Ways To Avoid A Stolen Passport And Other Travel Advice

If you have your passport stolen, then you should get in contact with the local diplomatic mission, consulate or embassy closest to you. To be prepared for an event such as this, you should have the details of your passport and other travel documents copied or noted down elsewhere. There are some foreign affairs departments in some countries that have an online service for you to report your stolen passport. It is essential that you do this quickly to avoid anyone using it fraudulently.

Your replacement new passport needs to be organized as soon as possible or you will not be able to leave the country in which you are staying. The embassy or consulate will be able to accept your application, payment and you are likely to have an extra fee charged for the lost passport. Emergency passports can generally be issued in a couple of days.

There are several measures that you can take while traveling to keep your passport safe. The first one is to always keep your passport safe. The best place is close to your body in a traveler's pouch around your stomach. Do not place your passport inside suitcases as they can easily be misplaced en route and do not place them inside back packs while you are out and about visiting places as these may be stolen or pick pocketed easily.

When you have used your passport, put it back into your money belt immediately. If you leave it lying on a counter or table top, then you are increasing the chance of forgetting it or mislaying it. It is best not to leave your passport with hotel staff and if they request this, then offer them a photocopy. Your hotel room may be accessed by other people when you are absent so do not keep it there either.

It is a very good idea to take a couple of copies of your passport with you when you travel. This way if it is stolen then you have all the details still available. If you are visiting a country for which you need a visa, make sure you also take copies of the passport page on which the visa is stamped.

Be careful of your security when you are withdrawing money from ATMs or exchanging money at a currency exchange or bank. There are often thieves that wait around these areas looking for tourists to pick pocket or rob. Never count money in public and put it away securely in your money belt as soon as possible.

Simple safety and security measures while traveling in a foreign location can strongly minimize your chances of a stolen American passport or any other problems. It is always better to prevent a problem through vigilance and common sense regarding your US passport, than to have to go through a bureaucratic tangle in another country. If you experience any problems then your national representative should be your first port of call every time.