Losing a passport is always a distressing experience, but especially so for those about to embark on an international trip. In the UK, for example, you must take immediate action as soon as you lose a passport or it’s stolen. It is imperative that people understand the critical steps involved in reporting an incident. They need to know how to apply for a replacement and how to get an emergency travel document if needed.
Once a passport is lost or stolen, the immediate action is to make a report. Currently, the Home Office recommends people report them to them through their Gov.uk website or by calling 101. Reporting a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible is critical. It allows custodians to void the record and proactively stop any future bad faith use. Every UK passport includes a unique nine-digit passport number that appears on the biodata page. This unique number will be asked for when filing the loss or theft report.
Reporting a Lost or Stolen Passport
Once a passport is determined to be lost or stolen, passport holders need to collect the appropriate information to report it properly. In order to expedite the process and ensure that the passport can be cancelled as quickly as possible, please provide the nine-digit passport number. If an individual cannot find their passport number, they will be required to furnish additional identification information.
Additionally, it can be useful to notify your local law enforcement authorities in the event of any potential theft. Obtaining an official police report can be helpful both when applying for a new passport and when navigating any other travel-related emergencies. Once counted, people should start working with their families and communities to get ahead of the process of applying for a replacement passport.
Applying for a Replacement Passport
To get a replacement passport in the UK, people need to fill out an application, pay the fees and send it in. The standard application fee is £94.50 for an adult passport. If your situation is more urgent and you just need a faster service, no problem – pick the one-week processing route. Currently, this costs £178 adults and £145 children.
To finalize the application process, applicants are required to upload a digital photograph. The photo needs to be a certain size and recent—within the last 30 days. Further, applicants must have a debit or credit card with which to pay the application fee. The entire application can be filled out online, which is convenient for the many applicants who do have internet access.
Emergency Travel Documents
If you missed your chance to travel this summer, fear not! Instead of waiting for your replacement passport, you can ask for an emergency travel document. This paper transfer is good for a single ride or an unlimited round-trip. It’s designed to cater to your short-term travel desires.
The application for an emergency travel document takes a digital photo and can be processed in a matter of hours. People just need to be aware of what is required and have the right information readily available when they apply.