Lost your passport? Here’s what to do.

Losing a passport can be much more serious than losing an ordinary personal item, especially when it happens while travelling abroad. A passport is not only an identification document; it may also be essential for crossing borders, boarding international flights, renting a vehicle or proving your identity.

The good news is that many lost passports are found by other people and handed over to the police, hotels, airports, transport companies or Lost & Found services. That is why, in addition to officially reporting the loss when necessary, you should start actively searching for your passport as soon as possible.

Where are passports most commonly lost?

Passports are often lost in places where travellers need to show them or repeatedly take them out of a bag. Common locations include airports, hotels, border crossings, train and bus stations, rental car offices, taxis, restaurants and tourist attractions.

• At an airport or security checkpoint.
• On a plane, train, bus or in a taxi.
• At a hotel or apartment reception.
• Inside a rental vehicle.
• At a restaurant or café.
• While shopping or exchanging money.
• Inside a backpack, bag or jacket that is lost or stolen.

First, make sure your passport is really lost

Before starting the official process of reporting a lost passport, quickly check all the places where it could have been left. Search every pocket, the inner compartments of your suitcase and backpack, the hotel safe, bedside tables and the area around the hotel reception.

If you last used your passport at an airport, hotel, in a taxi or while renting a vehicle, contact the service provider immediately. When it comes to lost documents, even a short delay can make a significant difference.

Retrace your steps

Try to remember the last moment when you definitely had your passport. Then check each place you visited after that point.

• Where did you last show your passport?
• Did you put it back into your bag or keep it in your hand?
• Did you travel by taxi or public transport?
• Did you check into a hotel?
• Did you pass through airport security?
• Did you visit a shop, restaurant or tourist attraction?

Contact local Lost & Found services

If you lost your passport in a public place, check local Lost & Found services. Airports, railway stations, hotels, shopping centres and major transport operators often have their own departments for lost property.

When reporting the loss, provide the most accurate possible location and approximate time. Do not publicly share a clear photograph of the passport’s personal-data page or your full passport number.

Publish your lost passport in the HERQ Lost & Found app

You can also publish your lost passport in the free HERQ Lost & Found app. Add the location where you last saw it, the approximate time it went missing and a description of the circumstances.

HERQ can help spread the information among people in the surrounding area. If someone has found your passport, this may help them discover that its owner is actively looking for it.

For security reasons, do not include your passport number, date of birth or a clear photograph of the page containing your personal information in a public post.

If your passport has a cover, use a HERQ QR tag

You can protect your passport before travelling by placing a HERQ QR tag on its cover or on your travel document holder. If someone finds it, they can scan the QR code and securely contact you without having to install the HERQ app.

QR tags do not replace the official procedure for reporting a lost passport, but they can make it much easier for an honest finder to return the document.

If you cannot find your passport, report the loss

If you cannot find your passport after checking the likely locations, contact the appropriate authority for your country. The exact procedure depends on your citizenship and the country where you are currently located.

If there is a possibility that your passport was stolen, you should also consider reporting the incident to the local police. A police report may also be requested by an embassy, consulate, insurance company or another authority.

If you lose your passport abroad

If you are travelling in another country, one of the most important steps is to contact the embassy or consulate of the country whose citizen you are.

Your embassy or consulate can explain the applicable procedure, help verify your identity and, depending on the circumstances, assist you in obtaining a replacement passport or an emergency travel document.

Procedures differ between countries, so always follow the instructions provided by your embassy, consulate or national passport authority.

Useful official resources

What might you need for a replacement or emergency travel document?

Requirements vary between countries, but the process is usually easier if you can help the relevant authority verify your identity.

Useful information and documents may include:

• A photograph or copy of your lost passport.
• Your passport number, if you know it.
• Another form of identification.
• A copy of your identity card or driving licence.
• Passport photographs, if required by the authority.
• A police report, where required.
• Information about your flight or onward travel.

Can you travel with only a photograph of your passport?

A photograph or photocopy of your passport is generally not a substitute for a valid travel document. However, it can be very useful when proving your identity and applying for a replacement or emergency document.

For this reason, it is sensible to securely store a photograph or copy of your passport’s identification page before travelling. Do not keep the only copy in the same bag as the original passport.

What if your flight leaves in a few hours?

