When Your Passport Goes Missing

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at sschlichter@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Sarah Schlichter

As travel catastrophes go, losing your passport ranks as one of the most annoying. Who really feels like missing an afternoon of jungle hiking or museum hopping to wait in line at the nearest U.S. Embassy? But if the worst happens, it helps to be prepared.

In 35 Travel Tips Revealed: Top Secrets of Travel Writers, Melanie Nayer writes, “You should always carry a copy of your passport when you travel, but more important is keeping that copy safe. In the event your bags are lost or stolen, what are you going to do if your passport is in the bag? Keep a copy of your passport in the sole of your shoe. Most tennis shoes have removable inserts — tuck the copy of your passport under the insert and go about your merry way. You won’t lose your shoes if you’re wearing them, and if you’re robbed in a foreign city, the mugger won’t go after your tennis shoes — so you’ll still have a copy of your passport.”

Another way to ensure that you always have a copy of your passport on hand is to make a PDF copy of the document and e-mail it to yourself — that way you can access it from anywhere. It’s also a good idea to leave a copy at home with a friend or family member.

For more ways to ease the process of replacing a passport that’s gone astray, see Lost and Stolen Passports.

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