How Not To Lose Your Passport - And What To Do If You Do (2024)

Your passport is a vital item on your packing list if you're traveling outside the country. In order to enter a foreign country, identification is required and even more importantly, it is necessary to return to your own home country.It can turn an otherwise fantastic trip into a potentially costly tragedy to have your passport lost or stolen. Your passport should be safeguarded carefully.

Here’s some techniques on hownotto lose your passport:

• Keepit on thedown-low.Don't make your passport too conspicuous. Keep other valuables, such as your credit card and cashsecret.
• Only take it out when you have to. Display it only to officials who request it and when they are done, quickly put it away.
• Do not store it in your checked baggage(except foraphysical/digitalcopy of the ID page) or leave it loose in an open pocket on the outside.
• Have a backup.Before you leave home, make copies of your passport to leave with a trusted friend, co-worker, employer, or relative.You can also scan your passport and put a copy on your smartphone.
• Keep it safe.When you stay at a hotel, use the room safe to store your passport or a photocopy.You can also use a TSA-approved travel lock to secure your valuables in your suitcase.

Here are steps of what to do if you do lose your passport:

• If you are outside the United States,contact the nearestU.S. embassy or consulateto inform them your passport is lost or stolen.
• Adocumentdetailing the circ*mstancesin which your passport was lost or stolen would be required to be submitted.
• You’ll be required to fill outapassport applicationformand reasonably prove your identity and citizenship with personal information.

Whenever I traveled outside of the United States,I always made copies of my passport. I left the physical passport in a small lockbox back in my room then kept a copy in my pocket. I made copies for my family to haveas welljust in case. I also took a picture of my passport to have on my phone. I looked at my travel itinerary and travel destination and decided if I wouldneed my passport on hand during any particular day or not.Throughout my travels, I never carried my passport on me,just copies.