Updated 2026-06-23 · 11 minute read
What To Do If You Lose Your Passport Abroad
Step-by-step guidance for travelers who lose a passport overseas, including police reports, embassies, replacement documents, and travel delays.
Secure yourself first
If your passport is lost during a theft, medical emergency, transport incident, or unsafe situation, move to a safe place before handling paperwork. Contact local emergency services when a crime, injury, or immediate danger is involved. Ask hotel staff, station staff, tour operators, or local authorities for help if language or location is a barrier.
Cancel or freeze payment cards if a wallet was taken. Check whether visas, residence permits, entry stamps, or other identity documents were also lost.
Gather proof and contact your embassy
Find digital or paper copies of your passport, travel booking, visa, insurance, and identification. Many embassies require a passport photo, proof of citizenship, police report, form, fee, and appointment. Requirements vary, so check the nearest embassy or consulate website and call when the matter is urgent.
Use the calling code and time zone tools if you need to contact family, insurers, airlines, or government offices from abroad. Keep notes of report numbers, officer names, appointment times, and case references.
Expect itinerary changes
Emergency travel documents may limit where you can travel and may not support every onward connection. Airlines and border officials may require extra checks. Contact airlines, hotels, tour operators, schools, or employers as soon as delays become likely.
After returning home, replace the full passport, update saved document copies, and review what went wrong so future trips have better separation between originals, copies, cards, and backups.
Country planning links
Use these country pages to save local emergency numbers, calling codes, currencies, time zones, plug types, and printable cards.
France
FR · +33
- Police
- 17
- Ambulance
- 15
Italy
IT · +39
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 118
Spain
ES · +34
- Police
- 091
- Ambulance
- 061
Germany
DE · +49
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 112
Japan
JP · +81
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 119
Thailand
TH · +66
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
United States
US · +1
- Police
- 911
- Ambulance
- 911
Canada
CA · +1
- Police
- 911
- Ambulance
- 911
Australia
AU · +61
- Police
- 000
- Ambulance
- 000
Mexico
MX · +52
- Police
- 911
- Ambulance
- 911
Singapore
SG · +65
- Police
- 999
- Ambulance
- 995
Turkey
TR · +90
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 112