Everyone knows they must have a passport to get into and out of a foreign country. Learning that one has a lost and stolen passports is devastating, especially when a trip is planned and time is short. Remembering how long it took to get a passport the first time, one often does not know what to do.

The emergency passport can be obtained anywhere from twenty-four hours to eight business days. The prices are higher than the regular passport since the request is put at the front of the line, so to speak. If one wants a twenty-four hour passport the cost is $299 (compared to $100 for a regular passport).

A person needs to go on the Internet and follow the instructions. After filling out the form, they need to contact a passport specialist, by phone, who will guide them on the next steps to take. A person is able to indicate how quickly they need to have the passport in hand and a fast service will see that they have it by that date.

One must be able to show proof of US Citizenship with a birth certificate and proof of identity. If the trip is already planned, one will be asked to identify the country to visit, why and the date of travel. The usual sex, age, place of birth and social security number are required.

There is nothing worse than being in a foreign country and losing one’s passport. Unfamiliar with the surroundings, there is a feeling of helplessness. Fortunately, the government has foreseen this possibility and advises anyone who has this happen contact the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate for assistance. At that time, they need to show proof of citizenship with such things as driver’s license, social security card or other identification.

In addition to the government passport office, there are several private passport expediting companies available on the Internet. They have a person fill out the same form the government has and then go through the steps required to obtain it. For people who have difficulty with the language, this might be the way to go.

A person’s passport is a very valuable document and one does not want it to fall into the wrong hands. There are certain precautions that should be taken so, if it does happen, one has some proof of the original. One way to do this is to make two copies and leave one with a relative. That way, if something goes wrong the copy can be shown and things will move much more quickly.

When in a foreign country it is easy to become distracted with the many different sights. This is what thieves look for. If you do not wish to have a replacing lost passports, caution says one should never lay their passport application forms down anywhere and should not carry it in a purse or backpack. If one feels they must carry it, then it should be in a money belt or an inside pocket. It needs to be out of sight at all times to avoid having a lost passport.