What should you do if your passport is lost?

A passport today is not only one of our most important travel documents, but a diminutive representation of our journeys across the world. The stamps across the pages of our passport are almost metaphorical of the marks we’ve left around the world.

Whether it’s because of how important it is for not only our international travels but for identification purposes or, because the process of getting one can sometimes get tiresome! A passport is probably one of our top five most important things we own. You know it’s one of those items you’d mention in one of those “What would be the 5 things you’ll take with you in a fire?” kind of question. However, you can also opt to get a duplicate passport.

Now, imagine if while you’re on vacation or worse, before you even depart on your flight, you happen to lose your transport! Sometimes, no matter how careful and mindful we are, these things happen. So, what do you do in such situations? Luckily, if you did secure your trip beforehand with an international travel insurance, it will have your back! In such forlorn situations, a travel insurance ensures you don’t lose your mind when you’ve lost your passport!

What is a Passport Loss cover?

A passport loss cover is a benefit included in Digit’s travel insurance that covers expenses of getting a temporary passport and getting a new one made in case you lose your passport while you’re on vacation. The same is covered for worldwide, no matter where you’re traveling to- as long as you’ve secured yourself with an international travel insurance of the respective country.

When does this cover come into use?

If you happen to lose your passport while you’re on a vacation, your travel insurance will cover for the expenses of getting a passport replacement from the respective Indian embassy of the country you’re visiting.

What to I do in case of lost of Passport?

If I've lost my Passport on my Trip?

Losing your passport sucks! But it’s not the end of the world. The first thing to do once you realize your passport is lost or stolen is to report it to the police and request a written police report. Once you’ve reported your missing or stolen passport, you can use the police report to get a duplicate passport or an emergency travel document from the nearest Indian consulate or embassy. All you need to do is, give us a missed call on our 24x7 Travel Assistant Helpline and we’ll call you back within 10-minutes to guide you through the process of how to obtain a temporary or emergency passport including the address of the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.

What does Digit’s Travel Insurance Cover for in case of loss of Passport on a Trip?

In addition to guiding you through the process, Digit will also pay you for the cost of replacing your lost passport. The expenses that can be claimed include:

1. The prescribed fee payable to the concerned authorities at the place of loss for issue of an emergency certificate for you to carry on with your journey and/or return to India.

2. A fixed sum of USD 50 towards any and all incidental expenses that might be incurred by you in connection with obtaining the emergency certificate. For example, we can pay you for the cab fare to the Indian embassy or consulate and back. Just make sure you keep a receipt of the cab fare.

3. The application fee payable to the concerned authorities in India to get a duplicate passport provided the entire amount is paid in Indian rupees.

Precautions to take while Traveling

There are a couple of things you can do before you travel to ease out certain situations that may arise during your trip:

Firstly, take photocopies of your passport and visa and keep it in a place separate from where you keep your passport. You can also keep a copy of the documents on your phone. But just in case your phone is also stolen or lost along with your passport, email yourself a copy of your passport and visa before you start your journey. That way, you can log in to your email account wherever you are and print out a copy of the documents.
Another thing that can come in handy, is a list of Indian consulates and embassies and their address and phone number in all the countries you will be visiting on vacation. Of course, our travel helpline is also open 24/7 to help you with the process.
Lastly, and most importantly, make sure you purchase Digit’s travel insurance well before the departure of your trip to keep you safe if something were to happen since Digit Travel Insurance not only protects you in case you lose your passport, it also protects you against a wide variety of other risks when you travel.