Unfortunately errors happen all over the world and you could be
enjoying a wonderful overseas trip until you lose your passport. If you
do lose your passport, then you will have to have it replaced quickly at
the closest embassy or consulate representing the issuer of the
passport. Here is what you should do if you find yourself with a lost
passport while travelling overseas.
As soon as you realize that you have lost your passport documents, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate. They will cancel your passport for you and will be able to advise you on the process involved in having a new one issued. Cancelling the lost passport is a very important step as you will not be able to get a new one until the old one is nullified.
Another reason that you need to cancel your lost passport is to stop it being used for fraud. International passports are hot property among some thieves who can sell them on the black market. There are various purposes for which they could be used, but you do not want your name to be involved in any criminal activity.
When you get a new passport issued abroad, you first fill out the application that the embassy provides, pay the required fee plus a lost passport fee and then wait for it to be issued. The time of issue will vary between different embassies. You may also be able to apply for an emergency passport, which is given more quickly, but has a shorter expiry date.
It is certainly better if you can avoid losing your passport than having to go through the hassle of having it replaced. Try to protect your passport from being lost or stolen as it is an important document. There are certain things you can do to reduce the possibility of it going astray.
Wear a money belt while you are travelling and place the passport in this at all times. When you remove it for use at customs or elsewhere, be sure to replace it immediately. Lots of people lose their passport when they leave it on counters of hotels, banks and currency exchanges. It is also common to leave it on tables at cafes and restaurants since many places overseas require the sighting of your passport before they accept credit card payments.
Always keep your passport in your sight when you hand it over to someone. Many hotels will require your passport as identification when you check in at the hotel. They should not insist on keeping it as some travellers experience. If they do want to keep the passport, then you should offer them a photocopy. Make it a habit to check that you have replaced your passport before you leave anywhere that you have used it.
As soon as you realize that you have lost your passport documents, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate. They will cancel your passport for you and will be able to advise you on the process involved in having a new one issued. Cancelling the lost passport is a very important step as you will not be able to get a new one until the old one is nullified.
Another reason that you need to cancel your lost passport is to stop it being used for fraud. International passports are hot property among some thieves who can sell them on the black market. There are various purposes for which they could be used, but you do not want your name to be involved in any criminal activity.
When you get a new passport issued abroad, you first fill out the application that the embassy provides, pay the required fee plus a lost passport fee and then wait for it to be issued. The time of issue will vary between different embassies. You may also be able to apply for an emergency passport, which is given more quickly, but has a shorter expiry date.
It is certainly better if you can avoid losing your passport than having to go through the hassle of having it replaced. Try to protect your passport from being lost or stolen as it is an important document. There are certain things you can do to reduce the possibility of it going astray.
Wear a money belt while you are travelling and place the passport in this at all times. When you remove it for use at customs or elsewhere, be sure to replace it immediately. Lots of people lose their passport when they leave it on counters of hotels, banks and currency exchanges. It is also common to leave it on tables at cafes and restaurants since many places overseas require the sighting of your passport before they accept credit card payments.
Always keep your passport in your sight when you hand it over to someone. Many hotels will require your passport as identification when you check in at the hotel. They should not insist on keeping it as some travellers experience. If they do want to keep the passport, then you should offer them a photocopy. Make it a habit to check that you have replaced your passport before you leave anywhere that you have used it.
It is not the end of the world if you lose your passport documents while you are travelling overseas, but it can disrupt your trip and should be avoided at all costs. Always keep your passport in a safe place and you are unlikely to experience problems a stolen or lost passport.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Pate
