Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're answering the question:
"what to do if you lose your passport while traveling?"
(light chiming music)
This is a situation that I hope you never have to experience, but it's something that happens all the time.
You're traveling and the next thing you know, you misplace your passport, or even worse,
your passport is stolen. Your first reaction will likely be to panic, and
you'll start wondering how you'll ever get home or resolve the situation.
However, just remember that you're not the first person to experience this
problem. Unfortunately, it happens way too often to travelers. So, if you find
yourself in this situation, here's what you should do.
Number one: Contact the nearest Embassy or consulate for your country. You will
need to report that your passport has been lost or stolen.
Make sure you emphasize your departure date. If you only have a little bit of
time left on your trip, then you'll want to request a temporary emergency
passport rather than a full replacement. Number two: Get a passport photo. Before
heading over to the embassy, you will want to get a passport photo.
Sometimes embassies have the service, but it's probably safer to assume that you
will need to get one in advance. Plus, having one when you arrive should help
expedite the process. Number three: Fill out a passport
application and a statement for your lost or stolen passport. You will need to
apply for a new passport and also report the old passport as lost or stolen to
prevent someone else from using it. You will also need to show some sort of
identification and travel itinerary to validate your citizenship. Number four:
Pay the fee. You will need to pay the fee for a new passport or temporary
emergency passport. I couldn't find the exact cost online for US citizens, but
travelers in some forums reported paying around $200 for an
emergency passport. If you're unable to pay the fee, the embassy may be able to
arrange payment from a friend or family member. Number five: Pick up your new passport. If
you're getting an emergency passport, then you need to wait 24 hours for the
information to be verified and processed. Keep in mind that your emergency
passport will only be valid until you arrive home, then you'll need to apply
for an official passport through the normal process. If you have more time and
want to get your official replacement passport while traveling, then you may
have to wait a bit longer for the passport. From what I understand, the
embassy can usually arrange for expedited processing, especially if they
know you need it within a certain time frame. So, that's the process for getting
a new or temporary emergency passport. However, you can make the process easier
by following a few general preparation tips. Number one: Research your country's
embassy and consulate information prior to your trip. It's always a good idea to
have this information handy and will save you time in case you're not
connected to the Internet while traveling. If you're a US citizen, I also
recommend enrolling in the Smart program which allows you to register your travel
itinerary with the State Department so they know where you are and can
proactively reach out if there are any risks or dangers, as well as send you
contact information for your local embassy and consulate.
Check out our video on the topic for more information. Number two: Have
multiple copies of your current passport. This includes both a paper and digital
copy. I mentioned this in our "10 Things to Do Before Your Trip" video. I carry
multiple copies of my passport while traveling, and even carry one in my
wallet so I can keep my passport in the hotel safe. This not only reduces the
risk of losing my passport, but also allows me to have all the information
handy in case I need to apply for a new one at the embassy. Number three: Carry
spare passport photos. We also cover this in our "10 Things" video. Rather than
having to find a place to get a spare photo, why not carry a few with you?
Having spare photos is really useful if you happen to be traveling across a
land border. I know when I travelled across the border from Thailand
to Cambodia, I had to provide one as part of my visa. While I could have taken
one at the border, it was a long wait. It was really handy to have spare photos
with me. And that's our travel tip for this video. Again, I hope you never have
to deal with this situation, but if you do, we're hoping this video
makes the process easier and less stressful. If you've been in this
situation before, please let us know if you have any other suggestions or tips.
I've included some helpful links in the video description. If you enjoyed this
video and found it useful, please hit the "like" button and consider subscribing.
Also, check out our "Travel Tips" playlist for more videos like this one.
Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.