Lost your passport abroad? What to do, step by step.
Contact your passport authority or nearest embassy promptly and follow its lost-passport instructions. Check the hotel, airport and venues where you last had it. If travel is urgent, ask about emergency documents and acceptance on your route; report theft to local police where required.
Procedures differ between countries, so treat this as a checklist and your government’s official travel advice as the final word.
Updated
Step 1: Contact your passport authority and check likely places
Use your government's official passport or consular website to report the loss promptly. You can check the hotel safe, front desk and airport lost property at the same time; do not postpone an official report just to keep searching.
Ask the hotel, airport, airline and any venue you visited for their lost property, and check whether they publish found items online. If a venue uses vFound, a passport may be listed without its photo (venues can keep photos of ID staff-only), and its lost and found page can let you:
- Use the page in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Japanese or Simplified Chinese, not just the local language.
- Report the loss in a short chat with vFound AI, see possible matches straight away, and get an email each time a likely match is logged over the next 90 days.
- Claim through a private link with no account, and message the team there: staff see a translation and can reply in your language.
- Where the venue offers it, pick a pickup time within its hours and get an add-to-calendar link and a reminder, so you can collect before you travel on.
Step 2: Report the loss to local police if required
Many embassies and passport authorities ask for a police report, especially if the passport was stolen, and travel insurers usually want one for a claim. Go to the nearest police station, explain what happened and ask for a written report or reference number. If the language is a barrier, your hotel or the embassy can often point you to a station used to helping visitors.
Step 3: Contact your nearest embassy or consulate
Your country’s embassy or consulate can usually issue an emergency travel document or an emergency passport so you can travel home or continue your trip. Find the nearest one through your government’s official foreign affairs or travel website, and check whether you need an appointment.
Tell them your travel dates. An emergency document may only be valid for a specific journey, and some countries you plan to enter may not accept it, so check before booking onward travel.
Step 4: Report the passport lost or stolen so it’s canceled
Follow your passport authority's procedure for canceling a lost or stolen passport. For example, the UK requires prompt cancellation; if you apply for a UK emergency travel document, cancellation is part of that application. Procedures differ by country.
Once a passport is reported lost or stolen it’s usually canceled for good, even if you find it later. Don’t try to travel on it. Tell the authority if it turns up.
What to bring to the embassy or consulate
Requirements vary, so confirm them on your government’s official site before you go. Commonly requested items include:
- The police report or reference number, if you have one.
- Passport photos that meet your country’s rules.
- Any other ID you have, plus a photo or copy of the lost passport if you saved one.
- Proof of travel plans, such as your flight booking.
- A way to pay the application fee.
Official sources and further help
Official guidance checked on 30 September 2026. Features and procedures depend on your device, issuer or country.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel home without a passport?+
Usually only with an emergency travel document or emergency passport issued by your embassy or consulate. Check your government’s official site for what your country provides and how long it takes.
Do I always need a police report?+
Not always, but many embassies and insurers ask for one, especially for theft. Getting one early avoids a second trip. Confirm the requirement with your embassy.
What happens if I find my passport after reporting it lost?+
In most countries a passport reported lost or stolen is canceled and can no longer be used for travel. Contact your passport authority for guidance and use your replacement document.
How can I prepare before my next trip?+
Keep a photo of your passport’s photo page somewhere secure and separate from the passport, note your embassy’s contact details, and keep your travel insurance details to hand.
Will a hotel or airport hand my passport to anyone who asks?+
They shouldn’t. Passports are normally released only after identity checks, and some venues hand unclaimed documents to police or the relevant embassy.
What if the staff don’t speak my language?+
You can still report the loss, and some lost and found systems translate for staff. If the venue uses vFound, your lost report and messages can be translated for the team, and staff can reply in your language through your private claim link. Otherwise, write short, simple sentences and use a translation app for calls and emails.
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