One of the most common international travel disasters is a lost
passport. Whether you lose it at home before you even leave the country
or lose it while you are traveling, it's a major hassle. Lost and stolen
passports are expensive to replace, with application fees starting at
$135 for adults. Beyond that, there are often additional costs involved
if you need to expedite replacing your passport, such as fees paid to
expediting companies or travel expenses to get to a regional passport
agency office if you don't have one close by.
Should you be unable to get your passport replaced in time, you'll
also face additional fees for having to cancel or reschedule your
flight. If you lose your passport while you are overseas, you may also
have to pay for additional nights' lodging while you get a new one.
Is there any way to protect yourself from the problems a lost
passport can cause? You may be able to get some peace of mind by
purchasing a travel insurance policy from a reputable insurer, but make
sure to read the fine print before you do.
Passport Insurance
The truth is, many travel insurance companies do offer some coverage
for a lost or stolen passport. In the industry, this is referred to as
Passport and Credit Card Services coverage. Here's what it does:
- Operators from the travel insurance company walk you through the
procedure for reporting your lost passport to the authorities and
applying for a replacement passport. This assistance should actually be
available with any travel insurance policy, whether it includes the
additional benefits provided by Passport and Credit Card Services
coverage or not.
-
As part of the Passport and Credit Card Services coverage, the travel
insurance company may reimburse you for the cost of replacing your
passport.
- Additionally, if you've lost the credit cards in your wallet along with your passport, the travel insurance company will generally cover any unauthorized charges and help your family or friends send you money overseas so you can get back home.
However, it's important to read your policy carefully to see what
circumstances are covered. Some policies may only cover the costs of
replacing a passport that has been stolen as opposed to merely
misplaced. Passports left in your checked baggage and lost in the
airport are also often excluded from coverage. There's also no guarantee
that a lost or stolen passport will be considered a "covered reason" to
reimburse you for charges related to rescheduling flights or rebooking
hotels. Again, read your policy carefully and shop around before you buy
one to ensure you get the best deal.
As with so many other things, when it comes to a lost passport, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
