Lost Your Passport Abroad? Here’s What to Do

Losing a passport abroad is the stuff of travel nightmares. Yet no one is immune to it, and it’s crucial to know what steps to take to minimize stress and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The editorial team at Centrum Travel Magazine, in collaboration with lawyer Eduard Shalonosov, has developed a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this unexpected situation.

1. Stay Calm

As cliché as it may sound, the most important thing is to stay calm – panic won’t help you solve the problem. Try to recall when and where you last saw your passport. Sometimes the document turns up after a thorough search of your hotel room, bag, or clothing. Take a deep breath and search again carefully.

2. Contact the Police

If your search is unsuccessful, contact the local police as soon as possible. Report the loss and obtain an official document (a report or protocol) confirming the missing passport. This document will be required by your country’s consulate for further action.

3. Contact Your Consulate

Your next step is to go to the nearest consulate. Report the loss and ask what documents and procedures are necessary to receive a return certificate.

You’ll typically need the following:

- Police report confirming the passport loss;
- Application form – 2 copies. Citizens of Uzbekistan may complete this form online in advance via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or the Interactive Consular Services Portal:www.consulate.mfa.uz
- A copy of the lost passport (if available);
- Original Uzbek national ID card (if available);
- Two passport-sized photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm);
- Consular fee.

As a precaution, write down the full circumstances of the loss, the names and titles of the police and consular officers you spoke to, and the information they provided.

Lyrical digression: sometimes passport loss stories take an unexpectedly cinematic turn:

In exceptional cases, consuls are allowed a 2 – 3 hour window to transport a citizen directly onto a departing flight without issuing a return certificate. That is, the consul drives into the airport area with consular license plates and escorts the individual directly to the aircraft stairs. In many years of practice, I’ve only witnessed this twice – both cases involved threats to the individual’s safety.

4. Go Through Identity Verification

If you have your Uzbek national ID card with you, this step may be skipped. Otherwise, you’ll need to bring two witnesses – citizens of Uzbekistan – to confirm your identity. They must present valid Uzbek passports. The consulate will also request verification from relevant authorities in Uzbekistan. The return certificate will only be issued after this confirmation is received.

Important: Do not rely on strangers as witnesses. A single slip – like saying “I’ve known him for 29 years” when your documents say you’re only 25 – can cause serious issues. In some countries, falsely claiming someone’s identity is a criminal offense.

Children

If a child’s passport is lost, in addition to the documents listed above, you’ll need the original or a copy of the child’s birth certificate. You’ll also need to contact relatives to verify the child’s identity.

In one case, a missing child’s passport nearly turned into a kidnapping investigation. A family vacationing in the UK discovered the child’s passport was missing as they were preparing to leave. The consulate connected with relatives via video call to confirm the child’s identity, but the child claimed not to recognize them. It turned out the child loved England so much that, upon learning they were about to leave, he threw his documents away.

5. Protect Yourself from Fines

Processing a temporary identity certificate can take anywhere from a few minutes to several weeks, depending on the country and the situation. During this time, stay in touch with the consulate and follow their instructions closely.

If things are taking too long, visit the immigration office of the local police. This can protect you from fines or harsher penalties: in some countries, being undocumented (which is what you are without ID) can lead to a travel ban.

Note: The certificate issued is valid only for returning home.

6. Contact Your Airline

To avoid delays or confusion at the airport, inform your airline in advance about your situation. There’s no need to worry – airport staff are used to dealing with such cases, as they happen quite frequently.

7. Replace Your Passport

Once back home, visit any public services center to apply for a new passport. You’ll need to present the return certificate issued by the consulate.

If your passport contained visas, contact the embassies of the countries that issued them to request replacements or apply for new ones.

Now that you're armed with the right information, stay alert – and confidently set off on your journey!