What to do if you lost your documents while traveling abroad

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You will have to get a certificate to enter Russia, and restore the rest of the documents at home.

Where to go before returning

While you are in a foreign country, the main problem for you is the loss of your passport. Without an identity document abroad, you cannot go back. In order not to remain illegal in a foreign land, you need to contact several services.

1. Lost and Found

If the backpack with the documents was not torn out of your hands, you just left it somewhere and did not find it on the spot, there is a chance that the bag was given to the Lost and found department of the airport, or to the bus driver, or to the waiter of the cafe. Accordingly, you should contact the same place to find out if the loss was found.

If bank cards also disappeared, it is better to block them at this stage, because depriving you of all your money is a matter of a few minutes for the attackers.

2. Police

If the bag was not found, it is obvious that it fell into the wrong hands. In this case, go to the nearest police station and explain the problem. If you don't know the local language, and the law enforcement officers don't speak English, show your acting skills, show pantomime, draw what happened on paper, put on a puppet show - whatever you want to be understood.

Your goal is to file a theft report and get a document that proves it.

According to the recommendations of the General Recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a document from the police is not mandatory for issuing a certificate of return to the Russian Federation. But its presence will facilitate understanding at the consulate.

If the confirmation of the application is in your pocket, there is one more thing. Thieves can appropriate everything of value and throw out the documents. Respectable citizens in this case often bring the found papers to the police. So ask what number and how often you should call to find out if the missing item has been found.

3. Diplomatic representation

With a police certificate, go to the consulate of the Russian Federation. Bring two photographs with you that are 35x45mm or 30x40mm.

The main task is to verify your identity.

If you have an internal passport with you, there will be no problems. If he also disappeared, you will have to find two Russian citizens over 18 years old and with passports in hand, which will confirm in writing that you are who you say you are. If you are traveling alone, try looking for compatriots in groups on social networks and on forums. In extreme cases, consular staff, who are also citizens of the Russian Federation, can come to the rescue.

Any documents with photographs and stamps will come in handy. However, the consular staff will need additional time to check them. Copies of internal and foreign passports will also not be superfluous.

As a result, the diplomatic mission will give you a certificate of entry into the Russian Federation, according to which you can return to your homeland.

With the certificate, you must enter the Russian Federation within 15 days. Then you will have three days to submit it to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

4. Airline

At the front desk, you will be waiting for you with your passport. Therefore, contact the airline in advance and explain that circumstances have changed.

It is better to arrive at the airport early, as the airline employees may have additional questions for you.

Where to go in Russia

After returning to the country, you will have to go through the quest to retrieve all the lost documents. This can be done in several ways.

1. Portal "Gosuslugi"

Select the section "Life situations", then - "Are your documents lost or stolen?", And get access to the appropriate services. Then proceed in accordance with the instructions on the site.

2. Multifunctional centers

Here you can get duplicates of SNILS, compulsory medical insurance policy, marriage and divorce certificates, internal and foreign passports. You can sign up for the MFC via the Internet.

3. Specialized departments

For passports, you will have to go to the Migration Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of your region, for SNILS - to the pension fund, for a driver's license - to the traffic police, for an OMS policy - to an insurance company.

Recover non-state documents such as a student card or work pass through the services that issued them.

How to prepare for lost documents

The main advice: keep an eye on things, this will help to avoid all problems. But there is one more thing that can be done.

• Write down the phone number of the embassy on several pieces of paper and put them in your pockets so that the number is at hand. If a backpack and jacket are stolen, the contacts of the diplomatic mission will be found, for example, in jeans.
• Make electronic copies of internal and foreign passports, give them for safekeeping to the responsible comrade, who, in the event of an emergency, will be able to send them to you via the Internet.
• Agree with your friends about financial assistance in case the money disappears with the documents. With these funds, you can take a picture and get to the consulate.