Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
When traveling abroad, your passport is as important as your ID card—you must carry it with you and keep it safe. But if you do accidentally lose it, don’t panic. Just follow the steps below, and you’ll be able to return to Taiwan safely.
Stay calm if you lose your passport. (Image source / vietnamvisaonline)
1. Report to the Local Police
If you discover your passport is missing while abroad, first check with the tourist information center at the location where you lost it. If you really can’t find it, go to the local police station to file a report. Fill out the necessary details about the loss, and the police will issue you a loss report certificate.
2. Apply for an Entry Certificate
Bring the loss report certificate, a 2-inch photo, and other forms of identification to the nearest Taiwanese embassy or consulate to apply for an “Entry Certificate.” This serves as a temporary passport and allows you to check in at the airport for your flight. Once you return to Taiwan and complete immigration procedures, the National Immigration Agency will also issue an “Entry Permit.”
3. Replace Your Passport
After returning to Taiwan, bring the “Entry Permit” and any other required documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs to apply for a replacement passport.
If you wish to apply directly abroad for a new passport, you’ll still need to first report the loss to the local police and then take the loss report certificate to the Taiwanese embassy or consulate. However, applying for a new passport takes quite some time, so this is only necessary if you plan to stay abroad for an extended period. Additionally, it’s recommended that travelers make a photocopy or photo backup of their passport before leaving the country, and carry two 2-inch photos with them at all times for emergencies.