Page 32 - Go55s summer web

Cruise & Travel

What To Do If You Lose Your Passport When Travelling

light delays, lost baggage, missing family member, or you may be able to
hotel bookings – of all the things arrange for them to take them to the
Fthat could go wrong on holidays Passport Office in Australia who will make
losing your passport is one of the most signed copies to fax to your Australian
annoying. You can’t get into or out of mission. The mission will be able to
foreign countries without it. So if you’re provide you advice on exactly what is
in the unenviable situation of having your needed, and what can be arranged.
passport lost, stolen or damaged this
article will help! We’ll walk you through Things to do before you leave
everything you need to know to get it Choice Australia suggest the following
replaced. Knowing what to do if you lose measures to cut down on processing time
your passport could be the difference should you find yourself needing a new
between a memorable holiday, or a passport.
disaster. • Record your passport number
If you’re planning to go overseas and
are still in possession of your passport somewhere safe; you’ll need it to report
it missing.
– keep reading! This information might
help you prepare so that if you ever lose • Travel with alternative identification,
for example, your driver’s licence and a
your passport, you’ll have everything you
need at hand to make the process a little credit card.
easier. long the process can take). Emergency so it’s safe to factor in at least a few days • Make sure someone at home has
access to your birth certificate or proof of
passports are only valid for short periods delivery time, or more depending on
Reporting a missing passport of time and have some restrictions. where you are. citizenship.
If you lose your passport, you are Read all the information on emergency • Pack extra passport photos that are
required by law to report the loss or theft passports from DFAT before making If you are eligible for an emergency current and signed by a guarantor.
of your passport as soon as possible. further travel arrangements. passport, in most cases this will be
Why? Because your passport is one of produced at the diplomatic or consular More information
the single most important documents The application process mission near you, which will speed up • Department of Foreign Affairs and
you possess. Your passport could be used Once you have reported your passport the process. Processing times depend on Trade – passports explained.
for criminal activities, including identity as missing or stolen and have completed your location, the mission you are dealing • Australian diplomatic or consular
theft. If you’re overseas, you can report the form to apply for a new passport, with will be able to give you more advice. missions.
your missing or stolen passport report you will most likely need to attend an • Choice Australia – general advice on
your passport lost or stolen online or interview at the nearest Australian Producing documents lost or stolen passports.
in person with your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission. If you’re overseas, you probably • Smart traveller – general travel advice.
diplomatic or consular mission. You will also need to: don’t have original proof of identity and • org – if you’re the victim of identity
If you lose your passport and you’re • Provide two colour photographs citizenship documents, like your birth crime.
travelling in Australia, call the Australian to Australian passport standards (one certificate, on hand. You can have these Links to the above sites can be found
Passport Information Service on 131 232. photo must be signed on the reverse by a documents mailed to you by a friend or on our website www.go55s.com.au
As soon as you have made the report your guarantor)
passport will be permanently cancelled, if • Produce original documents to prove
you find it again later, it will be unlawful your citizenship and identity (see below
for you to use it. for more information on providing
documents)
Getting a replacement passport • Pay the fee
To arrange a replacement passport For more information on the process
you need to apply for a new passport see the Department of Foreign Affairs
either online or at the nearest Australian and Trade’s (DFAT) guide to lodging an
diplomatic or consular mission. When application.
you are completing the form, you are not
renewing a current passport but applying How long will it take to get a
for a new one. replacement
In most cases, your passport will be DFAT advise that the standard
produced in Australia and couriered to turnaround time for producing a new
the nearest mission for you to collect. passport in Australia is three weeks.
If you need to travel before a However, a priority processing service is
replacement can be arranged, you may available and can produce a passport in
be eligible for an emergency passport just two working days. Once the passport
(see below for more information on how is ready it needs to be couriered to you,

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32 Summer 2017 | The Go55s Newspaper