Lost Passport or Emergency Abroad: Step-by-Step What to Do

Stay calm: there is a clear order of steps

Losing a passport feels like a disaster, but embassies and consulates deal with it every day. The usual order is: make sure you are safe, block your cards, file a police report, contact your embassy or consulate, then update your airline and accommodation.

If you were robbed, your safety comes before your belongings. If an entire bag is gone, blocking cards and your phone may be more urgent than the passport itself.

Step 1: block your cards and phone

Freeze or cancel your bank cards immediately through your banking app or the card issuer's lost-card line. Most apps let you freeze a card in seconds. If your phone is gone, contact your mobile carrier and change passwords for email and banking.

Lost-card numbers are printed on the back of your cards, so save them somewhere separate before you travel. Keep one backup card apart from your main wallet, for example in the hotel safe.

Step 2: get a police report

Go to the nearest police station and report the loss or theft. Ask for a written report or reference number. Most embassies need it to replace a passport, and travel insurers need it for claims. Knowing your passport number and issue date speeds things up.

If language is a barrier, use a translation app or ask your accommodation for help. Some countries allow online reports, but for insurance purposes get a document with an official reference or stamp.

Step 3: contact your embassy or consulate

Find your country's nearest embassy or consulate on your government's foreign affairs website. Most can issue an emergency travel document or emergency passport, usually valid only for a limited time or a single journey. Some countries can also issue a full replacement passport, which takes longer.

Emergency documents are often not biometric passports, so they may not be accepted for visa-free entry or electronic travel authorisations in some countries. Check the entry rules of every onward destination with official sources. A passport reported lost is normally cancelled permanently, even if you find it later.

• Police report
• Passport photos (check the required size)
• Other ID, such as a driving licence or a copy of your passport
• Proof of onward or return travel
• The fee, which varies by country and document type

Medical emergencies

In a real emergency, call the local emergency number first. Examples: 112 across the European Union, 911 in the United States and Canada, and in Japan 110 for police and 119 for ambulance or fire. Save the right numbers on arrival. If you have travel insurance, call its 24-hour assistance line as early as possible; it can direct you to suitable hospitals and may arrange direct payment.

Hospital care abroad can be very expensive. Keep every medical report, receipt and prescription for your claim. If you take regular medication, carry the generic names and a doctor's note in English.

Back up these things before departure

Ten minutes of preparation can save hours later. Store copies in cloud storage and email, not only on your phone, because the phone may disappear too.

• Scan of your passport photo page plus a paper copy kept separately
• Two spare passport photos
• Card issuers' lost-card numbers and your insurance policy and assistance number
• Flight and accommodation confirmations
• Emergency cash and a spare card stored apart from your wallet
• Your embassy's address and phone number at each destination; register with your government's traveller service if it has one

Airline, accommodation and insurance claims

Once you have a new document number, give it to your airline so your booking is updated. If a delay means you will miss a flight, changing it early is usually cheaper than a no-show. Let your accommodation know too, since many require ID at check-in.

Depending on the policy, travel insurance may cover stolen belongings, replacement document fees and extra nights. Keep the police report, receipts and embassy fee receipts. Many policies do not cover items that were simply lost or left unattended, so read the terms.

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