Lost Passport Abroad — Emergency Steps

Exactly what to do within hours of losing your passport in a foreign country — police report, US embassy, emergency passport, and getting on your return flight.

Immediate Steps

• Search your accommodation, luggage, and every pocket before assuming it's stolen — passports are frequently found in jacket linings or at hotel front desks
• Check with your last visited restaurant, taxi company, or attraction's lost and found
• Cancel your passport at the US Embassy — a reported lost or stolen passport is immediately invalidated to prevent identity theft

Police Report

• File a police report at the nearest police station — most embassies require it to issue an emergency passport
• Request the police report in writing with an official stamp — this document is used at the embassy and for insurance claims
• Use Google Translate or a translation app to communicate — most city police stations have some experience with tourist incidents

US Embassy

• Locate the nearest US Embassy or Consulate at usembassy.gov — bookmark this page before your next international trip
• Call the embassy's emergency line immediately — the after-hours emergency number is listed on the embassy's website and handles passport issues 24/7
• Schedule an emergency passport appointment — walk-in appointments for genuine emergencies are generally accommodated, especially for imminent travel
• Bring to the embassy: police report, proof of citizenship (if you have it — a photo of your passport on your phone works), proof of travel (airline booking), 2 passport photos, and the $130 emergency passport fee

Emergency Passport

• An emergency passport is typically issued within 1–3 business days — it's valid for 1 year and covers entry back to the US
• Confirm with the embassy whether your destination country will accept an emergency US passport for re-entry if you have remaining travel days
• Contact your airline after getting your emergency passport — present the new document number and update your booking

Return Travel

• Arrive at the airport extra early — TSA and border control have additional scrutiny for travelers with emergency travel documents
• Contact your travel insurance provider — most policies cover passport replacement costs, emergency accommodation, and rebooking fees resulting from passport loss

Prevention Next Time

• Before every international trip: photograph your passport and save it to iCloud or Google Photos; email a copy to yourself; leave a photocopy at home