Lost your passport abroad? Then the order of steps matters most: first the police where you are, then the responsible German embassy or consulate. This guide covers the emergency case and separates it from the normal application for a passport in Germany. The details on documents and validity come from official service descriptions.
Short answer: If you lose your passport abroad, report the loss to the local police first and then contact the German diplomatic mission. There you can usually obtain a travel document (Reiseausweis) valid for the direct return to Germany for up to one month, or a provisional passport (vorläufiger Reisepass) for onward travel, valid for up to one year. Last updated: November 2026. Sources: official service description (retrieved June 2025) and Federal Foreign Office (page dated 12 September 2024).
The most important points at a glance
- A police certificate confirming the loss or theft (Verlust- oder Diebstahlanzeige) is one of the required documents. Without it, the application is incomplete.
- The responsible authority is the German diplomatic mission in the country you are in, which means an embassy, a consulate general or a consulate. According to the Federal Foreign Office, honorary consuls issue such documents only in individual cases; the embassy or consulate general is the reliable route.
- If Germany has no mission in that country, the mission of another EU member state is responsible.
- The travel document only covers the direct return. For onward travel you need the provisional passport.
- Fees depend on the document and on the mission. Ask in advance for the exact amount and the accepted payment method.
What to do in the first hours
The sequence determines how long the procedure takes. The first step is the loss report at the police station, because the mission cannot take up the application in full without the police certificate. Loss and theft both lead to the same report, so you do not need to establish exactly what happened before you go to the police.
Next, identify the responsible mission. The website of the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) leads to the locally responsible German mission, where you will also find opening hours and information on appointments. If you still have a copy of your passport, keep it separately or access it digitally, because it can serve as proof of identity.
Which documents do you need to bring?
The list is short, but every item must be in order. According to the official service description, all required documents must be presented:
- The police certificate confirming the loss or theft
- A fully completed application form
- A current biometric passport photo in the format 45 x 35 mm. Ask the mission in advance how many photos it requires.
- Proof of identity and nationality, for example an identity card or a copy of the lost passport
Depending on the case, further documents may be needed. It is therefore worth asking the mission before you attend your appointment. The mission decides in each individual case whether a document is sufficient.
Travel document or provisional passport: which one fits your trip?
Which document you receive depends on where you travel next. Validity is the point people most often overlook, so the table places it next to the purpose of each document.
| Document | Valid for | Validity | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel document as passport replacement (Reiseausweis) | Only the direct return to Germany | At most 1 month | Usually issued within a few hours |
| Provisional passport (vorläufiger Reisepass) | Onward travel | Up to 1 year | Requires prior authorisation by the passport office at your place of residence; duration varies by case |
If you return directly to Germany, the travel document is enough. If you want to travel on to another country first, you need the provisional passport. Whether you may travel onward at all depends on your destination, not only on the document.
What does the replacement document cost?
The replacement document carries a fee, and the amount depends on the document and on the mission. According to an administrative source, missions accept fees only in the local currency, and advance payment is provided for. Outside regular opening hours, the fees are higher. The exact amount is published on the website of the respective mission, so check it before you go.
Paying the fee: plan cash in local currency
Because the fee has to be paid in local currency, bring cash in that currency to your appointment. If you travel alone, you may have little access to home accounts in an emergency. A small amount in local currency, stored separately from your wallet, is therefore a sensible precaution.
Onward travel, visas and exit requirements
Onward travel is often the part that takes the most time. Some countries require an exit visa for leaving. This can delay your trip even when the replacement document is already in hand. Clarify with the mission whether your destination requires such a visa before you rebook a flight or plan a connection.
How to prepare before you travel
You cannot rule out losing your passport, but you can prepare for it. Keep a copy of your passport data separately from the passport itself, both digitally and offline. Also note the telephone number of the nearest German mission in your destination country. A look at your departure checklist helps before you set off, for example with the Work and Travel checklist (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police certificate for the replacement document?
Yes. The certificate of the loss or theft report is among the mandatory documents. If the country requires an entry stamp when you leave, at least one police loss report must be presented.
Can I travel onward with the travel document?
The travel document is intended for the direct return to Germany. It is valid for the duration of the journey, but for at most one month. For any further trip you need the provisional passport.
How quickly do I get a replacement document?
According to the official service description, the travel document is usually issued within a few hours. For the provisional passport, the authorisation of the passport office at your place of residence is needed as well, and its duration varies from case to case. Plan a buffer if you have a fixed departure.
Is a copy of my passport enough as proof of identity?
A copy of the lost passport is one of the proofs named in the service description, as is an identity card. If you have neither, contact the mission directly. It will decide the procedure in your case, and there is no guarantee of a specific outcome.
Does the same procedure apply if my passport was stolen?
Yes. The basis in both cases is the loss or theft report to the police. The procedure at the mission is identical, so keep the police certificate safe, because without it the application cannot be completed.
Do I have to apply for a new passport in Germany afterwards?
The travel document is a temporary solution. How the application works in Germany is explained in the guide on applying for a passport (in German), which covers the normal case.
What to do now, step by step
- Go to the police where you are and have the loss confirmed in writing.
- Identify the responsible mission and, if necessary, book an appointment.
- Prepare the application in full: form, passport photo in the format 45 x 35 mm, proof of identity and the police certificate.
- Check the document and its validity before you leave the mission, then plan onward travel.
Related guides
- Work and Travel: an overview of countries, visas and budget (in German)
- Applying for a passport: costs, duration and validity (in German)
- Medication on trips: what you may take abroad (in German)
- ETIAS: do Germans need a travel authorisation for Europe? (in German)
Sources: Official service description „Ersatzreisedokumente bei Passverlust im Ausland beantragen“ (German, retrieved June 2025); City of Frankenthal, Passdokument bei Verlust des Reisepasses im Ausland beantragen (German, no date given); Federal Foreign Office, Reisepässe und Personalausweise (page dated 12 September 2024, retrieved 2 November 2026, in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
