Inform the police if you lose your passport when travelling

Inform the police if you lose your passport when travelling

The summer holiday season is at its peak, and many people are now travelling. Remember to store your passport carefully also when travelling.

If your passport gets lost or is stolen, you should report this to the police. This is important in order to prevent any misuse.

Report a missing passport to the police with an electronic police report form or by visiting a police station. Please include a comprehensive explanation of the circumstances of losing your passport in the report. If you lose your passport abroad, you can report this to the Finnish mission.
After submitting the report, you can apply for a new passport as normal.

The police will record your report and cancel the missing or stolen passport. Both a national and an international warrant will be placed on the passport. The cancellation is permanent. You will not be able to use a passport reported as missing or stolen, and its validity cannot be reactivated even if you do find it later.

Store your passport carefully

To keep your passport intact, store it carefully in a clean, dry environment also when travelling. As the holder of the passport, you are responsible for any consequences caused by careless storing or use of your passport. If your passport gets damaged during your trip, your return to Finland may be prevented and you will have to apply for a new passport through a Finnish mission.

Store your passport away from direct, continuous sunlight and rapid fluctuations of temperature and radiation. It cannot become wet or torn. A passport can also not be stored in a case made from PVC or in direct contact with any cards made from PVC. You should also avoid keeping your passport in your pocket, for example, as it can become scratched or bent.

A missing or stolen passport can lead to identity theft

Many criminal frauds are due to criminals gaining access to personal information. Stolen personal IDs are used in a small number of identity thefts.

Identity theft refers to situations where the personal data of another person or other identifying information are used for the purposes of fraud, for example. Identity thefts may harm or cause financial damage to their targets.

After stealing their victim's data, the thief can utilise this information for purposes such as ordering products in the victim's name. Sometimes, identity theft is noticed only after a long while, by the time which the theft may have resulted in significant damage.

Report a missing document (driver's licence, passport or identity card) to the police electronically on the police website.

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