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Imagine this scenario. You are waiting in an airport to board the flight back home. And to your surprise, you find out that it is not there. You search your pockets and they do not have it. The first reaction is to get nervous. You search the suitcase, the carry bag, and still couldn’t find the lost passport. It’s not appearing. After some more search, you realize that the passport is gone.
My recommendation is to first check your lost passport with lost and found. In some cases, if you are lucky you can find it. Secondly, call the airline or contact the ticket site to let them know what has happened.
In that case, the ticket may be replaced or canceled which may lead to large savings in your return journey. For example, if you have an onward journey from Asia to America you can save up to 2000 dollars if the ticket is replaced.
Next, the best thing do is to make a temporary passport/replacement passport. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Visit the police
The moment you realize your passport is lost it is good to visit the police. The police may give a written statement that it is lost and that will help you in securing a hotel room. The police department may also direct you to the nearest embassy.
Step 2: Visit the Embassy or Consulate
The next step is to visit the Embassy or Consulate of your home country. Although many embassies are found in small cities, embassies are normally located in the capital city. The government consulate office often takes time to give a temporary passport and you may wait before you get it.
Step 3: Documentation For Temporary Passport / Replacement Passport
In order to get a passport, you may need two passport size photographs. You may also have to fill a form to get the replacement passport. Once the photos and form are submitted the temporary passport may be ready within hours Normally, the time for dispatch shouldn’t take much depending on your embassy or consulate. In addition, there will be a fee involved which you may have to pay by cash or credit card.
Step 4: Flight Re-Booking
Once the passport is received it’s time to re-book the flight. If the earlier ticket was canceled you may have to re-book the ticket. If the airline was not informed earlier about the issue the airline may not refund or replace the ticket. However, if the airline was informed earlier it may help you get a refund.
Passports are an important asset for any traveler. From business travelers to politicians, everyone needs it. The above-mentioned steps will definitely help you get back the lost passport.