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Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad
If you are abroad and need to travel urgently, you can apply for an emergency travel document if your passport is lost or stolen. It costs £125 and is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply. Your old passport is usually cancelled once you pay.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Getting Home
Who Can Apply
An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad urgently if you cannot use your UK passport. You must be a British national outside the UK, need to travel within 6 weeks, and be unable to replace your passport in time; it can be lost, stolen, damaged, full or recently expired. You can apply online if you had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006. source
Cost and Timing
It costs £125 and is not refundable. Your old passport will usually be cancelled automatically once you pay. It is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply (longer in some cases, such as children under 16). Do not book travel until you get the email with collection details, and check it will be accepted in each country. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 2 working daysEmergency travel document readyUsually, after applying
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Report the theft to local police if it was stolen, for your insurer.
Step 2 of 5
Apply on GOV.UK for an emergency travel document.
Step 3 of 5
Wait for the collection email before booking travel.
Step 4 of 5
Claim extra costs from your travel insurer.
Step 5 of 5
Use only GOV.UK: copycat sites charge more.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
GOV.UK Emergency Travel Document
Apply here.
Your Travel Insurer
For extra costs.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Keep a photo of your passport's photo page somewhere safe online.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/emergency-travel-document Checked 13 October 2026
- gov.uk/emergency-travel-document/how-to-apply Checked 13 October 2026