Stay calm. Act in order. Here is exactly what to do if your passport is lost or stolen while you are in New Zealand.
A lost or stolen passport in New Zealand is a serious matter but entirely manageable. The steps below are in priority order. Contact us on WhatsApp anytime - +64 2 7535 9864 - and we will help you work through each step in real time.
This page is general guidance based on standard procedures at the time of writing - not legal or immigration advice. Requirements, fees, embassy contact details, and processing times can change. Always confirm current details directly with the relevant embassy or high commission for your nationality, and with Immigration New Zealand for visa-related matters, before making decisions based on timing or procedure.
Before reporting your passport lost, do a thorough search - hotel room (including safe, under the bed, in jacket pockets), car, tour vehicle, last restaurant or attraction visited. Once you report your passport as lost to the Department of Internal Affairs, it is permanently cancelled. Even if you find it an hour later, you cannot use it for travel. There is no reversing this step.
If you genuinely cannot locate it, proceed immediately to Step 2.
A police report is required by your embassy, your travel insurance, and the passport replacement process. You need the report number - keep it safe.
Your embassy or high commission is your primary contact for a replacement passport or emergency travel document. See the embassy contacts section below for full details. You will need your police report number, proof of identity (digital copies of your passport if available, or any other government ID), and details of your travel plans.
The embassy will advise whether to apply for a replacement passport (takes several working days) or an Emergency Certificate / Emergency Travel Document for urgent travel.
Call your travel insurance provider as soon as possible and open a claim. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover passport replacement costs, emergency accommodation if your departure is delayed, and additional travel costs resulting from the loss. Have your police report number ready when you call.
- While waiting for your embassy appointment or response, gather everything you have to support your replacement application:
Pro tip: Before any trip, photograph your passport (all pages), visa, and travel insurance card and email them to yourself or store them in cloud storage. In an emergency, these digital copies are invaluable.
If your departure is within the next few days and a full replacement passport cannot be processed in time, your embassy may issue an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or Emergency Certificate. These are temporary travel documents that allow you to return to your country of residence.
Your New Zealand visa is linked to your old passport. A replacement passport is a different document and does not automatically carry your visa. Depending on your nationality and visa type:
Contact your own country's embassy or high commission immediately. The contacts below are the most commonly needed for our guests. Always verify current contact details on your embassy's official website before travelling.
The best time to prepare for a lost passport is before you leave home. These steps take 10 minutes and can save days of stress.
Photograph your passport (photo page, visa pages, and all stamps), travel insurance card, return flight details, and hotel bookings. Email them to yourself and store them in Google Drive or iCloud so you can access them anywhere without your phone or luggage.
Keep a printed copy of your passport photo page separate from your actual passport - in your suitcase, not your day bag. If your passport is stolen from your day bag, the copy in your luggage becomes your proof of identity for the police report and embassy visit.
Most NZ hotels have in-room safes. Use them for your passport when you are not actively travelling between properties. You rarely need your actual passport once you are checked in - your phone and a driving licence or Aadhaar card are sufficient for most activities.
Register your trip at safetravel.govt.nz before departure - the NZ government's travel advisory and emergency notification system. Save the KGT WhatsApp number (+64 2 7535 9864) in your phone before you leave home so you can reach us instantly in any situation.
Ensure your policy covers passport loss and replacement costs, emergency accommodation if your departure is delayed, and additional transport costs resulting from the delay. Read the exclusions before you buy - not after something happens.
Write your passport number, date of issue, date of expiry, and issuing authority in a note on your phone (not just in the photo - in a searchable text note). Police, embassies, and airlines can process faster when you can quote these details instantly.
If you are a Kiwi Grand Tours client and your passport is lost or stolen while on programme with us, contact us immediately on WhatsApp. We will help you reach the right authorities, arrange transport to the nearest police station or embassy, and adjust your programme while the situation is resolved. This is exactly what having a local ground partner is for.
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