A passport and visa are the most crucial documents while travelling abroad. A passport is your identity issued by the Indian government for foreign authorities and your visa represents the purpose and duration of your visit. While travelling abroad, these documents guarantee your hassle-free adventure without any legal issues. Now Imagine the panic and helplessness of losing these essential documents on your dream trip. Have you ever thought about what to do if you're suddenly stranded without them?
While planning an international trip, we meticulously plan every detail such as what to pack, how to travel, places to visit, and accommodation bookings. We even take out medical insurance and other measures to prepare in advance for any mishaps. But we often miss out on what to do if we lose our passport.
Actors Divyanka Tripathi And Vivek Dahiya Robbed Of Their Passports:
On July 10, TV actors Divyanka Tripathi and her husband Vivek Dahiya found themselves in such a predicament in Europe. While celebrating their eighth anniversary in Florence, Italy, they were robbed of Rs. 10 Lakh, their luggage, and most crucially, their passports. However, they eventually returned to India on July 16 with the help of the Indian embassy and by taking the right steps at the right time. if you are one of those meticulous planners who never considers how to return home without a passport, fret not, in this Global Affair piece we will tell you how to react and what to do in such a situation.
Also Read: Travelling With Your Pet? Here's A Checklist For Pet Passports And Other Entry Requirements
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RECOVER YOUR PASSPORT:
Here is your step-by-step guide about how to recover your lost passport and visa abroad:
1. Immediate Action: File An FIR
First things first - head to the nearest police station in the area where your stuff and passport were stolen. As soon as you discover your passport and visa are missing, the formost step is to report to the nearest police station. Carry some form of identification, either physically or digitally, to support your case. After filing the complaint, keep a printed copy as you will need it frequently, such as when applying for a new passport or claiming travel insurance. You can also ask the authorities to assist you with further procedures like reaching out to the Indian embassy.
2. Reach Out To The Nearest Embassy
After filing the FIR, the next step is to contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. These embassies are there to assist citizens in distress abroad and are your key to returning home. They will first verify your identity and the situation. You will have two options to choose from- apply for a new passport or an emergency certificate. You will need to fill out the relevant application form. The embassy will require several documents for both procedures:
- Passport application form
- Virtual or photocopy of the front and back pages of your lost passport
- A copy of the FIR
- 3-4 passport Size photos
- A copy of your visa
- A copy of your Flight tickets
The process for obtaining a new passport might take up to a week since your documents will be sent to India and then they will issue your new passport to the required embassy. If you can't stay in the country for that long or have an urgent need to return, you can opt for an emergency certificate which you can get in one or two days depending on the situation. Remember, you have to act quickly to avoid further legal issues or mishaps. The new passport will have a different passport number and fresh validity. If you are 18 or older, the fee for a normal passport reissue is Rs. 3000 for 30 pages and Rs 3500 for 60 pages. For an emergency certificate, the embassy will charge you Rs. 5000.
3. New Visa:
After your passport, it’s time to retrieve your visa and for this, you have to visit the embassy of the country where it was issued. You have to bring all the relevant documents including a copy of your lost visa and new passport/emergency certificate. If you do not have a photocopy of your lost passport, you'll need to provide the passport number, date of issue -expiry, and where it was issued. Make sure to store this information somewhere for future reference. The fee for reissuing a visa varies by country.
Now that you know the necessary documents, do not forget to pack extra copies of these essentials. Also, create a PDF or a folder on your phone or laptop with all these documents for easy access in case of an emergency.
After losing all your stuff, you might miss your flights at the scheduled time. You can contact the airline to reschedule it. If you are uncertain about the plans, you can cancel and claim your flight insurance. You can also claim your travel insurance once you're back in India.