A large number of people from India travel abroad for work, leisure, or other reasons. But imagine this — what if your passport gets lost while travelling overseas? This situation can cause stress, create a major crisis, and even cut short your trip. However, you should not panic. Instead, you must take the right steps immediately. If you ever face such a situation, here’s what you should do.
File a Police Complaint
If your passport is lost, your first step should be to report the loss at the nearest police station. File a formal complaint and keep a copy of the police report. This document is essential for applying for a new passport or an Emergency Travel Certificate through the Indian Embassy.
Contact the Indian Embassy
Locate the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting and get in touch with them. You can find their contact details on the official website. Embassy officials will assist you in passport loss cases and guide you through the complete process of obtaining a replacement.
Apply for a New Passport or an Emergency Certificate
Apply for a new passport (which usually takes at least a week) or request an Emergency Certificate (EC) — a temporary travel document that allows you to return to India.
Documents Required for a New Passport
When applying for a new passport, you need to provide proof of your current address, proof of date of birth, an affidavit explaining how the passport was lost, the original police report, and a copy of your lost passport’s first page (if available). If you do not have a copy, try to provide important details like the passport number and date of issue.
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Apply for a Visa
Losing your passport usually means your visa is lost too. Visit the embassy of the country that issued your visa with a copy of the old visa, the police report, and your new passport or Emergency Certificate. The process for reissuing a visa will depend on that country’s rules.
Reschedule Your Flight
If delays occur, contact your airline to change your travel plans. Some airlines may waive rebooking fees in such situations.
Inform Your Travel Insurance Company
Notify your travel insurance provider about the passport loss and your new travel arrangements. This ensures they cannot deny your claim in case of any future issues.