This is story of how we lost a passport on our first day in Paris, and how we very quickly recovered and enjoyed the rest of our trip. Jump to the end for tips on how to prepare and what to do if this happens to you.
It Was A Magical First Day In Paris!
We arrived in Paris late in the afternoon jet lagged, but too excited to do anything but drop our bags and hit the ground running. There were four of us, and three generations, on this family trip. Our first afternoon and evening were magical. After walking just a few blocks from our Airbnb, we gasped when we unexpectedly caught sight of the iconic Eiffel Tower in the distance. Even though the weather was dreary, gray and a bit rainy, we eagerly walked further than we anticipated to the famed, romantic beauty and took a stroll along the Seine River, eventually stopping for dinner before calling it an early night.
Don’t Keep Your Passport in a Pouch Without a Closure.
I remember asking Sheila (whose name I have changed to protect her identity) about the sparkly black bag hanging around her neck. Sheila excitedly explained that it was a gift from a friend. Sheila’s friend was so thrilled to hear about Sheila’s taking her dream trip to Paris that she gave Sheila this chic glittery pouch to secure her valuables. I hid my skepticism that keeping her passport, money and credit cards in a bag suspended from her neck was a good idea.
Security Before Fashion!
Though fashionable, to me the black pouch adorned with rhinestones looked anything but secure. It dangled on a thin black string around Sheila’s neck. The pouch looked like it could easily be ripped off by a thief, or even just by inadvertently getting the string caught on chair, or door handle, or anything, when walking by. Even more, the pouch had no closure! When Sheila was sitting, the pouch no longer hung, but flopped sideways or upside down on her lap. Nonetheless, Sheila, somewhat of a fashion plate and known to always be bedazzled, seemed so happy with the sparkly black bag. Sheila even commented that her pouch was much better than one of those things that you wear like a necklace underneath your shirt, or somehow secured to your belt inside your trousers.
As dusk fell and the Eiffel Tower transformed from steel-gray to orange-gold, we found a lovely, tiny, authentic Italian restaurant along a quaint side street for dinner. Giddy from our first day in Paris and the anticipation of the week to come, we crammed into seats at a family-style table alongside other patrons and enjoyed a delicious authentic Italian meal. When the check arrived, Sheila eagerly grabbed the pouch from her lap, pulled her credit card from it, and declared that dinner was her treat!
No Need To Panic If You Lose Your Passport While Travelling.
We awoke the next day rested and ready for a full itinerary on our first full day in Paris. I tried to be patient while Sheila readied herself for the day. Sheila is known to take an inordinate amount of time to get bedazzled in the morning. Sheila has never been a morning person. Her preference is to sit alone at the breakfast table and sip coffee, without speaking for a good half hour before she even starts to get ready for the day. However, something did not seem quite right with Sheila that morning.
I noticed Sheila wandering around in her room rifling through her luggage. She seemed to be mumbling to herself, shuffling here and there. Sheila seemed to be fretting over something. We tried to ignore Sheila so as not agitate her further. We waited a few more minutes without saying anything. We sat on the sofa talking and flipping through our travel guides. Suddenly, Sheila appeared in the door way. From her face it was clear that something was terribly wrong. “I lost my passport,” said Sheila. “You guys go ahead. I will figure it out.” From Sheila’s face, it was clear that she was not going to figure it out. Understandably, she was extremely upset. “I know I lost it! I don’t know what I am going to do. What am I going to do? But, you go ahead. I don’t want to ruin your day.”
You Cannot Reenter The U.S. Without Your Passport.
The thought of losing my passport has crossed my mind several times in our travels. For this reason, we have always carried photocopies of our passports with us. We also leave copies of them in an accessible place at home. Beyond that, I hadn’t really thought about what to do if one of us actually did lose a passport. With Sheila in the state that she was, I sprang into action. I assured Sheila that all would be fine and that we would take care of it. Sheila was sure that she was doomed and that she would not be able to get on our flight to Nice later in the week. Even worse, Sheila was certain that without her passport she would not be able return home to the United States.
Contact The Nearest U.S. Embassy If Your Passport Is Lost Or Stolen While Travelling.
Resolving the problem turned out to be much easier than we anticipated. I called the U.S. Embassy in Paris. The recorded message advised that if your passport is lost or stolen, report to consulate at 9:00 a.m. and complete an application for a replacement online before visiting the Embassy. By the time that I phoned the consulate, it was past 9:00 a.m. In addition, we were unsuccessful in our efforts to complete the online application for a replacement passport. I knew that Sheila would not be able to get through the day unless we found a resolution to this problem. I, therefore, declared that we were going to the U.S. Consulate to figure this out.
