Passport Lost Abroad? Steps to Take Right Away

What to do if your passport is lost abroad: first go to the local police and get a loss report, then go to the nearest Embassy or Consulate General to apply for a new passport or an emergency passport to return to Turkey. You must report the loss to the diplomatic mission in person. Below you'll find the reasoning behind this order, exceptions, steps, and a checklist.

In short

• Recommended order: first a loss report from the local police, then an in-person application to the Embassy or Consulate General.
• The emergency passport is for returning to Turkey; if you're continuing your trip, discuss your route with the officer.
• The diplomatic mission cannot guarantee your entry into another country; check the visa and entry requirements of your destination country separately.
• Abroad, the fee is paid to the consulate where you apply; a receipt is required; keep the police report with you.

The essence of the rule: police first, then the diplomatic mission

If your passport is stolen or lost abroad, the order is as follows: first the local police, then the diplomatic mission. You need to get a document from the police stating that you lost your passport. With this document, you can go to the nearest Embassy or Consulate General to apply for a new passport or get an emergency passport to return to Turkey.

The two steps do not replace each other. The police report records, with the local authorities, that the passport has left your possession. Notification to the diplomatic mission is also required separately: in order to prevent a passport lost, stolen, or seized from being used for forgery, it must be reported to diplomatic missions abroad as soon as possible. The situation is reported in person to one of the diplomatic missions.

For this reason, do not settle for just the police report; plan from the start to visit the mission in person. Below you'll find what the document is for, the difference between an emergency and a new passport, exceptions, and common mistakes.

Why the local police report matters

It is useful to have the loss/theft report issued by the local authorities with you during the application. For this reason, completing the police report before going to the consulate is the safest approach. Learn details such as whether the document is mandatory from the current announcement of the mission you will apply to.

When going to the police

• Briefly note where and when the passport was lost or stolen.
• If you have a photocopy, photo, or the number of the passport, show it; it can speed up the registration process.
• When receiving the document, check that your first and last name match the spelling on your passport.
• Keep a photocopy or phone photo of the document as a backup.

Language issue

The local police may not speak your language. Hotel reception or a tour guide may help with translation. If the incident occurred at the hotel or during a tour, inform the relevant official immediately. Check the current guidance of the local authorities for country-specific procedures.

New passport or emergency passport?

At the diplomatic mission there are two options: applying for a new passport or an emergency passport to return to Turkey. The emergency passport is issued to be valid for returning to Turkey. If you plan to continue your trip in other countries, explain your route to the officer and ask which document would suit you.

How is the decision made?

• If your trip is nearing its end and you'll return directly to Turkey: the emergency passport is suitable for this purpose.
• If your route includes other countries: discuss the new passport option and the entry requirements of your destination country with the officer.
• If you have a connecting return flight: also check the document requirements of the connecting country.

Fee and receipt

The application requires a receipt showing that the passport fee has been paid. Abroad, the fee is paid to the consulate where you apply. The current amount and payment method are included in the mission's announcement; we do not provide the amount on this page. Find out the working hours and whether an appointment is needed from the mission's own channels before you go.

Visas and ongoing travel: exceptions and mistakes

Losing your passport is not just a document issue, but also an issue for your travel plan. If you do not have a valid visa and/or a valid passport, diplomatic missions cannot guarantee your entry into a foreign country. In other words, even if the consulate issues you an emergency passport, your entry into another country depends on that country's rules.

If you have a visa

How the visa will be handled alongside a lost passport varies from country to country, and we cannot give a single rule here. Check the requirements of your destination country on the country-by-country visa information page; ask the authority that issued the visa or the mission about the situation. If you've had a separate issue such as a visa refusal, the article what to do after a visa refusal can help.

Common mistakes

• Delaying the police report.
• Only informing the hotel or tour guide about the loss without notifying the diplomatic mission in person.
• Assuming the emergency passport is sufficient to continue traveling.
• Going to the application without finding out from the mission how and where the fee should be paid.
• Not keeping a copy of the documents and the police report.

Step by step: what to do when your passport is lost

Without panicking, follow this order:

1. Do a quick search. Call the hotel, restaurant, taxi, or airport lost-and-found department. If you can't find it, move on to the official step without delay.
2. Go to the local police. File a loss or theft report and get the document stating that you lost your passport.
3. Identify the diplomatic mission. Check the address, working hours, appointment requirements, and how to pay the fee at the nearest Embassy or Consulate General.
4. Apply in person. Go to the mission with the police report and your other identification documents; report the loss.
5. Pay the fee to the consulate where you applied. Abroad, the fee is paid to the consulate where you apply. Keep the receipt.
6. Clarify the document type. Decide with the officer whether you want a new passport or an emergency passport to return to Turkey.
7. Review your flight and accommodation. If your return date is approaching, check your airline's current change policy.

At every stage, taking a photocopy or photo of the documents makes subsequent procedures easier. Rely on the mission's current announcement regarding timing and order.

Checklist before departure and after a loss

Small precautions taken before departure ease the process if a loss occurs.

Before departure

• Keep a photocopy and a phone photo of the passport's identity page separate from the passport itself.
• Share a copy with your family; you can also upload it to cloud storage.
• Note the address and working hours of the Embassy or Consulate General in the city you're visiting.
• For countries requiring a visa, keep your visa information recorded separately; for details, you can review visa requirements by country.
• Carry your passport in a safe place at the hotel or close to your body.

After a loss

• I obtained the loss/theft report from the police.
• I backed up a copy of the document.
• I will report the loss to the diplomatic mission in person.
• I found out how to pay the fee to the consulate where I applied.
• I clarified which document (new or emergency passport) I will receive.
• I checked whether changes are needed for my return flight and accommodation.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first if I lose my passport abroad?

You should first go to the local police and get a document stating that you lost your passport. Then you should go to the nearest Embassy or Consulate General with this document. You also need to report the loss to the diplomatic mission.

Can an emergency passport be obtained if a passport is lost?

Yes. If you lose or have your passport stolen abroad, diplomatic missions can issue you an emergency passport valid for returning to Turkey. If you plan to continue traveling in other countries, explain your route to the officer.

Can I go to the consulate without a police report?

It is useful to have the loss/theft report issued by the local authorities with you during the application. For this reason, obtaining the police report first is the safest approach. Ask the mission you will apply to whether applications without the document are accepted.

Is it enough to report the loss by phone or email?

No, it is not sufficient. If a passport is lost, stolen, or seized, the situation must be reported in person to one of the diplomatic missions abroad. For this reason, you should plan to visit the mission in person.

Does the consulate guarantee my entry into another country if my passport is lost?

No. If you do not have a valid visa and/or a valid passport, diplomatic missions cannot guarantee your entry into a foreign country. You should separately check the visa and entry rules of your destination country.

Where is the passport fee paid abroad?

Abroad, the fee is paid to the consulate where you apply. The application requires a receipt showing that the fee has been paid. Find out the current amount and payment method from the relevant mission's announcement.

Related pages

• How to Get an International Driving License? Application and Documents

Sources

• Consular Guide for Those Traveling Abroad / Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — mfa.gov.tr
• Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Procedures — konsolosluk.gov.tr
• General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs - Passport Procedures — nvi.gov.tr
• 1 SECOND GENERATION PASSPORT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS PART ONE — nvi.gov.tr