How to Keep Your Passport Safe While Traveling Abroad
Losing a passport abroad turns a trip into a week of paperwork. Most thefts happen in busy places, like stations, markets and crowded trains, and most are quick grabs from a bag that's easy to open. A few habits and the right bag make you a much harder target.
Before you leave
- Make copies. Take a photo of your passport's photo page and keep it in a secure place on your phone or in your email. Carry a paper copy separate from the passport.
- Know your embassy. Save the address and phone number of your country's embassy or consulate in each place you visit.
- Tell your bank you're traveling, and keep one backup card somewhere other than your wallet.
Pick a bag that's hard to open
Thieves look for easy targets: an open tote, a back pocket, a zipper they can pull while you're distracted.
- Lockable zippers. Zippers you can clip or lock together stop someone opening your bag on your back. The Pacsafe EXP45 lets you padlock both main compartments.
- Cut-resistant material. Some thieves slash a bag's side or strap. Bags with a steel mesh inlay in the fabric and straps resist this.
- A dedicated passport pocket. An RFID-blocking pocket keeps your passport and contactless cards in one secure place, so you always know where they are.
Habits on the move
- Carry it in front in crowds. On busy trains and in markets, wear your backpack on your front or hold it by your side.
- Keep the passport deep in the bag, not in an outside pocket. Only take it out when you need it.
- Don't hang your bag on a chair. In cafes, keep it on your lap or loop a strap around your leg. An anchor strap that locks the bag to a fixed object helps here.
- Use the hotel safe. If you don't need your passport for the day, and local rules don't require you to carry it, leave it locked in your room and carry the copy.
- Watch for distractions. Someone spilling something on you, asking for directions or bumping into you is a classic setup. Hold your bag while you deal with it.
If your passport goes missing
- Report it to the local police and get a written report.
- Contact your embassy or consulate. They can issue an emergency or replacement travel document.
- Use your copies. The photo of your passport speeds up the process.
For five backpacks compared on lockable zippers, cut resistance and passport pockets, see our international travel backpack comparison.