If you find yourself in the situation of having lost your passport while you're in or outside the UK, it is important to take the necessary steps to replace your missing document.
Depending on your specific circumstances, please follow the steps below and feel free to reach out to us if you encounter any difficulties or require further guidance.
If your passport is lost/stolen outside the UK
Contact your country's embassy or high commission in the country where you are now, to arrange for a replacement passport.
If your immigration permission was granted through an entry clearance or residence permit sticker (vignette) that covered the entire duration of your stay in the UK, you will be required to apply for a "Vignette Transfer." For further details, refer to the guidance provided by UKVI
If your passport is lost/stolen inside the UK
If your passport has been lost or stolen, it is important to report the incident to the police without delay. You can do this by visiting your local police station or online. You will receive a Police reference number or a crime reference number and you may also receive a Police report. Please note that if your passport is lost or damaged, you will not receive a crime reference number. For more information, please refer to the Metropolitan website or your local police website.
To obtain a replacement passport, please contact your embassy in London. If your passport was stolen, you may be required to provide your police report, so ensure that you keep a copy for reference.
What to do if you replace your lost/stolen passport inside or outside the UK
If you replace your lost or stolen passport whilst you are inside or outside the UK, it is important that you take steps to update this with UKVI. If you have created your eVisa account, you must log into your account and update your UKVI account with your new passport details so that the correct travel document is linked to your account.
Doing this will help to minimise your risk of encountering issues at the border when you are leaving or re-entering the UK. Please follow the guidance provided by UKVI to update your UKVI account with details of your new passport or travel document.
If you need more information or advice, please contact International Student Advice Service . All advice provided by the International Student Advice Service is free and confidential.