What happens if you lose your passport abroad? What are the rules?
If you discover that your passport is lost while abroad, the first thing you should do is file a complaint at the local police station. A police report is considered a very important document when a passport is lost.
Every year, millions of Indians travel abroad for work, studies, or tourism. In such cases, the most important document is the passport. But if, for any reason, your passport is lost or damaged abroad, this situation can be very stressful for any traveler. However, if your passport is lost abroad, you don't need to panic, as rules and procedures are in place. By following the correct process, you can easily overcome this problem. So, let's tell you what happens if you lose your passport abroad and what rules are in place.
What to do first if you lose your passport abroad?
As soon as you realize your passport is lost, the first thing you should do is file a complaint at the local police station. A police report is considered a very important document when a passport is lost, because without it, neither a new passport nor an emergency travel document. Therefore, the report should contain complete information related to the lost passport.
Contact the Indian Embassy immediately
After obtaining the police report, you should contact the Indian embassy or high commission in the country where you are located. It is the responsibility of the embassy to assist Indian citizens abroad. The embassy will verify your identity and provide information about the further process.
Rules for assistance after losing a passport
Emergency Certificate - If you need to return to India immediately after losing your passport abroad and cannot wait any longer, the embassy issues a one-time travel document called an Emergency Certificate. With this, you can return directly to India.
New or Temporary Passport - If your trip is still ongoing or you wish to stay in the country where you are, the embassy can issue a new or temporary passport. This takes a little longer than an Emergency Certificate because it involves extra verification.
How to apply for a new passport?
If you lose your passport abroad, you need to apply for a new one online. You can fill out the application form on the official website of the Government of India, embassy.passportindia.gov.in. To apply for a new passport, you will need a copy of the FIR (First Information Report) filed with the local police, passport-sized photographs, copies of the first and last pages of your old passport (if available), flight tickets or travel details, and identification documents.
