Losing your passport or having it stolen can post a huge problem especially if you are travelling or while in a different country. A passport serves as a person’s proof of identity and is officially issued by the government where the individual is considered as a citizen. For South Africans who have lost their passports, it should be noted that they are not allowed to leave the country as it is considered as a punishable offence under the South African Citizenship Act. For citizens who have their passport stolen, there are several ways that they can travel back to their country without their original passport on hand.
Lost/Stolen Passport – What to do
If you or someone you know lost their passport or had their passport stolen, the first step to do is to report what happened to the police station where you are currently in. This can be the local police station, or if you are travelling abroad, from the law enforcement where the incident took place. Request for a copy of the police report and visit the nearest embassy or South African Consulate in the area.
Requesting for a Temporary Passport
If you are travelling or urgently need to do so, you may request for a temporary passport to be issued for you. Temporary passports are valid for only a year and are usually issued if the applicant has not yet received their passport but needs to travel out of the country. Do note that some countries do not accept temporary passports and as such, you need to contact the embassy of the country you intend to visit or travel to in order to prevent any problems later on.
Passport Requirements
Before a temporary passport will be issued to the applicant, he or she must complete several forms available from the South African embassy such as the BI-73 and BI-335E. Once the forms are filled up, you must have your fingerprints taken, provide the police report, any official document that shows you are a South African citizen, a picture of yourself and pay the processing fee. Each country has their fee schedule and working days so it is necessary to apply for a temporary passport as soon as possible.
Once you have received your temporary passport, if you are abroad, it is necessary to contact the immigration department of the said country to have your passport stamped. You must provide the original police report as well as any letter that you might have received from the embassy.
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