Tag: lost passport

What to do when you lose your passport

Stay Calm & Contact Municipal Government Offices (The US Consulate)
People freak out when their passport is lost or stolen. This is a scary thing even when you are used to international travel.
One moment your passport is there and kind of boring. The next moment, you’re having nightmares flash in your head of getting stuck in an airport or country with nowhere to turn. Some people are worried about identity theft.
It is not that crazy of a process to get a replacement passport. You will be able to replace a lost passport. There is a similar procedure if you lose your passport card for Canada or Mexico from the USA.
Preparation for this problem is key. If you have all the right paperwork with you, you can make it happen the quickest. If you don’t, it’s going to be a little trickier getting your lost or stolen passport replaced while traveling abroad.
Let’s get into the most important detail of all:
You will need to visit a US Consulate
These are the only places where you will be able to get your replacement passport for the one that was lost or stolen. These are run by the State Department. Americans are used to going to the Post Office in the US. Not when you travel internationally.
There is one in almost every country. They are usually located in the capital city and sometimes more than the capital (Mexico for example). This is where you replace your stolen passport unit.
The Consulate is a fortress. Don’t expect to just walk in the building and do your thing.
Due to tall the unrest in the last 20 years, US Consulates have become a target for demonstrations and sometimes worse things (if they weren’t already).
Therefore, the security is very strict at these places. You’ll likely be talking through a bulletproof glass to someone first, telling about your passport lost or stolen, and trying to set up an appointment.