Keep these three contacts in order
- 01Last known place
Ask the venue or transport operator. Danger takes priority.
- 02Police
Report loss or theft and keep the reference provided.
- 03Your embassy
Confirm cancellation, replacement and onward travel.
- 01
The place where it went missing
If you know the last location, contact the hotel, venue, airport or transport operator. Write down when and where you last had the passport. If theft or danger is involved, prioritize police assistance.
- 02
The police
Explain whether it was lost or stolen. Ask which report is appropriate and keep any reference or document you receive. Your embassy can tell you what evidence it needs.
- 03
Your own embassy or consulate
Contact the embassy or consulate for your nationality. Ask about cancellation, a replacement passport or an emergency travel document, appointments and any conditions for onward travel.
Gather what you can
- A passport copy or photo, if you already have one.
- Another identity document and your nationality details.
- Your police report or reference, if issued.
- Your accommodation contact and flight itinerary.
- Passport photos only in the format requested by your embassy.
These are useful items to have ready, not a universal application checklist. Document rules, fees and timelines differ by country and situation.
Flying soon, or unable to reach the embassy?
Follow your embassy or consulate’s published emergency contact instructions. Tell them your departure time and any transit countries. Ask the airline which travel document it can accept and whether a booking change is needed. Ask the embassy whether you must also contact Japanese immigration about your departure or status.
For help finding the right local contact, the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline is 050-3816-2787 within Japan. It is not a passport-issuing authority. Do not assume a document can be issued before your flight.
Keep a record, and avoid these shortcuts
Keep copies of reports, receipts and correspondence for your insurer if a claim applies. Ask the insurer which evidence it requires. Do not post identity documents publicly or pay an unofficial “urgent replacement” service.
If a cancelled passport turns up, ask the issuing authority what to do. A photograph or police report alone should not be treated as permission to board an international flight.
Explain that your passport is missingOpen a Japanese phrase card Find my embassy or consulateSources & checks
Sources checked 16 Sept 2026. For changing details, confirm with the responsible organization.
- JNTO · Japan Visitor Hotline110 police; 119 fire/ambulance; visitor hotline number, hours and languages
- JNTO · Lost property and visitor questionsContact the place of loss or the police; operator lost-property counters
- MOFA · Foreign missions in JapanDirectory of foreign embassies and consulates · Use the mission for your nationality. Japanese passport procedures do not apply to every visitor.
- British Embassy Tokyo · Emergency documentsExample of a nationality-specific replacement or emergency-document process · Applies to eligible British nationals, not all visitors. No issue-time guarantee.
Review interval: 30 days. This page is not a live status feed. Check time-sensitive details with the linked authority before acting.