If you lose your passport shortly before a flight, immediately contact the airline and the relevant embassy or consulate. Do not assume that you will be allowed to board an international flight using only a photocopy or photograph of your passport.

The airline can explain its boarding requirements and possible options for changing your flight, while your embassy or consulate can explain the procedure for obtaining the travel document you need.

What if you find your passport after reporting it lost?

If you have already officially reported your passport as lost or stolen, do not assume that you can simply start using it again. The passport may have been cancelled or invalidated.

Contact the relevant authority and confirm the status of the document before attempting to use it for travel.

Can someone misuse a lost passport?

A passport contains important personal information and is an official identification document. For this reason, you should not ignore its loss. If you cannot find it, report it to the appropriate authority as soon as possible.

When searching through social networks, forums or Lost & Found applications, never publicly publish all of the information contained in your passport.

What information should you never publish publicly?

• Your full passport number.
• A clear photograph of the personal-data page.
• Personal identification numbers.
• Other information that is not necessary to identify the lost document.

For a Lost & Found post, your name, approximate location of the loss, time and a description of the passport cover or circumstances are usually enough.

How can you reduce the risk of losing your passport?

Many passport losses can be prevented with a few simple habits. While travelling, your passport should always have one designated secure place.

• Use a closed travel pouch or secure internal pocket.
• Use the hotel safe when you do not need to carry your passport.
• After every document check, immediately return your passport to the same place.
• Do not leave it on tables, seats or counters.
• Before leaving a plane, taxi, hotel or restaurant, check that you have your documents.
• Keep a secure digital copy.
• Remember or securely store your passport number.
• Consider placing a HERQ QR tag on the passport cover.

Should you keep your passport in the hotel or carry it with you?

If local regulations do not require you to carry the original passport at all times, it may be safer to keep it in a hotel safe during sightseeing and other activities. You may carry a copy instead, but always check the local identification requirements first.

If your bag is stolen together with your passport

If your passport disappears together with your wallet, mobile phone or entire bag, take additional precautions. In addition to reporting the passport, block your payment cards, secure your mobile phone and change important passwords if necessary.

If the incident was a theft, report it to the local police.

Quick checklist

1. Check all bags, pockets, luggage and your hotel room.
2. Return to the last places where you used your passport.
3. Contact the hotel, airport, transport company or local Lost & Found service.
4. Publish the lost passport in HERQ Lost & Found.
5. If you cannot find the document, report the loss to the relevant authority.
6. If you suspect theft, contact the police.
7. If you are abroad, contact your embassy or consulate.
8. Arrange a replacement passport or emergency travel document.
9. If you later find a passport that you have already reported lost, verify its status before using it again.

Frequently asked questions

• What should I do immediately after realising that I have lost my passport?
  First check the last places where you used it, contact local Lost & Found services and begin the official reporting process if you cannot locate the document.
• What should I do if I lose my passport abroad?
  Contact your country's embassy or consulate. They can explain the procedure and help you obtain a replacement passport or emergency travel document where appropriate.
• Can I travel home with a photocopy of my passport?
  A photocopy is generally not a valid travel document. However, it can help establish your identity when applying for a replacement or emergency document.
• Do I need to report a lost passport to the police?
  Procedures vary between countries. If your passport was stolen or you suspect theft, contact the local police and check the requirements of the relevant passport authority.
• Can HERQ help me find a lost passport?
  Yes. You can publish your lost passport in HERQ Lost & Found and alert users in the surrounding area. HERQ does not replace the official process for reporting a lost passport.
• Does a HERQ QR tag work without the app?
  Yes. If a HERQ QR tag is attached to the passport cover, the finder can scan it and contact the owner without installing the HERQ app.
• What if I find my passport after officially reporting it lost?
  Contact the relevant authority before using it again. A passport may have been invalidated after it was reported lost.
• Should I publish a photograph of my lost passport?
  Do not publicly share a clear photograph of the personal-data page or your passport number. Only provide the information necessary to identify the lost document.
• How can I reduce the chance of losing my passport again?
  Always keep the document in the same secure place, store a secure digital copy and consider attaching a HERQ QR tag to the passport cover so that a finder can contact you.

Don't wait

When a passport is lost, both a quick search and the official protection of the document are important. Check the places where you may have left it, contact local Lost & Found services and publish the loss in the HERQ app. If you cannot find the document, contact the relevant government authority as soon as possible, or your embassy or consulate if you are abroad.