Any traveller may lose a passport. Staying calm and doing things in the right order shortens the time to solve the problem. This guide gives the general steps; the exact process is set by the authority that issued your passport.
1. Report to the police
- Report the loss or theft to the local police as soon as possible and get a copy or number of the report.
- Most authorities require this report for issuing a replacement passport.
2. Contact the issuing authority
- Contact the embassy, consulate or mission of the country that issued the passport.
- Ask whether an emergency travel document can be issued for returning or continuing your trip, and which documents are needed.
- Report the loss so the lost passport is cancelled and nobody can use it.
3. The visa and residence of the country you are in
- If your visa or residence permit was in the lost passport, ask that country's immigration office how to transfer it to the new passport.
- Watch your visa's expiry date. In the UAE, according to the ICP, overstaying a visa carries a fine of AED 50 per day.
4. Replacing the passport
- For citizens of Dominica and Vanuatu living outside the country, Royal Golden has a passport renewal service. If the passport is lost, ask portal support before ordering which extra documents are needed.
- Prepare supporting documents, such as the Certificate of Naturalisation or citizenship certificate and the police report.
5. Your other passport
If you hold a second passport, you may be able to travel on it; but keep in mind the rule "leave on the same passport you entered with". Ask the host country's immigration office before travelling.
Preparing in advance
- Keep copies and scans of each passport's data page and your visas in a safe place online.
- Note in advance the contact number of your country's embassy or mission at your destination.
- Keep your passport in the hotel safe while travelling and carry it only when needed.
- Keep original documents, such as the Certificate of Naturalisation, separate from the passport.
This article is general information and not legal advice.
Sources
- ICP UAE, issuance of a visa (overstay fine) — https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e60 (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Services section of the Royal Golden site, Dominica and Vanuatu passport renewal (checked on 24 October 2026)