If your passport is lost or stolen it can be used for fraudulent purposes and if it happens while you are traveling you can have problems getting to your destination and getting home again, so it is important to keep your passport safe when you are away from home.

Here are a few tips for keeping your passport safe.

Take a picture of your passport with your phone so that you have an electronic copy as a backup, a picture is sometimes accepted when you need to show your passport and if it is lost or stolen the copy can make it easier to get a replacement. Make several physical copies of your passport as well. Leave one copy at home and keep one with you.

Never carry your passport or any other secure document in your back pocket. The pocket is open so anything you put there can easily fall out or be taken by a thief.

Similarly, don’t carry it in a purse that is easy to grab, if you do carry it in a purse use an over the shoulder bag with a zipper, or purchase an antitheft bag designed to keep your items secure. Never leave your purse unattended or hang it over a chair or leave it in the shopping cart basket.

Never put your passport in your checked luggage, it should be with you at all times.

Never leave your passport unattended in your hotel room.

Never hand over your passport to anyone, show it when you must to the proper authorities but keep it in your possession.

Consider purchasing a waterproof travel wallet or passport cover with RFID Shield technology.

Frequently confirm that your passport is still in your possession. The sooner you realize it’s gone, the easier it is to retrace your steps and possibly recover it.

Never leave your passport in a vehicle, even if it is locked.

Always be aware of your surroundings when traveling, often people let their guard down when traveling and fail to pay attention to what is going on around them. Never display your passport in public, take it out only when you need to present it to authorities.

Keep it protected against damage and secure it in a waterproof cover. Moisture and water damage can ruin a passport. There are countries that will only accept passports that are in pristine condition so a damaged page or some other flaw could pose a problem, be careful not to bend or tear it.

What Should You Do if Your Passport is Lost or Stolen

If you believe it was lost, retrace your steps between the time you last remember having it until you realized it was missing.

File a police report with the local police department where you are staying, get a copy of the police report and any other information they provide you with. Get the name of the officer you meet with.

Call the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate. They can guide you on the steps you need to take to report it missing and get a replacement. Having a digital and physical copy of your passport will help in this situation.

Once your passport is missing you are at risk for identity theft. If you have not already placed a security freeze on your credit reports do so immediately. Notify your bank and other financial institutions of the loss.

Change the passwords on any sensitive accounts.

Monitor your credit reports, bank statements, credit card statements and other accounts for any signs of fraudulent activity.

Setup fraud and other alerts on all financial accounts.

If you purchased travel insurance contact the company. If you are delayed abroad, you may be covered for expenses related to your lost or stolen passport.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/lost-stolen.html