Most U.S. Embassies Are Not Open On Weekends and Holidays.
While travelling outside of the United States you can replace your lost or stolen passport at a U.S. Embassy with proper documentation. Most U.S. embassies and consulates cannot issue passports on weekends or holidays when the embassy/consulate is closed. However, all U.S. embassies and consulates have after-hours duty officers available to help with life or death emergencies of U.S. citizens abroad. You may contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate after-hours duty officer for aid if you have an emergency need to travel or have been the victim of a serious crime.
Luckily, it was a weekday when we realized the passport was lost. When we arrived at the U.S. Embassy we were greeted by armed guards, asked a serious of questions, and required to go through metal detectors. There were four in our party, but only one person was permitted to go with Sheila inside. We were not allowed to bring our cellphones inside the embassy. We were required to leave them with security. This somewhat intimidating reception did nothing to calm Sheila’s nerves. Once inside, things got a little easier.
A Quick Trip to the U.S. Embassy in Paris, and We Had a Replacement Passport!
When we entered the embassy building, the waiting area appeared almost empty. A young man, Gabriel, at a desk asked how he could help. I reported that Sheila lost her passport and needed a replacement. From there, Gabriel whisked us through the process. Gabriel led us to a row of desktop computers and told us to complete the application for a replacement passport. Like me, Sheila carried a copy of her passport with her, which made it easier to complete the online application. Sheila also had her driver’s license.
After we completed the passport replacement application, Gabriel led us to a photo booth, where Sheila eventually was able to take a passport size photo of herself. At that point, Sheila’s nerves were completely frayed. It inexplicably took several attempts before she was actually able to take the photos. Gabriel came by at least three times and urged us to hurry up so that we could get to the interview portion before the lunch break. I stood outside of the curtain on the booth attempting to patiently encourage Sheila to take the photo quickly without upsetting her even more.
You Need a Passport Size Photo, I.D. and Proof of Citizenship to Get a Replacement Passport.
After Sheila finally succeeded in taking the photo, Gabriel led us to a large adjoining waiting area where there were only two other patrons waiting and several attendants behind bank teller-style counters protected by glass. It wasn’t long before Sheila was called to the counter for her “interview.” At the conclusion of her two-minute interview, the interviewer instructed Sheila to take a seat in the waiting room and told her that she would be called back up when her replacement passport was ready. The relief on Sheila’s face was palpable. Sheila, who is not usually the chatty type, then sat down next to the two gentlemen waiting and struck up a lively conversation.
In less than an hour from the time we entered, we left the U.S. Embassy in Paris with Sheila’s replacement passport in hand. It was then that Sheila swore me to secrecy and made me promise that I would not tell anyone at home, especially her husband, about the lost passport!
How Do I Prepared for A Lost Passport Before Travel?
- Identify the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate to your destination and bring the address and telephone number with you. You can locate the embassy on the official U.S. Embassy web site.
- Bring a photocopy of your passport, along with your real passport, when you travel and keep them in separate locations during the time that you travel. You will need proof of U.S. citizenship if you need to get a replacement.
- Bring a driver’s license with you in addition to your passport.
- Bring a passport size photo (2 x 2 inches) taken in the past six months.
What Should I Do If My Passport Is Lost or Stolen While Travelling?
- Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for help. Ask to speak to the Consular Section to report your passport lost or stolen.
- If you are scheduled to leave the foreign country shortly, you must give the consular staff with the details of your travel.
- You will also be directed to where you can get a photo for your replacement passport. In most cases, you will need to get a passport photo before your arrival at the consular section.
What Do I Need to Get Replacement Passport?
- A Passport Photo (one photo is required; if you get it in advance to speed the process of replacing your passport).
- Identification (driver’s license, expired passport, photocopy of your passport, etc.).
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, photocopy of your missing passport).
- Travel Itinerary (airline/train tickets).
- Application for Passport (Form DS-11 )(may be completed at time of application or in advance online).
- Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport (Form DS-64) (may be completed at time of application)
- Money or credit card to pay the passport replacement fee.
You can find additional information on the U.S. Department of State web site.
With Preparation Before You Travel, You will Survive the Loss of You Passport!
Undoubtedly, the loss of a passport while traveling is extremely stressful. Preparation before you travel and ensuring that you bring a copy of your passport and additional identification with you will help expedite getting a replacement. We were surprised by how smoothly the replacement process went. We are extremely grateful to all of the employees at the U.S. Embassy, who conducted themselves efficiently and with the utmost professionalism and compassion. As corny as it sounds, we left the embassy proud of our country!
