What to Do if You've Lost Your Passport

[Callalily]

I think it would be really scary to lose a passport.

https://www.fodors.com/news/what-to-do-if-you-lose-your-photo-id-and-more_2-5647

[CottonBear]

1. Good information! Thanks!

My son & I have passport cards in addition to our passports.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Tangential, but they mention cell phone access and relatives, and State Dept. Website

Do US cell phones work overseas? What sort of access does one need?

[CottonBear]

3. Some cell phone service providers have overseas service.

T-Mobile has service in Mexico, Costa Rica, & much of Central America, for example.

Calls can be expensive, though. Text messaging or what’s app calls are economical.

Just check with your service provider.

[Major Nikon]

4. I keep a paper copy with me and a digital copy in the cloud

Even if I were to lose my passport and my phone, I can still access the files from any computer. Naturally you can't use a digital or photocopy as an official source, but at least you'll have the passport number and other identifying information saved and it will be better than nothing.

The web site doesn't go much into what to do if you lose your passport while out of the country. Countries that have diplomatic relations with the US will have an embassy and/or consulate offices. That would be my first point of contact.

Another thing to add is a stolen US Passport is extremely valuable in some parts of the world. Guard yours carefully.

[CTyankee]

5. I make 3 photocopies of my face page...

One I tape to the inside of my bag. The other I carry with me when I leave my hotel room, and one I leave at home. I keep the passport in the hotel room safe and always use my birth dates as the code to open it (so I can remember; it's probably not a good way to remember; SS# better, but not much.)

Mine was stolen during a trip to Tuscany, visiting the little towns on the Piero della Francesca Trail. I went to the consulate in Milan from a little town where the 15th century artist painted. It took the better part of a day and cost $100 in U.S. dollars (no credit cards).

The consulate staff was NOT amused at my "funny" story about how it got stolen. Don't ask; it was pure stupidity on my part.