What to do if you lose your British passport in France
When you realise you’ve lost your passport while travelling in France, the most important thing to do is to cancel it. You can do this online from anywhere in the world through the UK government’s website. You can find the steps on how to do this here. You can also cancel a passport on someone else’s behalf, such as a child, through this website.
If you believe your passport was stolen, you can also report it to the local police to avoid anyone using it as their ID while waiting for the HMPO to cancel it. When you do this, it’s important to ask for a written report in case you need one when claiming the cost on your travel insurance or applying for an emergency travel document.
Once both of these tasks are complete, you can then apply for a new passport. Doing so from France will send your application to the overseas application pile, so it can take up to 10 weeks to get a replacement passport – which isn’t ideal if you need to travel urgently. Alternatively, you can apply for a travel document from the UK Passport Office, or you can use ASAP Passports’ express delivery service to get your new UK passport in just two weeks.
Can I apply for a new British passport if I lose or have my passport stolen in France?
Yes, you can apply for a replacement passport from France. The UK government offers services to replace lost or stolen passports if you’re abroad, so if you need to travel urgently, you might be able to apply for an emergency travel document (ETD), which allows you to travel to a destination via a specified route.
However, if you’d prefer to get your new passport quickly to continue your travel plans as uninterrupted as possible, ASAP Passports’ express service can get your new document to you within just 14 days. Our team of experts will help you with your application to remove as much stress from the process as possible, checking your details to ensure that the risk of your application getting rejected is as low as possible.
What is the fastest way to replace a lost or stolen UK passport in France?
The quickest way to replace a lost or stolen passport in France is to use ASAP Passports’ express service. Instead of waiting and hoping for the HMPO’s process to be kind to you, we offer a much more proactive approach, which can cut wait times down by 90%. You can apply for your replacement passport yourself, but the majority of cases are much slower, with wait times of 10 weeks or even longer. ASAP Passports offer a guarantee of two weeks, so if we aren’t able to get your new passport delivered to you in that time, we’ll send your money back.
Our fast-track process for a lost British passport in France
To apply for a lost passport in France, there are a few steps that you need to follow. We’ve detailed the process below for you, showing you that there’s no easier way to do so than with ASAP Passports:
1. Report your lost or stolen passport
First and foremost, you need to cancel your passport by reporting it lost or stolen. You can either do this online or by visiting the British Embassy in France. Online is often much more convenient and doesn’t require an appointment. Once this has been completed, we can begin the process of getting your application submitted and a new passport on its way to you.
2. Get in contact with us
Contact us directly to get the process of a new passport underway as soon as possible. We’ll take the details of your case and determine the best possible way to get your new passport to you. Our team of experts will help you in any way necessary to complete your application for a new passport.
3. Send us the necessary documents
Replacing a lost or stolen passport often requires additional documentation beyond that of a simple renewal. This is because we need extra information to validate your identity before sending your application to the HMPO. To renew a passport, you’d need to send your old passport so that the HMPO could cancel it, but without this, you’ll need to validate your identity in another way.
We’ll ask for new passport photos with your application, along with another form of UK government-issued identification document and proof of citizenship. To get this to us as soon as possible, we’ll generate an express shipping label for you to use so your passport isn’t delayed due to shipping times.
4. Fast-track application
Once we’ve received your relevant documentation and we’ve verified it all, we will personally send your application to the HMPO. We’ll then continue to visit the office in person to fast-track your application, making sure it doesn’t get bogged down or forgotten in a pile of other applications. We’ll keep you in the loop with updates about the status of your passport, so you’re never kept in the dark. If you have any questions during this process, we’ll also be happy to take any calls while you wait.
5. We'll send you your passport!
Once we’ve personally picked up your new passport (no waiting for shipping couriers required!), we’ll post it to you in France using our secure network of global couriers. We’ll pair you with the company with the best arrival time, making sure your passport gets to you as quickly as humanly possible. We’ll also send you full tracking information so you can follow your passport’s journey, from the UK to your French address.
What additional supporting documentation will I need to replace a lost or stolen passport?
When replacing your lost or stolen passport, you’ll need to send some extra supporting documents to make sure your application is accepted. These might include the following:
Proof of your British nationality can be one of many things, so don’t worry if you don’t have your birth certificate to hand. It could also be a photocopy of your lost passport, which you can send digitally to us for us to print.
The proof of your travel itinerary is needed if you’re applying for an emergency travel document to use in the meantime while you wait for the new passport to arrive. This could include plane tickets or hotel invoices.
Not all French authorities will provide you with a written statement of your stolen passport, but if you have it, it’s always helpful to have to validate your claims to the HMPO and speed up the application process.
How much will it cost to replace a lost or stolen British passport in France?
The overall cost of replacing your lost or stolen passport will depend on which of the four tiered service packages we offer here at ASAP Packages. These packages all feature different prices depending on the level of support and speed you want to receive your passport. The option to choose between these four packages also gives you the ability to choose how much you want to pay for your passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still travel within France without my British passport?
You should be able to travel within France using other forms of identification if you’ve lost your passport while already in the country. You’ll be able to use another form of ID, such as a driver’s license, to travel on domestic flights within France. However, to avoid stress and disappointment, we recommend checking beforehand whether a passport is essential for your booked flight.
What happens if my visa is in my lost passport? How do I prove my legal status in France?
If you’ve lost your visa along with your passport, you’ll need to report this as lost to the Home Office. You can report a visa as missing online, but you should also report this, along with the passport, to the local police, as your travel insurance might require a report to validate your claim.
You might be worried about your legal status in France if you’re continuing to travel without a visa. However, there shouldn’t be any issues as long as you’ve set up your online account where you can access your eVisa. This is a UKVI account, and it usually takes a matter of minutes to set up, so it’s well worth doing to save yourself any stress while in France.
Will my existing UK passport be cancelled once it is reported lost or stolen?
Usually yes, but your report can sometimes take a while to reach the correct place. We highly recommend cancelling your UK passport as soon as you report it lost or stolen to ensure it’s cancelled. Do this with the Home Office online, as we can’t get started on applying for a new one until this is completed. Once this has been done, your old passport will be invalidated and no longer usable.
Do I need to report a lost or stolen British passport to the British Consulate General?
While you can do this online, it’s still best to report your lost or stolen passport to the British Consulate or Embassy in Paris so they can facilitate the process for a new one. Doing so is another way to cancel your old passport should you not have the means to get online.
If I find my passport after reporting it lost or stolen, can I use it again?
No. Once you’ve reported your passport as lost or stolen, it’ll be cancelled and therefore invalid. You won’t be able to use it for travel or as a form of ID anymore. If you find your passport again, you’ll need to destroy it and return it to the HMPO in the UK.
Can I expedite my passport replacement application?
When applying for a new UK passport from France, there isn’t an option to expedite or fast-track your application. If you need to travel urgently, it’s best to apply for an emergency travel document instead. ASAP Passports’ service can also be used to fast-track UK passports from France, letting you get your new passport in just two weeks instead of the standard wait time of 10 weeks.
