What Should You Do If Your Passport is Lost or Stolen While Traveling?
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Going on vacation should be a time to relax and unwind. But what do you do if you lose your passport abroad?
According to the U.S Department of State, if you are abroad when your passport is lost or stolen contact the nearest U.S embassy or consulate and ask to speak to the Consular Section and report the passport lost or stolen. If you are the victim of a serious crime, report it to the consular officer as soon as possible so assistance can be provided.
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If you are needing a replacement passport, you will need the following documents:
- A passport photo
- Identification, such as a driver’s license
- Police report or statement of loss of the passport
- Travel itinerary, including flights and hotels
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship, such as a photo of the passport (Tip: take a photo of your passport before traveling.)
If you don’t have the documentation with you, inform the Consular officer who may be able to help.
Replacement passports will be charged the same passport fee, which can be valid up to 10 years for adults and five years for minors.
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Passports are not normally issued on the same day unless there are exceptional circumstances.
On weekends and holidays, the embassy will be closed. But, after hours officers will be around to assist if a U.S. citizen has been the victim of a serious crime or has a life or death emergency.
For more information and help regarding passport loss or theft, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
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