What to do When You Lose Your Passport (in China)

I am aware that this post will be valuable to about 0% of my current readers, but whenever I face particularly troublesome issues (i.e. losing my passport in a foreign country!), I feel that it’s only right to write about it in case some day, in the future, another laowai finds himself or herself in the same position that I was in – with a lost or stolen passport – in China. (And because much to my consternation, when I lost mine, a Google search didn’t turn up much information.)

1. Turn your home upside down: Getting a new passport made isn’t too difficult, but it also isn’t easy or free. And if you’re in China, or any other country with strict visa requirements, you’re going to have to come up with a lot of paperwork. I also imagine the State Department doesn’t look too fondly on people who file repeated reports of missing passports. So before you report it gone, be absolutely sure that it’s gone. Plus, you don’t want to lose documentation of all the places you’ve been!

2. Cry. Or, if you don’t cry, punch something. Because being in a foreign country without a passport really sucks and is kind of scary. It feels like you’re identity-less. But keep it to a maximum of two minutes, and then gather yourself together and get started on getting a new one ASAP, especially if you have imminent travel plans.

3. Visit the Police. At least in China, before you can apply for a new passport, you must show proof that your passport has been reported as lost or stolen. Here, that requires going to the Public Security Bureau (near Yonghegong in Beijing) and filing a simple statement attesting how the passport came to be missing. They’ll give you a stamped form that you’ll then need to take to the consulate. It’s also probably a good idea to report it stolen regardless of where you are so that should it turn up or if someone attempts to use it, the police will have record of it being missing.

4. Fill out the Forms. Before rushing to the nearest embassy/consulate in tears, do your legwork. You’ll need to fill out two forms, the DS-11 (passport application) and the DS-64 (report of lost/stolen passport), and you’ll need two 2×2 passport-sized photos. Both forms can be found at the DOS website’s passport terminal.

5. Go to the Nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once you fill out your forms, head to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. A full list of U.S. consulates can be found here. (But be sure to read the specifics of the consulate in your area. For example, the U.S. embassy in Beijing is only open in the morning on Wednesdays, and you must make an appointment online in order to be seen.) If you have any alternate forms of identification, take them with you (birth certificate, student ID, social security card, driver’s license, etc.). Technically, you’re required to have one proof of identity (photo ID) and one proof of U.S. citizenship. But if, like me, your whole wallet was stolen, don’t fret. You’ll simply have to undergo a (brief, in my case) interview with a consular officer to answer some questions about your background and identity. If you have a copy of your missing passport, be sure to take that. Note: A new passport will cost you $135, which must be paid upon application at the consulate.

6. Wait. Typically, a new passport should be issued to you within 7-10 days. I dropped off my application on a Tuesday, and it was ready for me the next Monday. If you’ve lost your passport but have immediate, upcoming travel plans, take proof of your travel dates with you when you go to apply for the new passport. The U.S. consulate should be able to issue you documents to ensure you can still travel freely.

7. Get Your Visa Replaced. Once you pick up your new passport, your first priority (besides better securing it!) is having your visa replaced or re-issued, as it is illegal to be in many countries without a valid visa, and you must have one to exit the country. Check the requirements for the country in which you are stationed. In China, you will need to visit the Public Security Bureau and go through all the motions of getting a visa extended: You’ll need:

• one 2×2 passport-sized photo
• a filled-out visa renewal form with your company or sponsoring institution’s chop (red stamp) if you’re working here
• your residence or temporary registration permit (or, if you’re staying in a hotel, the check-in certificate)
• the form issued to you by the PSB stating that you reported your passport lost or stolen
• a stamped letter from your company or institution stating your business in China and the dates of your requested visa (unless you’re a tourist)
• Copies of your old visa and/or passport, if you have them

Note: You will be required to pay the full fee for a new visa ($130), even if, as in my case, you just paid $130 one week prior to renew your visa.

8. Rejoice. Pick up your passport with the new visa and celebrate. Now you can again travel freely throughout the world.

More info:

• Your new passport will be issued with a different passport number and expiration date, so if you have any outstanding visa applications, you will need to re-apply once you get your new passport.

• If you do find your passport or if it is turned in to the police but you’ve already reported it as missing to the U.S. consulate, it’s too late. Once a passport is reported lost/stolen, it is immediately invalidated by the U.S. State Department, so you’ll still need to get a new one. This is why you should be extra sure that it’s gone before reporting it! Take it to the consulate with you and they will punch holes in it to mark it visibly invalidated, but you can keep it if you want for memento’s sake.

• It will greatly help to speed up your case if you have photocopies of all your relevant documents. I had a photocopy of my passport, but now I plan to keep photocopies of my passport, my visa and my temporary residence permit stored both at home and in electronic form in my email. If you don’t have any of this information, it will help when you report your passport as missing if you at least have your passport number memorized (because then they can easilly look it up).