What if I Lose My Passport Abroad?

What would you do if you lost your passport in a foreign country? Today's episode is geared towards U.S. citizens and residents who might find themselves without their essential travel documents while in Mexico. From the intricacies of replacing a passport if you're a resident, to the steps needed to obtain an emergency passport for urgent travel, we've got you covered. We break down the process of making appointments at consulates, the expected timelines, and also shed light on some insider tips to make the experience as smooth as possible. Whether you're a long-term resident or a tourist facing a sudden loss, this episode is filled with practical advice you won't want to miss.

For those in immediate need of travel without a passport, we discuss alternative solutions such as the Joint Security Program and the Regional Carrier Liaison Group. These programs, set up between airlines and Customs and Border Protection, allow U.S. citizens to board flights back home even without their passports. Learn how to leverage these programs, what documents you'll need, and how to coordinate with airlines and CBP effectively. With stories and insights that emphasize the importance of being prepared, this episode provides all the essential information to handle any travel document mishap with confidence. Don't let a lost passport ruin your plans—tune in and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to stay on track.

We are incredibly thankful for engagement and stories from our listeners, who have found their own sense of 'home' across the globe. Stay tuned as we continue to share the wisdom and wanderlust of those who've charted their unique international courses. We'd love to hear your comments and questions. Email them to expatslikeus@gmail.com
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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

So if someone is visiting here or you know lives here, like we do, and you know you lose your passport or you lose your residency card I know that you guys help with that how long does it take to replace that? And again, in what way do you help with?

Speaker 2: 0:19

that Okay. Well, basically, if you live here and you lose your passport and you still have a copy of your birth certificate and you have another form of ID and you don't have any plans to travel, you can replace that by making an appointment either Cancun or in Merida, because Playa del Carmen only has emergency services we don't have routine services now or in the other consulates or any other place in Mexico. You make an appointment online and you can go and replace your passport with a full passport. That takes right now, around six weeks maybe six to eight weeks, but people are reporting it's coming back around four weeks, but they stay six to eight. But if you are here as a traveler and you're not here, you need to leave immediately, or you have an urgent need to travel, you have a medical emergency or whatever it is, we can assist you with an emergency passport. There are three options for you, basically.

Speaker 2: 1:12

So let's say Joe loses his, he lost his passport in Tulum. He goes back to the US on Wednesday. Today is Monday. Okay, it takes 24 to 48 hours. If he was able to get here today, he might get it tomorrow and he might get it on Wednesday, but if he doesn't want to take that risk or he doesn't feel like driving from Tulum. He still has a driver's license. He lives in California or he lives in Texas or somewhere over there. He could also ostensibly fly to the border and cross into the US by land. You can cross into the US by land, not even cross into the US by land, not even having any passport, any ID, nothing. The hard part would be getting a flight from here to the border if you didn't have ID. Now say Joe has, he has an ID, he decides he wants to do that. Or if he doesn't live anywhere near the border, he lives in New York, but he still has an ID.

Speaker 2: 1:59

There are programs that were put in place by the airlines and by Customs and Border Protection, CBP. They're called. They're flight liaison programs. Basically, they are designed for US citizen travelers or legal permanent residents of the United States to board a flight, a direct flight to the United States, without their US passport or their resident card, and they're called. There's two of them. One's called the Joint Security Program, and that one is based out of Mexico City, I think, and the other one is the Regional Carrier Liaison Group and that's based out of Miami, and both of these coordinate between airlines and Customs and Border Protection to allow US citizens to board their flight.

Speaker 2: 2:41

Now the kicker here is that only the airline can call and it can only be the day of your travel. And if you call in advance and try to talk to Delta or American or Southwest or whoever the airline is, they won't know what you're talking about. It's only the people at the airports who have these programs, that you just go there and we make recommendations on making sure you arrive prepared. We have the information printed out for you. We can send it to you. You print it out. You have your other ID. You may be in some cases, you may have a police report. You may have filed your passport as missing or lost online and you please call Regional Carrier Liaison Group or the Joint Security Program to liaise with CBP to ask if I can board the flight. So they'll call or they won't call it, depending on who it is.

Speaker 2: 3:32

Sometimes Spirit is one of the ones that may not be willing to call, but most of the major airlines, all of them have done it. Most of the major airlines American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue they've all done this, especially during the pandemic. It was very, very active because there was no way you could get a passport at that time. Everybody was shut down. And then they just look at it and say, okay, well, he has an ID. And a lot of times you're boarding a flight to return and when you came down on that same airline, you had your passport. So they still have those records too. Ultimately it's up to CBP, Ultimately it's up to CBP. Ultimately it's up to the airline whether or not you get boarded. But it's an excellent chance and we've sent thousands of people home to the US without their passports using that program.