Lost Your Passport in Japan? What to Do First

Departure soon? Contact your own embassy or consulate today. A police report, passport photograph or digital copy is useful supporting information, but none is itself a valid replacement passport. The mission decides what document it can issue; your airline and route may have separate boarding or transit requirements.

A practical order for the first day

1. Check where it was last handled. Ask the hotel desk, train or airport operator, taxi company or shop. If it was left on an aircraft, contact the airline; an item lost in the terminal may have a different office. Keep the time, location and case reference. The general lost-item guide has operator-specific contacts.
2. Report the loss to police. Go to a kōban (police box) or station and describe the passport, the last known place and time, and any identifying details. Ask for the report or reference information and how to follow up. The National Police Agency explains that a lost-property report records your claim; it does not prove the loss or issue a travel document.
3. Contact your nationality’s embassy or consulate. Use the official mission website and ask which office handles passport services, whether an appointment is needed, what documents it requires, the fee and the earliest issuance date. An honorary consulate may not issue travel documents. Do not travel across Japan to an office based only on a directory listing.
4. Recheck the departure and any connection. Tell your airline the exact replacement or emergency document the mission proposes to issue. Ask about check-in, transit countries and destination entry rules before paying to change flights. Contact your insurer about eligible replacement or delay costs and your accommodation if your checkout must change.

What to have ready when you call the mission

• Your nationality and full name as shown on the lost passport, date of birth and any passport number or scan you have.
• The police report details, last known location and whether theft is suspected.
• Another identity document, available passport photos, flight itinerary and local contact information.
• Any visa, residence or onward-travel details that might affect your route.

These are preparation prompts, not a universal application checklist. The mission can ask for different evidence, forms, photos, fees or appointments. Keep sensitive passport scans in a secure account and share them only through a verified official channel. If your phone disappeared with the passport, follow the phone-lock and account-protection steps as well.

Common questions at the point of loss

National Police Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan resources checked September 19, 2026. Embassy issuance, airline and transit decisions are nationality- and itinerary-specific.