Does travel insurance and assistance services cover passport issues?

By Steven Bartholow

Key Takeaways

• Our travel protection may help cover stolen passports through Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and Baggage coverage, which may help reimburse eligible trip costs, rebooking expenses, accommodations, and passport replacement fees.
• Travel protection generally does not cover passport delays, expired passports, or passports that fail to arrive in time for your trip—travelers are responsible for obtaining valid passports before departure.
• A passport lost before travel is generally not covered unless it was stolen and documented, in which case Trip Cancellation benefits may apply.
• All our plans include 24/7 Travel Assistance Services that may help locate the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and assist with rebooking travel while you wait for a replacement passport.

The prospect of your passport not being where you expect it when you need it at the airport or border crossing can disrupt your trip quickly. Replacing a missing passport often takes time and money, and you may need to adjust your plans while you wait.

 Some travel protection benefits may help with covered expenses related to that disruption. Keep reading to see how our travel protection may help if you encounter passport problems.

When you get one of our travel protection plans, we may help before and during your trip, in different ways, such as helping you get a new passport and potentially reimbursing certain covered expenses and lost trip costs. If your passport is stolen and the theft is documented, certain benefits may apply. A passport that is simply misplaced generally is not.

All our plans also come with 24/7 Travel Assistance Services, which may include assistance in locating or replacing lost or stolen items and connecting you with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the area you are visiting. Identity Theft Resolution Services are also included and may help in the event your passport is stolen, because a stolen passport contains personal information that could be used for identity fraud.

You can also explore other passport-related travel protection benefits before you travel.

What Documentation Do You Need to File a Passport Theft Claim?

If your passport is stolen, file a police report as soon as possible and keep a copy of the report. Our article What to Do if Your Luggage is Stolen on Vacation explains why written documentation matters when property is stolen.

Save receipts for lodging, meals, local transportation, and rebooking expenses related to the delay. Keep a copy of your passport, if available, and your travel itinerary. Those documents may support both your claim and the passport replacement process through the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The questions below address the most common passport-related coverage scenarios.

No, our plans generally do not offer benefits for passport processing delays. It’s up to travelers to make sure they have a valid passport in advance of their departure date.

Passport confiscation or detention by authorities is also generally not covered. If you decide to cancel for a reason that isn’t otherwise covered, the Trip Cancellation for Any Reason add-on coverage is an option on our Premium Plan if plan requirements are met.

Check the current U.S. Department of State passport processing times, and review expedited or urgent travel options if you’re concerned about timing.

Video: How to Avoid Pickpockets on Vacation

No, travel protection won’t help in that situation.

It’s your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your trip and to meet any destination-specific passport validity requirements. Renew it well in advance if you have to.

Before you travel, check your destination’s entry rules and renew your passport early if your travel dates are approaching.

Yes, travel insurance for lost passport situations may help in a few ways. The details depend on when the passport goes missing and whether it was lost, stolen, or damaged.

No, not if the passport is simply lost or misplaced.

If you lose your passport before you leave on your trip, it’s up to you to arrange for a new one and pay any fees that go along with that. Travel protection plans generally are not part of that picture.

We suggest you keep your passport in a secure place, remember where that secure place is, and make photocopies or digital backups of key travel docs to aid in replacing them.

But, if the passport was stolen and the theft was documented with a police report, you may be covered and reimbursed for your insured trip costs, including certain prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, if you need to cancel your trip as a result. You also may be able to work with our 24/7 Travel Assistance team to help rebook your trip, and eligible rebooking fees may be covered by your plan.

Also read: Traveling With Kids? Don't Forget the Documents

Yes, travel protection for lost passport situations may help in numerous ways, including helping you get a passport replacement. See How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Passport on a Trip for step-by-step guidance.

If your passport is lost or stolen, Travel Delay coverage may reimburse you for reasonable expenses during the delay on your trip, like accommodations and food.

Baggage coverage, also referred to as baggage and personal effects coverage, may even cover fees related to getting a new passport if the old one is lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip.

With Trip Interruption coverage, which is similar to Trip Cancellation coverage, if your passport is stolen during your trip you may be reimbursed for expenses associated with rescheduling your travel while waiting for your passport replacement.

Coverage may depend on reasonable care requirements, so leaving a passport unattended may affect eligibility.

If you’re traveling and you lose a passport, call the 24/7 Travel Assistance line and tell them you’ve lost your passport.

1. File a police report as soon as you discover the loss or theft.

2. Call the 24/7 Travel Assistance line for help locating the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and understanding your next steps.

3. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to start the replacement process.

4. Keep receipts for meals, lodging, transportation, and rebooking expenses related to the delay.

Our assistance team may help connect you with the nearest embassy or consulate, where you can start the process to get a replacement. They may also give you suggestions about what to do and may help answer your questions along the way. If you need to rebook travel arrangements, they may advise you what to do about your travel itinerary while you’re waiting for a replacement and help with the rebooking.

Also read: How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Passport on a Trip

Here are three ways to prepare in case your passport is lost or stolen:

• Keep multiple copies of your passport and travel documents in multiple locations. If you ever have to apply for an emergency replacement passport, a copy of your passport may speed up the process. Keep the physical passport secure while you travel, and review our tips on how to avoid pickpockets on vacation.

• Keep a copy back home. Assuming family is back home and able to access it, they may be able to send you an electronic (scanned) copy of your passport should yours be lost or stolen.

• Record your passport number and expiration date separately from the physical passport so you can report the loss faster and support the replacement and claims process.

Travel protection is an essential investment that helps cover certain unforeseen events. As a responsible traveler, it's crucial you understand the details of your travel protection plan and take steps to safeguard your passport and travel documents.

While we may not help you solve every passport-related problem, our travel protection may help with covered disruptions that affect your trip.

Before you travel, it helps to know which passport issues may be covered and which remain your responsibility. Get a travel protection quote and compare plans.

Passport FAQ

Does travel insurance cover a stolen passport?

It may. If your passport is stolen before your trip and the theft is documented, Trip Cancellation benefits may apply. If it’s stolen during your trip, Travel Delay, Baggage coverage, or Trip Interruption benefits may apply, depending on the circumstances and your plan.

What documents do I need to file a travel insurance claim for a stolen passport?

You’ll generally want a police report, a copy of your passport if available, your travel itinerary, and receipts for meals, lodging, transportation, and rebooking expenses related to the delay.

Will travel insurance cover me if my passport expires during my trip?

Travel protection generally does not cover that situation. You’re responsible for meeting passport validity requirements before you travel.

Can I cancel my trip if my passport doesn’t arrive in time and get reimbursed?

Typical travel protection plans generally do not cover passport processing delays or a passport that doesn’t arrive in time. On eligible plans, Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) may be available if plan requirements are met.

What should I do immediately if my passport is stolen while traveling?

File a police report, call the 24/7 Travel Assistance line, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and keep receipts for any delay-related expenses.

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