What to do if you lose your passport abroad

So here's the situation: you check all your pockets and bags, going through your number ten times, and then again and again. And again. But the conclusion is still disappointing - no passport. Don't panic! Try to act calmly, but promptly. Here are tips that will help to orient yourself.

What should I do if I lose my passport abroad?

• First of all, go to the nearest police station and write a statement about the loss or theft of your passport. This is necessary in order to get a certificate confirming the fact of loss of the document. If you do not speak the language of the country you are in, try to explain the situation with the help of Google Translator./li>
• Then go to the embassy or consulate of your country. Get a certificate of return or apply for a new passport (if you are abroad for a long period of time or, for example, if you have moved abroad for permanent residence). Usually you have to wait about three months for a passport. The consulate will give you all the details).

What is a Certificate of Entry (Return)

This is a temporary document that replaces a foreign passport if it is lost or expired abroad. The certificate allows you to stay on the territory of the country in which you are located, and also gives the opportunity to return to your family. About forced transit through other countries, it is better to ask the employees of the consulate. The certificate is valid for no more than 30 days from the date of issue. And during this period you need to fly home in time.

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What you need to get a certificate of return:

• The same certificate-confirmation of the fact of theft or loss of your passport that you were given by the police.
• Preferably, a domestic passport or other document confirming your identity. If all your documents have disappeared together with your passport, you will have to find several people who are ready to say with certainty that you are you. You can find such "witnesses" among tourists in the hotel or directly at the embassy. There is one more way: the consulate can send an official request to the territorial subdivisions of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in order to identify your identity, but the answer will have to wait up to 30 days.
• Application for issuance of a certificate of return. You can get the form from the consulate.
• Two color or black-and-white photos 3,5×4,5 cm on a light background.
• A copy of the lost passport, a copy of the internal passport (if you do not have the original), a driver's license - all these are not included in the list of mandatory documents for obtaining a certificate of return, but will simplify the registration.
• A document confirming the payment of the consular fee (according to the current tariffs of the foreign diplomatic institution) or the original document of exemption from payment.

What documents do I need to obtain a return certificate for a child?

• Birth certificate (original) or internal passport for a child from the age of 14. If a child from 14 years old does not have an internal passport with him/her, it will also be necessary to go through the procedure of identity and citizenship confirmation.
• Parent's passport.
• Application for a return certificate.
• Two 3.5×4.5 cm photographs each for the child and the parent.

How long do I have to wait for the return certificate?

If the above mentioned documents are available, the certificate is usually issued on the same day, maximum 5 working days from the date of submission of all documents.

How do I fly home with a return certificate?

At the check-in desk at the airport, you will be waited for with your passport. Therefore, contact the airline in advance and tell about the situation. We recommend arriving at the airport early because the airline staff may have additional questions.

Preparing for a possible force majeure: what should I do before traveling?

Of course, we really hope that your passport won't go anywhere, but we still advise you to reinsure yourself before traveling. So that in case of force majeure the issue will be resolved faster, before traveling:

• Find out and write down the addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation of your home country's embassy or consulate in your destination country (or the nearest country in the case of exotics).
• Scan your domestic and foreign passport - including pages with valid visas. Don't forget your driver's license and child's birth certificate. Email all of this to yourself and a close relative. Make sure you remember your email password and can log in from someone else's device. Print out copies of passports and put them in different places in your carry-on and luggage. After the flight, take a picture of your entry stamp or entry visa and mail it to yourself as well.
• Take a couple of 3.5×4.5 cm photos with you so you don't have to run around looking for a photo studio later.
• Pack your passport, internal passport and driver's license in different bags (so that if you lose one document, you can keep the others).