Travel Insurance for Stolen or Lost Passports
How travel insurance could help if your passport is stolen or lost while traveling.
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This content is for Australian travellers.
It's just about the ultimate travel nightmare. You reach for your passport... and it's gone! It happens a lot. Sometimes it's a deliberately targeted item, sometimes it's just something in a bag that got snatched. Either way, you need help, and quickly.
What does travel insurance cover if my passport is stolen?
After you've spoken to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to notify them that the passport's been stolen, lost or damaged, you'll probably need to make your way to the nearest consulate or embassy.
Keep your receipt for that taxi fare – you can claim it. Worst case scenario, the nearest embassy isn't in the same city as you. You can claim the cost of travelling to where you need to be to replace the passport.
If you have to cancel other bookings because you're waiting for a new passport to be issued, you can claim that too. We'll also cover the cost of a temporary replacement passport. If you need a full replacement of your passport, our cover will be based off the amount of time remaining on your original passport (e.g. you paid $480 for your passport 5 years ago. It's valid for 10 years, so we'd pay you $240).
What's not covered?
All the exclusions that apply to other pieces of luggage also apply to passports. Leaving it somewhere by accident or leaving it unattended means it won't be covered. If we don't cover the passport itself, then we won't cover the costs relating to getting a new one.
We also won't cover it without the report from DFAT or the embassy/consulate – you must report a lost or stolen passport under Australian law, so you'll want to do that anyway... not to mention that they probably won't let you leave the country without a valid passport!
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you’re careful with your planning and you read the PDS to make sure you understand what’s included and what’s not, as well as the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. If you have any questions get in touch.
How to get assistance if your passport is stolen.
It’s essential that you get in contact with our Emergency Assistance Team as soon as possible so that our teams can help you navigate local laws and advise you on how to get your replacement passport.
So that our Emergency Assistance team can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
- Your policy number
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- Your location
Passport stolen during dinner with friends.
My handbag was stolen when I was having dinner with friends. In my bag was my passport, and as I had to apply for an emergency passport, and then another visa, in order to leave China. I had to cancel the flight I had booked.
Claim Paid: $1112.22
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
- Has one of your relatives died?
- Has a bushfire damaged your home?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need medicine?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital lickety-split
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up overseas?
- Medivac needed home?
- You died overseas?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Damaged docs?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 or Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Contact the team
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Is there an excess/co-pay if I need to claim for a stolen passport?
Most policies come with an excess/co-pay. Check your policy to find out what's applicable.
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Will you pay upfront for my passport replacement?
No. You'll need to need to pay for it and then lodge a claim for your expenses.
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What assistance can your emergency assistance team provide me?
They can guide you to the nearest embassy, give you their contact information, and help you report your loss.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.