time
- Varies by mission and case; ask when you first contact them
- Travel insurance
- Some policies may cover replacement costs or delays; read your policy or ask the insurer
Your checklist
Every 'Do' tip in this guide in one list. Tick them off as you sort each one.
0 of 3 done
Ticks stay on this device only.
Short answer
Report the loss or theft to local police, then contact your passport authority's nearest embassy or consulate and follow their instructions. Ask them which document they can issue, what it costs, how long it takes and what you must bring.
Do not book onward travel until your passport authority and your airline confirm in writing which document they will accept. Rules, fees and processing times differ by country and by case, so treat every figure on this page as something to confirm, not a promise.
Step-by-step process
1. Secure what you still have. Keep any remaining ID, a phone with your digital copies, and a note of what was in the bag. If cards were taken, contact your bank separately.
2. Report to local police. Ask for a written copy with a reference number. Whether there is a deadline, a fee or an online option depends on the local force — check with them.
3. Find your passport authority's nearest embassy or consulate through its own official website. Do not rely on search ads or third-party 'passport services'.
4. Contact the mission and ask what to do next: whether you need an appointment, which emergency document they can issue, what it costs, how long it takes and what evidence they want. Confirm each point — check.
5. Gather what they ask for. Commonly requested items include the police report, photos to their specification, proof of identity or citizenship, and travel details, but the exact list comes from the mission — check.
6. Confirm how to pay. Accepted methods and amounts vary by mission — check before you travel to the appointment.
7. Attend the appointment and follow the mission's instructions on photos, signatures and any further checks.
8. Before flying, confirm with your airline and with the authorities at your destination which document they will accept for boarding and entry — check. Do not assume an emergency document is accepted everywhere.
9. Once home, apply for a full passport through your passport authority's normal channel and keep any emergency document as a record.
Do
- Store a photo of your passport data page and a second ID somewhere you can reach online.
- Keep the mission's address, phone and opening hours saved offline before you need them.
Watch out
- Avoid unofficial 'passport services' that ask for large upfront fees; deal only with your passport authority.
- Confirm acceptable travel documents with your airline and destination authorities before booking — check.
Show 4 sectionsHideCosts and timing, Exceptions and special cases, Questions people ask, Related
Costs and timing
There is no single worldwide fee or processing time for replacing a lost passport abroad. Each passport authority sets its own charges, and each mission handles cases at its own pace. Ask your mission for the current fee and expected turnaround when you first contact them — check.
Budget for the document fee, photos, transport to the mission and possibly extra nights of accommodation while you wait. Whether your travel insurance covers any of this depends on your policy — check the wording or ask the insurer.
| Item | What to expect | How to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency travel document | Fee and processing time set by your passport authority | Ask the mission — check |
| Police report | May be free or carry a small local fee | Ask local police — check |
| Passport photos | Cost varies by shop and city | Ask the mission for the photo specification first — check |
| Extra accommodation | Possible if your departure slips | Check your travel insurance policy |
No fee or timeline is stated here as certain; all depend on your nationality and the mission handling the case.
Exceptions and special cases
If your country has no mission where you are, ask your passport authority or foreign ministry what to do. They may direct you to a mission in a neighbouring country or to another arrangement — confirm with them, not with a third party.
Travellers under 18, dual nationals and people travelling on a second passport can face extra checks. Ask the mission what documents they require for your situation — check.
If local services are disrupted by a disaster or unrest, follow your foreign ministry's official travel advice for alternative contacts and instructions — check.
Do
- Check your foreign ministry's travel advice page for the country you are in before and during the trip.
Questions people ask
Lost or stolen passport abroad: step by step: what do I need to know?
Report it to local police, then contact your passport authority's nearest embassy or consulate and follow their instructions. Ask them which document they can issue, what it costs, how long it takes and what to bring. Confirm with your airline and destination authorities which document they will accept before you book onward travel — check.
What are the most common mistakes?
Delaying the police report, losing the reference number, assuming a fixed fee or timeline, and paying unofficial 'passport services'. Also common: booking a flight before confirming that the airline and destination will accept the document you are issued — check.
What should I do before I travel?
Save a photo of your passport data page and a second ID where you can reach them online, note your passport authority's contact details and the nearest mission for each stop, and read your travel insurance policy on lost documents. Check your foreign ministry's travel advice for the countries on your route.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Lost or stolen passport abroad: step by step
Loading…
Was this useful?