What to do if…
you are abroad and cannot get a police report for a stolen document

What to do now

1. Get to a safe place first. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, contact the local emergency services in the country you are in. Use GOV.UK foreign travel advice or a trusted local official source to check the local emergency number if you are unsure.
2. Write down the essentials. Note what was stolen, when and where you last had it, any suspect details, and exactly what you are being asked for, such as “police report”, “crime report”, “incident report”, or “report number”. Take a screenshot of any message asking for it.
3. Find the correct place to report it locally. Ask your hotel, host, transport desk, tour operator, venue security, or airport or station help desk where theft reports are filed. In some places this may be a local police station, tourist police office, transport police desk, or online police reporting system.
4. Ask the police for the useful minimum. Say: “My document was stolen. I need a reference number and written confirmation for my embassy, insurer, or travel provider.” Ask for a reference number or crime number and any written confirmation they can give, such as a copy, stamped note, slip, or online filing confirmation.
5. Use a safer translator if needed. Ask hotel reception, a tour representative, employer HR, venue staff, or a trusted local contact to help translate. Keep control of your documents, and make sure you understand anything you sign.
6. If the police will not issue a report, record the attempt. Ask whether they can give any written confirmation that the incident was logged. If they cannot, write down the station name, address, date, time, and the officer’s name or badge number if available.
7. Collect alternative written proof. Ask for a written note or email from the place connected to the theft, such as hotel reception, venue security, an airline, railway, bus company, tour operator, or lost property office. Keep receipts for replacement travel, transport, phone calls, or urgent document costs.
8. If your UK passport was stolen, use the official lost or stolen passport route. GOV.UK says a lost or stolen passport must be cancelled as soon as possible. If you are applying for a UK Emergency Travel Document, follow that process because cancellation may happen as part of the application.
9. If you need to travel urgently without your UK passport, check the UK Emergency Travel Document route. Apply through the official GOV.UK process. Keep any police reference number, written confirmation, online report, or note of your attempt to report the theft ready in case you are asked for more information.
10. Contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate if you are stuck. Tell them what was stolen, what proof you have, what the police would or would not provide, and your travel deadline. Ask what is usually accepted in that location for replacement travel document steps.
11. Ask your insurer or card provider what they will accept. Tell them what the local police can and cannot provide. Ask whether they will accept a reference number, online filing confirmation, police refusal note, hotel or transport report, or embassy-related document.