I’ve had my passport, phone or visa stolen while traveling: what should I do?

It only takes a moment of distraction, fatigue or a push in a crowd for your bag to be stolen. When you’re traveling abroad, this can quickly turn into a panic. Without your passport, ID, visa or even phone, you’re left stranded. The first thing to remember is to stay calm and take the right actions.

Passport, ID or visa stolen while abroad: what should you do?

The first step when you realize a travel document has been stolen is to contact your embassy or consulate. These institutions will guide you through the next steps. Many provide emergency contact numbers for travelers via their websites.

The next critical move is to file a police report locally. The receipt from your theft report is essential for following up. It allows you to obtain an emergency travel document or emergency passport from the embassy or consulate. The emergency travel document is usually issued within 24 hours and lets you return home for about 30 days. Note that an emergency passport is not always available. Depending on your country of residence, eligibility varies. Some embassies issue an emergency travel document but only provide an emergency passport for medical, humanitarian or professional reasons.

If you are an EU citizen and cannot locate your country’s diplomatic mission, you can reach out to another EU embassy.

Be as detailed as possible in your police statement. If you’ve lost other personal items, you’ll be able to file claims for those as well.

If you later recover your passport after reporting it stolen, do not travel with it. Interpol recommends returning it to the embassy to avoid raising red flags at border control.

The French Embassy in China issued a practical infographic on this topic:

Phone stolen while traveling: what should I do?

Losing a phone abroad can feel just as overwhelming as losing a passport. Many smartphones offer tracking features. But do not chase the thief—your safety comes first. If you locate the phone, inform the police and do not act on your own.

Start by contacting your provider to suspend your line. If possible, log into your accounts and change all passwords. Update codes for your email, banking apps and social media profiles.

As with travel documents, it’s vital to report the theft to local police. This lets you file a claim with your insurance, which could be offered by your phone, bank card or provider.

If police recover your phone, your line can be reactivated—unless the device has already been blocked.