The #1 Way to Solve This Nightmare Travel Emergency

For millions of Americans, traveling abroad is their biggest travel goal. Whether it’s visiting the world’s oldest cities, taking in natural wonders, or even visiting a theme park, these international trips can be a dream come true.

However, this dream can quickly become a travel NIGHTMARE if a U.S. traveler loses possession of their passport. Whether it’s simply misplaced, left behind, or stolen, a missing passport is a serious problem. If you find yourself in this nightmare scenario, there are steps you can take ASAP.

According to the U.S. State Department, the first thing you should do is report your passport lost or stolen using the department’s online form filler, which will cancel your passport within 1 business day.

This will protect you from identity theft. However, after you report your passport lost or stolen, it’s not valid for international travel, and “your next foreign destination may deny your entry if you try to use that passport, or they might not allow you to leave if you are already abroad,” according to the agency. Next, you’ll need to head to the closest U.S. embassy or consulate.

When you arrive at the consulate to apply for a new passport, you’ll need to have the following materials:

• One passport photo 2×2 in or 5×5 cm.
• Identification, such as a driver’s license or expired passport.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a photocopy of your missing passport. According to the agency, “If you can’t show proof of U.S. citizenship, like a birth certificate or a photocopy of your lost passport, while traveling abroad, you may ask for a free file search. This can help you get an emergency passport.”
• Travel itinerary from your airline or train tickets.
• DS-11 Application for Passport, including detailed information about where and when your most recent passport was lost or stolen.
• A copy of the police report, if you filed one at the time the passport was lost or stolen.
• Passport fees.

The agency stresses that if you are scheduled to travel soon, they will make “every effort to assist you quickly.” Furthermore, “if there isn’t enough time to receive your regular passport, the consular section can offer you an emergency passport. This passport may be valid for up to 1 year.”

If you find yourself in need of passport help on a weekend or holiday, bear in mind that most U.S. embassies and consulates cannot issue passports on weekends or holidays. However, all U.S. embassies and consulates have after-hours duty officers who are available to assist with life-or-death emergencies of U.S. citizens abroad. The State Department recommends that “if you have an emergency, need to travel, or have been the victim of a serious crime, in most cases, a replacement passport will be issued the next business day.”

If you find yourself in the nightmare scenario of having lost your passport abroad, keep these steps in mind and head to the nearest U.S. embassy ot consulate. Stay tuned to AllEars for more travel tips!

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Have you ever run into issues traveling abroad? Let us know in the comments below.