Lost Passport guide
Lost Passport in China: Police, Embassy and Exit Steps
Recover from a lost or stolen passport in China by documenting the loss, contacting your embassy, and repairing the Chinese visa or exit record.
Replacement and exit procedures depend on nationality, document type, Chinese stay status, location, and onward route. Follow the current instructions of the competent embassy, Chinese exit-entry authority, and carrier.
Quick answer
Report the loss, obtain Chinese proof, replace the travel document through your embassy, then repair the Chinese visa or exit permission before traveling.
Use this practical sequence to prepare, act, and recover if the normal plan does not work:
- Move to a safe place, search the immediate location, and lock or monitor any wallet, phone, or cards lost with the passport.
- Collect a passport copy or number, visa copy, entry details, police-event details, photos, and the itinerary if available.
- Go promptly to the local police or public security exit-entry authority and obtain the passport-loss report or certificate required locally.
- Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for nationality-specific replacement or emergency-document instructions and appointment requirements.
Applies to foreign visitors whose passport is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed in mainland china, travelers with an imminent domestic or international trip, visitors who need to coordinate chinese documentation with an embassy-issued replacement or emergency document.
Key facts
Move to a safe place, search the immediate location, and lock or monitor any wallet, phone, or cards lost with the passport.
Ask for the competent public security exit-entry office and have hotel staff or NIA 12367 confirm the location.
Ask the embassy, Chinese exit-entry authority, airline, and onward country to confirm the complete usable route before booking.
Contact the operator with the police loss certificate and official temporary identity documents; change the trip if acceptance is not confirmed.
The traveler must restore identity and China stay or exit documentation before onward travel.
Chinese authorities issue the loss record and handle visa, stay, or exit documentation.
Step-by-step plan
- 01
Move to a safe place, search the immediate location, and lock or monitor any wallet, phone, or cards lost with the passport.
- 02
Collect a passport copy or number, visa copy, entry details, police-event details, photos, and the itinerary if available.
- 03
Go promptly to the local police or public security exit-entry authority and obtain the passport-loss report or certificate required locally.
- 04
Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for nationality-specific replacement or emergency-document instructions and appointment requirements.
- 05
Tell the embassy about imminent travel, but do not buy a fragile new itinerary until document timing is understood.
- 06
After receiving the new passport or temporary document, apply to the competent Chinese exit-entry authority for the visa, stay permit, residence permit, or exit document required for departure.
- 07
Confirm acceptance with the airline and any onward country, update bookings with the new document number, and keep every receipt and official record for insurance.
When the normal plan fails
The local police desk cannot issue the certificate I need.
Ask for the competent public security exit-entry office and have hotel staff or NIA 12367 confirm the location.
The embassy can issue only an emergency travel document.
Ask the embassy, Chinese exit-entry authority, airline, and onward country to confirm the complete usable route before booking.
A domestic train or flight is scheduled before replacement.
Contact the operator with the police loss certificate and official temporary identity documents; change the trip if acceptance is not confirmed.
The passport is found after being reported lost.
Do not use it until your embassy and the Chinese exit-entry authority confirm its status.
Practical details
Source cross-check
This guide was checked against NIA: Damaged and lost passport guidance; NIA: Entry-exit and stay document reissuance; UK Government: Getting help in China after passport loss. Chinese and foreign-government sources agree on immediate reporting and consular replacement. NIA adds the essential China-specific second stage: visa, stay, residence, or exit documentation may need reissuance after the new passport is obtained.
Offline evidence pack
Keep a passport information-page copy, visa or entry record, emergency contacts, travel insurance policy, recent passport photos, and key bookings in encrypted cloud storage plus an offline location that is separate from the passport.
Phrase cards
Police report
English
Report a lost or stolen passport to police.
中文
我的护照丢失或被盗了，我需要报案并办理护照遗失证明。
Find exit-entry office
English
Ask where the competent exit-entry office is.
中文
请告诉我负责外国人护照遗失和签证补办的出入境管理部门在哪里。
Repair exit documents
English
Explain that a new travel document needs China exit formalities.
中文
我已经取得新的旅行证件，请帮我确认还需要补办哪种签证、停留或出境手续。
FAQ
- Can I fly home with a police report?
- Do not assume so. You normally need a replacement passport or accepted emergency document plus any Chinese exit formalities required.
- Should I cancel the passport?
- Follow your embassy's instructions; once reported or cancelled, a found passport may no longer be usable.
- Can the hotel help?
- Hotel staff can help locate offices and translate directions, but only authorities can issue the required documents.
Sources and review
- NIA: Damaged and lost passport guidanceOfficial · checked Aug 12, 2026
- NIA: Entry-exit and stay document reissuanceOfficial · checked Aug 12, 2026
- UK Government: Getting help in China after passport lossOfficial · checked Aug 12, 2026
Visible guide facts must be supported by the page sources and rechecked before the next update date.
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