Generally, our concentration on preparations for a trip where the use of passports and immigration records is required for entry and exit from countries makes us neglect some necessary measures to take into account in case of loss or theft of our main travel document: the passport.
In neighboring Mercosur member countries, residents do not need to use a passport to cross borders, and can only do so with the Identity Card issued by each country. However, carrying a passport is always advisable due to its international nature and its official value for entering the country where you are traveling.
Always take care to keep it valid and in good condition, as immigration or customs authorities may encounter any impediments and delay your entry procedures at border crossings. Two situations among many others can happen and are the most common or frequent to lose your passport:
Theft or loss. In the first case, you must properly identify the place and how it happened whenever possible, since a report of loss is not the same as a report of theft. The authorities will request in detail in your complaint substantial points that, in addition to being cumbersome, will waste valuable time for you.
If you file a report for passport theft, you must say where, when and how and that will make your procedures difficult if you do not establish the facts in a timely manner. If you report loss of the document, the procedures will be facilitated before any authority.
Take your phone number with you if you don't memorize it somewhere you can find it when filing your complaint. The advisable thing is to carry out two procedures: one before the police authorities of the country where you are located so that they do not misuse your document and with that complaint go to the country's Embassy where they will issue you a provisional passport so that you leave national territory.
Subsequently, complete the process to obtain a new document. In many countries, the Immigration authorities themselves can provide you with an emergency exit pass, as long as you check your good conduct during the time you spent during your visit and have your entry and exit visa registered and unexpired if required.
Consulates and Customs offices at airports, port terminals and bus stations generally have a special service for tourists or travelers at no cost.
