Surprising fact: many U.S. insurers offer 24/7 assistance to help replace a passport and connect you with an embassy — but they rarely pay for a new one.
You’re not alone if a lost passport interrupts your trip. Call your insurer’s 24/7 line first, then the U.S. State Department at 1-877-487-2778 for expedited help.
Plans and services can arrange appointments, interpreter help, and rebooking guidance. They can also explain whether trip interruption or delay benefits apply.
Remember: carriers often won’t cover the cost of a replacement passport. However, if a theft is documented before departure some plans may treat it as a covered trip-cancellation reason.
We’ll walk you through quick steps to document the case, use travel insurance help, and protect prepaid trip costs so you can get back to your travel plans with confidence.
Understand What Travel Insurance Can and Can’t Do for a Lost or Stolen Passport
Losing a passport mid-trip can trigger a chain of practical problems—here’s what your policy may actually handle. Read plan language to know limits and eligibility.
What’s typically covered
Assistance services usually connect you to the nearest U.S. embassy and help book appointments. They can also start a case with one call.
Travel delay benefits can reimburse meals, a hotel, and new transport when a lost or stolen passport causes a covered delay.
Trip interruption or reimbursement to rejoin your itinerary is common if you miss at least half of a trip due to a passport issue.
What’s typically not covered
Carriers generally do not issue, expedite, or pay for a new passport. They also cannot arrange entry to a country without proper passports.
| Situation | Often Covered | Not Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Delay abroad | Meals, hotel, transport to rejoin | Passport fees or replacement issuance |
| Theft before departure | Trip cancellation with a police report | Cancellation for simple loss or expired passports |
| Assistance needs | Embassy connection, appointment booking | Getting you into a country without an ID |
Immediate Steps If Your Passport Is Lost or Stolen
When your passport vanishes, act fast—every minute counts toward getting back on the road. First, retrace your steps at the terminal, tell the gate agent, and contact airport lost & found. If you report a U.S. passport lost to the State Department, it is canceled immediately.
Report and secure: If theft is suspected, file a local police report. That report helps with embassy processing and any claim you later open.
Contact help: Call your insurer’s 24/7 line to activate assistance services. Ask them to locate the nearest embassy consulate and to book the earliest slot for you.
Get an emergency or replacement passport
Go to the embassy or consulate with ID, photos, and any passport copy. Ask for an emergency passport if your departure is urgent—these are often valid up to one year.
For non-urgent cases, expedited processing can take about 2–5 weeks; use Priority Mail Express for faster return. Call the State Department expedited line at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY: 1-888-874-7793) if travel is within 14 days.
- Keep a running log of calls, names, and receipts.
- Request interpreter help and assistance services for wiring funds if you lose your wallet.
- Once you have a new passport, coordinate flights or transfers to rejoin your plans.
How to File a Claim When You’re Missing Documents
A clear claim file speeds decisions—start collecting proof the moment you notice your passport is gone.
Begin by opening a case with your insurer and uploading police and embassy paperwork. Those items — plus airline letters and receipts — form the backbone of a strong claim.
Proof you’ll need:
- Police report for theft and embassy notes or emergency passport receipts.
- Airline confirmation showing missed flights and timelines of each call and visit.
- All receipts for lodging, meals, rebooking, and local transport tied to the delay.
Covered expenses vs. out-of-pocket
Many plans reimburse reasonable delay-related expenses and transport to rejoin a trip. But policies often exclude the passport fee itself. If you missed at least half your trip, ask claims about trip interruption for prepaid trip costs.
Need a walkthrough? Read a practical guide on how to file a travel insurance to see required forms and tips to speed a decision.
Coverage by Situation: Before Departure, At the Airport, and While Abroad
How your plan responds depends on the moment the passport problem appears—before boarding, at the airport, or while abroad. Each situation can change what benefits apply and what proof you’ll need.
Before your flight
Stolen before departure—if you report theft and show efforts to replace the passport, many plans may treat it as a valid reason for trip cancellation. Keep police reports and correspondence with the consulate to support a claim.
Passport lost or expired at home—most policies do not allow trip cancellation for a simple loss or an expired passport. Document attempts to reschedule, but expect limited coverage.
At the airport
Notify the gate and file a report with lost & found immediately. If you must stay overnight while the document is retrieved, travel delay benefits commonly cover hotel, meals, and rebooking up to policy caps.
While abroad
If a lost stolen passport causes you to miss at least 50% of your booked trip, trip interruption benefits may reimburse unused, prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. Keep receipts for lodging, transport, and confirmed cancellations.
- Call assistance first—they can locate the nearest embassy consulate and book appointments.
- Use interpreter services for police reports and consular visits after a theft in a crowded area.
- Track expenses daily and stay within policy limits to improve reimbursement chances.
Policy Fine Print That Can Make or Break Your Claim
Small definitions in your contract can decide a major payout. Read policy wording with intent—terms like “theft” or “loss” change what counts as a covered event.
Common exclusions: negligence, expired passports, and never having a valid passport
Negligence rules often bar claims when items were left unattended or unsecured. If you left a wallet in a cafe, many plans deny the case.
Validity limits apply too—no trip cancellation if you never had a valid passport or it was expired. Expect no reimbursement for the passport fees themselves.
Deadlines and definitions: reporting windows, covered reasons, and plan limits
Insurers set reporting windows. File a police report and notify your insurer quickly or you may miss filing deadlines.
- Read definitions closely—“theft” may open coverage that “loss” does not.
- Benefit caps matter: daily meal and lodging maximums can shape your out-of-pocket costs.
- Keep time-stamped receipts and embassy notes; clear records strengthen your case.
Pro tip: call the 24/7 help line in complex situations and ask how your situation fits covered reasons before you submit receipts.
Conclusion
Quick, practical steps and the right support can turn a passport setback into a short delay.
Call assistance services and the nearest embassy or consulate, get an emergency or new passport if needed, and log police reports and receipts. That record makes claims clearer and speeds any benefits that apply for delay or trip interruption.
Budget for a replacement and focus claims on eligible costs—lodging, meals, rebooking, and transport to rejoin your trip. Compare plans before you go and get quote options so you know what protection a plan offers.
If you need help in the moment, call for travel insurance help—real agents can triage your case and keep your travel plans alive. Ready to prepare? Get a quote and pack these simple travel tips to travel with confidence.