Losing a passport can be a scary experience, especially when you are traveling abroad. The increasing number of theft cases abroad can be a real headache among travelers, no matter how carefully they keep their belongings safe. Your passport is the most crucial document you need while enjoying your foreign trip. It’s your identity in a place far away from home; having it stolen while abroad can be a daunting experience.
If you lose your passport, you must report to the police immediately, regardless of the country you travel to. Besides, there are many other things that you should do if your passport is lost. Please keep reading to learn about them all.
Lodge a Police Complaint
Immediately go to the nearest police station to complain about the lost passport. Get a copy of the complaint letter from the concerned department, confirming the circumstances of the loss or theft. The document will also help you complete embassy-related formalities and claim travel insurance.
Contact the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate
The next step is to contact the Indian embassy in the country you are traveling to. The embassy or consulate will assist you in applying for a new passport. Before heading for a replacement passport, you must book an appointment with the embassy. The consular staff will do their best to assist you.
Apply for a Replacement Passport
Once you reach the embassy, they will give you two options: apply for a new passport or get an emergency certificate. You will have to wait for at least a week if you want to secure a new passport. If one week period is too much for you, go for an Emergency Certificate.
You will need the following documents to apply for a new passport –
- Copy of lost passport (both sides)
- Copy of police complain
- Passport size photos
- Copy of visa and air tickets
- Written application stating the reason for an urgent issue of the new passport
Document checklist for an Emergency Certificate-
- Copy of lost passport (both sides)
- Copy of police report
- Passport size photos (4-6)
- Application for submitting an EAP-2 form
Irrespective of any option you choose, you must get your visa stamped again.
Apply for a re-issue of visa
The loss of a passport also brings the loss of visas stamped on your passport. If you can get your passport, you can also get your visas back. All you need to do is visit the respective country’s embassy that issued you the visa. You need a copy of your old visa, the police report, and your new replacement passport.
Claim Travel Insurance
Now is the right time to claim your travel insurance if you have one. You can claim your loss after returning to India. Make sure you have a copy of police reports and other receipts related to the cost incurred to you during this entire process as evidence.
Although travel insurance isn’t mandatory for all visas, we still advise our clients to get themselves covered to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
Hopefully, the information above will help you prepare for unexpected situations while traveling abroad. For more information, you can contact us at 8595338595 or [email protected]
