What happens if you lose your passport at an airport / during transit?
Once, when flying from India to the UK, I left my passport on the plane's seat-back pocket and forgot that I left it there until I reached the passport control desks. Fortunately in this case, I rushed back to the gate where the plane had parked and since the plane was being cleaned there, I was able to request the staff to fetch my passport for me from my seat.
My question is: what happens if you lose your passport during transit at an airport, or before you reach the passport control desk at your destination country? I know that in any other situation, I would be able to contact my country's embassy to get an emergency travel document (ETD). What happens in this other case - can you get an ETD at the airport, or will you be deported back to the country you flew from? And in case of a deportation, are you sent back to your home country or the origin country of your previous flight? I want to know if there are any international laws covering this scenario.
(This is all under the assumption that you have the relevant visas or travel authorisation for your destination, but they're obviously in your passport.)
Best Answer
At Schiphol airport there is a desk for emergency documents. Although it seems to be specifically for Dutch citizens, at least there is an infrastructure to deal with these circumstances. I am surprised that they even provide emergency documents if you still have to leave. So you seem to be able to even start a trip with an emergency document. Being able to proof your identity helps, so I guess having a copy of your stolen passport in dropbox, or email, could make a difference.
I am afraid that there is not a general answer to this question, but that multiple answers apply depending on your personal situation (nationality, destination, visa, working permits, etc), but I guess that most airports will have similar services like the military police at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam.
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