ARC.RECORD TRAVEL

TRAVEL SOS · HELP WHILE YOU TRAVEL

Lost your passport abroad? Start here.

In the country you are visiting, contact the authority responsible for your nationality’s passport. Replacement procedures depend on your citizenship.

Do these three things first

  1. Get somewhere safe

    Check the last place you used it, your bags and accommodation. If it was stolen, do not confront the thief; report it to local police. A report copy may help with insurance.

  2. Contact your own consulate

    Find the local embassy or consulate through your own government’s official website. Give your location and departure date; ask about loss reporting and an emergency travel document.

  3. Check the whole route

    Check with the issuing authority, airline and immigration authorities that the new document works for departure, transit and entry. Issuance does not mean it is accepted everywhere.

Go to official help ↓
A real passport used for travel
U.S. passport pictured; follow the process for your own nationality.

KEEP THESE TOGETHER

What to have ready

  • Other ID or a passport copy, if available
  • Citizenship / identity evidence: confirm requirements
  • Itinerary, flight details and local contact
  • Ask about photos, fees, appointments and police reports

Share passport and booking details through official reporting channels, not public posts.

A few things worth knowing

Is a police report always required?

Requirements differ. Canada’s guidance says a police report is not required for passport replacement, though it may help an insurance claim. Check your own issuing authority’s requirements separately from theft and insurance reporting.

Official guidance ↗

What if you find it later?

Do not travel on a cancelled passport. U.S. guidance says a passport reported lost or stolen is no longer valid for international travel. Ask the issuing authority what to do with a recovered document.

Official guidance ↗

Can you fly tomorrow?

There is no guarantee. Opening hours, identity checks and document availability vary. Tell the consulate why travel is urgent before buying a new non-refundable ticket.

Official guidance ↗

Recheck visas and transit

Emergency documents may have restrictions that a regular passport does not. Check acceptance in every destination and transit country, plus any visa or residence record linked to the missing passport. Do not assume a passport photo is enough to travel.

Official guidance ↗

Show this, or copy it

Replace the text in square brackets with your own details.

I have lost my passport. I am a citizen of [country] and I am currently in [city, country].

My flight is on [date]. What documents and appointments do I need for urgent travel?

Will this emergency document be accepted for my departure, transit through [country], and entry into [country]?

My visa or residence document was in the missing passport. Which authority should I contact?

OFFICIAL HELP

Use the right official channel

Choose your nationality, not the country you are visiting. For other nationalities, use your foreign ministry or passport authority’s official site to find its mission in your current country. If you have multiple nationalities, contact the issuer of the missing passport.

Official guidance reviewed 15 September 2026. A country’s passport rules or an airline’s claim policy do not automatically apply to every traveller.

Also useful: Your bag didn’t arrive. What now? →

A practical guide researched from official sources, not a first-hand account.