Misplacing your passport is a stressful situation – there’s no two ways about it. If you’ve managed to mislay it at home, it can be a right nuisance; if you’re already on your travels when it goes missing, it can be the stuff of nightmares.
But while it’s important to keep this vital document as safe as you possibly can, it’s also worth knowing what to do if misfortune does strike. Whether you’ve turned your home upside down in search of that maroon booklet, or you’ve lost your passport abroad and wondering if you’ll even get home, we’ve got you; here’s how to handle things if your passport goes missing.
What to do if your Irish passport has been lost or stolen while abroad
- First thing – don’t panic. While it’s far from ideal, you’re not alone and there’s plenty of help at hand to ensure you can get home safely.
- Make a police report in a local station within 24 hours.
- Contact your local Irish Embassy or Consulate to let them know the passport is missing, and to arrange either an emergency travel document or a replacement passport.
What to do if your Irish passport has been lost or stolen in Ireland
- Let the Passport Office know as soon as possible. Phone and webchat assistance is available Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm.
- Report the loss or theft to An Garda Síochána.
- You can then apply for a new passport with the Passport Office online or by post. If you need to travel abroad due to an emergency, you should contact the Passport Office webchat to arrange an emergency travel document.
How to avoid trouble when traveling
As is so often the case, prevention really is the best cure. Knowing how to deal with a lost or stolen passport is useful – but it’s wise to take steps to minimise the risk of it happening in the first place.
- Always keep your passport in a safe and expected location. When you’re at home, store it in the same place so you know where you should be able to find it. When you’re abroad, use a room safe or keep it in locked baggage.
- Only carry your passport when you know you will need it; try to avoid using it as your go-to form of identification. When you do need to carry it, keep it out of view and secure.
- It’s a good idea to have scanned copies of your passport to hand before you leave for your travels. This will make the replacement process quicker. Once a passport is reported as missing or stolen, Interpol are notified; your passport then becomes invalid for travel. Make sure you’ve looked everywhere, to avoid the dreaded “I’ve found it!” minutes after reporting it as missing. Check bag pockets, the backs of drawers and the linings of suitcases.
Protect yourself abroad with Travel Insurance
If you have Aviva travel insurance, and lost your passport while abroad, we’ll pay up to €500 and this will cover:
- The cost of any necessary emergency travel documents to ensure the person insured can return to Ireland.
- Any additional accommodation and travel related costs incurred by or on behalf of the person insured while on holidays.
- Replacing the passport following the loss or theft of the insured person’s original travel documents during their holiday.
Remember that our 24-hour international emergency team will always be there to help. Call us from abroad on +353 1 440 1790 to discuss your cover and how to make a claim.
If you’re calling from the Republic of Ireland, call us on 1800 940 515, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.
Avoid any holiday related mishaps with our guide to personal security when travelling. The best preparation for any holiday is to make sure you’ve got your travel insurance sorted. Visit Aviva travel insurance for more information.
