Emergency help

Lost or stolen passport abroad?

Take a breath — this is fixable, and thousands of travellers handle it every week. Work through these steps in order. If you’re in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.

Make sure you’re safe

Move to a safe place. If the passport was stolen with other valuables (cards, phone), note what’s missing — you’ll need it for the police report and card blocks.

Report it to the local police

File a report at the nearest police station and get a copy or reference number. Most embassies require this police report before issuing an emergency document, and it protects you if your identity is misused.

Contact your embassy or consulate

Find your country’s nearest embassy/consulate and call or visit. Outside office hours, most have a 24/7 emergency line for citizens. Bring the police report, any ID/photocopy, and passport photos if you have them.

Apply for an emergency travel document

If you need to travel soon, ask for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or temporary passport. It’s usually valid for a single trip home. Processing can be same-day to a few days depending on the country.

Block misuse & tell your airline/hotel

Block any stolen cards, change passwords if your phone was taken, and inform your airline — they can advise on travelling with an ETD and re-issuing tickets.

Keep digital copies for next time

Once resolved, store a photo of your new passport in your Visaman travel-document vault so a future replacement is faster.

What to have ready for the embassy

✓ Police report / reference number
✓ A photocopy or photo of the lost passport
✓ Another photo ID (driving licence, etc.)
✓ Two recent passport photos
✓ Proof of travel (ticket / itinerary)
✓ A way to pay the fee

We can help

Open a priority case and our team will guide you through your specific country’s process.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always follow your embassy’s official instructions.