Lost Passport Abroad: What to Do — Step-by-Step Emergency Guide

Every traveler’s nightmare: you reach into your bag — and your passport is gone. Stolen, lost, left behind somewhere. Panic? Understandable. But don’t worry: with the right steps, you can get a replacement document and continue your trip. Here is your emergency plan.

Immediate Actions: The First 30 Minutes

1. Stay Calm and Search Systematically

Before heading to the police, have you really checked everywhere?

• Hotel safe and wardrobe
• Side pockets of your backpack and suitcase
• Hotel reception (has anything been handed in?)
• The last place where you definitely had your passport

2. File a Police Report

If the passport is truly gone, you need an official police report. This is the most important first step:

• Go to the nearest police station
• Get the report in writing — in English if possible
• Note down the report number
• You absolutely need this report for the embassy

Tip: Many countries have special tourist police stations that handle these cases regularly and speak English.

3. Contact Your Embassy or Consulate

Call the relevant embassy or consulate immediately. Most have a 24-hour emergency number for exactly these situations.

At the Embassy: What You Need

For an Emergency Travel Document

Types of Replacement Documents

• Emergency passport (Austria): Permits a single return journey to Austria
• Temporary travel document (Germany): For the return trip to Germany
• Provisional passport (Switzerland): Temporary Swiss passport for the journey home

Processing typically takes 1–3 business days, and in urgent cases, same-day issuance is possible.

Why a Digital Passport Photo on Your Phone Is Invaluable

Here is where it gets critical: the embassy needs biometric passport photos. Getting a compliant photo while abroad can be surprisingly difficult:

• Photo booths are not available everywhere
• Local photographers often don’t know ICAO standards for Austrian, German, or Swiss passports
• In remote areas, there may simply be no option at all

The Solution: A Passport Photo Stored Digitally

If you have a digital passport photo saved on your smartphone before your trip, you are prepared:

• You can print it at any printer or photo kiosk worldwide
• You can email it to the embassy in advance
• You save valuable time in an emergency
• The photo is guaranteed to be compliant

Pro tip: Store your digital passport photo in the cloud as well (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox). Even if your phone is stolen, you still have access.

Embassy Contacts for Austrian, German, and Swiss Citizens

Austrian Embassies — Emergency Numbers

The Austrian Foreign Ministry offers a 24/7 citizen service:

• Phone: +43 1 90115 4411
• Website: bmeia.gv.at
• App: Download Reise & Sicherheit by BMEIA

German Embassies — Emergency Numbers

The Federal Foreign Office emergency service:

• Phone: +49 30 1817 0
• Crisis hotline: +49 30 5000 2000
• Website: auswaertiges-amt.de
• App: Download Sicher Reisen

Swiss Embassies — Emergency Numbers

The FDFA Helpline:

• Phone: +41 800 24 7 365
• From abroad: +41 58 465 33 33
• Website: eda.admin.ch
• App: Download Travel Admin

Photo Requirements for Emergency Travel Documents

Biometric standards apply even for emergency documents:

Prevention Checklist for Your Next Trip

To be prepared for the worst case:

• Save a digital passport photo on your smartphone and in the cloud
• Take a color photo of your passport (data page) and store it on your phone
• Note the embassy address for your destination country
• Save emergency numbers in your contacts
• Carry a second form of ID (national ID card, driver’s license)
• Register your trip with your foreign ministry (AT: ELEFAND, DE: Crisis Prevention List, CH: Travel Admin)

Be Prepared with PassphotoLabs

With PassphotoLabs, you can create a biometric passport photo in 5 minutes and store it digitally on your phone:

• AI biometric check: Guaranteed compliant for Austrian, German, and Swiss standards
• Automatic background removal: Perfect white background, no matter where you take the photo
• Digital file: Instantly available on your phone and in the cloud
• Just €4 — a small price for peace of mind while traveling

Create your emergency passport photo before your next trip. One less thing to worry about if the worst happens.

Create your passport photo now →