If your passport is lost or stolen abroad

You should report the loss or theft of your UK passport to the local police and get a police report as soon as possible.

You must then inform the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission and apply for a replacement passport. To do this, you need to:

• complete the lost or theft of the passport notification form LS01
• complete the correct passport application form and provide the required documents, including 2 identical passport photographs that meet the required standards
  
• take both forms, along with the police report, to our local offices.

Remember that you will need to pay the correct fee for your passport. There may also be a call out fee for issuing a temporary or emergency passport outside of office hours.

Download form LS01
Read rules for passport photos and download the IPS Guide to taking a good photo for your passport Please note that when you are making an applications for a British passport overseas, the background of the passport photograph required can be white. The photographs also do not have to be printed on plain white photographic paper. This differs from IPS requirements, but otherwise the information in the link is correct.

If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, you should contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) by phoning their Passport Adviceline for guidance.

What to do if you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen

If you find a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, you must take it to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission as soon as possible.

If you are in the UK, you should take the passport to the nearest Identity and Passport Service office.

Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronically cancelled. You will not be able to use it as a proof of identity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it as a means of identification as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act.

You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the Borders and Immigration Authority at UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could face deportation or arrest.

List of British embassies, consulates and high commissions
Identity and Passport Service (IPS) UK offices

Returning the passports of deceased persons

It is important to cancel the passport of a deceased person so that it cannot be used illegally.

If you are abroad

You must return the passport with a copy of the death certificate to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission by completing the form below.

The form allows you to choose for us to send the passport back to you or dispose of it. If you do not choose an option, we will dispose of the passport.

When we receive the form, we will immediately cancel the passport.

‘What to do with a passport when the passport holder has died’ form (PDF, 55KB)

If you are in the UK

You should return the passport to the nearest passport office. There are details of passport offices in the UK on the Immigration and Passport Service website.

Assistance in Vietnam

Report any loss or theft of your passport using Form LS01. Please complete form this form in addition to the relevant passport application form provided on our How to apply page.

Process

1. Please complete the lost/stolen form, LS01 and the relevant passport application form complete with as much as detail as possible, proof of ID, if available.

Two identical photographs (45mm. high x 35 mm.) The UK Passport Agency have strict guidelines on the quality of passport photographs. Photographs which do not meet the guidelines will not be accepted. Full details can be found at the United Kingdom Passport Office Website.

The passport fee must be paid in Vietnam Dong in cash at the time of the application. Passport fees are non-refundable.

2. We will need to confirm the details of your previous passport with the issuing office. It can take up to 10 days from receipt of the application to issue a new passport.

3. If you need to return to the UK urgently, and have a confirmed seat on a flight, we may be able to issue you with an Emergency Passport. This is valid only for your return to the UK and only if you can satisfy us of your identity and British nationality. In this case, you will need to provide:

• proof of ID, if available
• 2 identical photographs
• airline ticket (or confirmation slip)
• Emergency passport fee

4. Once you have collected your replacement passport, you will need to obtain a replacement visa from the Vietnamese Immigration Department, not at the airport, at one of the following addresses:

Hanoi Immigration Department
40A Hang Bai Street
Hanoi

or

Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Department
254 Nguyen Trai
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

This process normally takes between 3-5 days, however in urgent cases when you have a confirmed airline ticket, they may issue the visa quicker. We understand that the Vietnamese authorities will charge approximatly VND465,000 for this service. You can not leave Vietnam without an exit visa.

Vietnam Immigration Department Requires:

• replacement passport
• original police report (if any)
• Embassy letter
• copies of all the above are also required.

Lost Airline Ticket

You will need to contact the airline in person. 

The airline will probably have to confirm your ticket details with the issuing office, before they can issue a new ticket.

A reissuing fee may be payable.

The counter clerk can provide addresses and phone numbers of airline offices in Vietnam.

 

Lost or Stolen Credit Card

Loss or theft of credit cards should be reported as quickly as possible to the credit card companies.

The counter clerk can provide addresses and phone numbers of the main credit card companies in the UK.

 

Lack of Funds

It is possible to arrange a transfer of funds from the UK to Vietnam quickly and easily.

The quickest method of transferring money is via Western Union (www.westernunion.com). Western Union have agents throughout the UK and the transfer can also be done over the phone. There are numerous Western Union offices all over Vietnam.

Please see the website or ask the counter clerk for further information.