Tips for passport security include keeping it locked in a safe, using a copy while traveling, and reporting it lost or stolen immediately. On travel days, keep it on hand and in a secure holder. Once at your destination, keep it in a hotel safe and use a photocopy for identification. If lost or stolen, report it to your home country’s consulate.
The passport is one of the most valuable documents a traveler carries with them and keeping it safe is a top priority. The document is required when entering and leaving a foreign country and for identification while in the country. Top passport security tips include keeping your document locked away, using a copy while traveling within the foreign country, and reporting your passport lost or stolen as soon as possible.
When not in use for travel, a good rule of thumb for passport security is to keep it locked in a safe. If possible, your passport should be kept in a safe deposit box at a local bank or other financial institution, which will keep it safe from thieves and disasters, such as fire or flood. If this is not possible, it should be kept in a fireproof home safe, preferably well hidden.
Extra precautions should be taken on travel days when the passport must be kept on hand for inspection. This is an ideal time for a thief to steal your document, and keeping your passport safe also ensures that you arrive at your final destination without major complications. If two or more people are traveling together, each must keep their own passport, as well as a copy of each of the other traveller’s documents. A copy must also be placed in the suitcase and in any hand luggage.
To ensure passport security, the document should not be kept in an outside pocket or purse, as they are easy targets for pickpockets and thieves. Special passport holders, such as those that go around your neck or tuck into your pants, are good options. If they are to be kept in a bag, the bag should have a long strap so it can be worn across the body and should never be left unattended.
Once travelers reach their final destination, the passport must be kept in a hotel safe, in the room or at the reception. For the remainder of the trip, a photocopy of the original document should be sufficient identification. Carrying your document into a foreign country can jeopardize the security of your passport. It is easier to replace a lost photocopy than a lost passport.
Occasionally, despite following all the best passport security tips, a passport is still lost or stolen. If this happens, you must immediately report it to the consulate of the traveler’s home country. Having a photocopy of the original document can help speed up the passport replacement process.
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