Emergency Services

Lost or Stolen South African Passport — What to Do

If your South African passport has been lost or stolen — whether abroad or within South Africa — follow these steps immediately. Your nearest SA embassy can issue an Emergency Travel Certificate (R140) within 1-2 working days so you can travel while your replacement passport is processed.

Sources: DIRCO consular services, DHA tariffs

24/7 Emergency Contact

DIRCO Operations Centre: +27 12 351 1000 (operates 24 hours, 7 days a week). Call this number if you need urgent consular assistance outside embassy office hours.

Lost or Stolen While Abroad

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are overseas, follow these four steps in order:

Step 1File a Police Report Immediately

Report the loss or theft to the local police as soon as possible. Obtain a written police report with a case number. This document is essential for:

  • Your Emergency Travel Certificate application at the embassy
  • Your replacement passport application
  • Travel insurance claims
  • Proving the loss was not due to negligence (which affects the replacement fee)

Keep multiple copies of the police report — you will need them at several stages.

Step 2Contact the Nearest South African Embassy

Call or visit the nearest South African embassy, high commission, or consulate during office hours. For after-hours emergencies, call the DIRCO Operations Centre at +27 12 351 1000.

Bring whatever identification you have — Smart ID card, driver's licence, certified copy of ID, or even a photo of your passport data page on your phone.

Find your nearest mission: Embassy Directory

Step 3Apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC)

If you need to travel urgently, the embassy can issue an Emergency Travel Certificate (form BI-123). This is a single-use travel document valid for one journey — either back to South Africa or onward to a destination where you can apply for a full passport.

Official nameEmergency Travel Certificate (BI-123)
FeeR140 (paid in local currency at embassy)
Processing1-2 working days (same-day possible in genuine emergencies)
ValiditySingle journey only
Issued byAny South African mission abroad

Documents required for ETC:

  • Police report (original)
  • Any form of South African identification
  • Completed application form (provided by embassy)
  • Passport-sized photographs (some missions take photos on-site)
  • Payment of R140 in local currency
Important: Some countries may not accept an ETC for entry. Check with the immigration authorities of your destination country before travelling on an ETC. It is primarily intended for return to South Africa.

Step 4Apply for a Replacement Passport

At the same embassy visit (or as a separate appointment), begin your application for a full replacement passport. The process is the same as a standard passport renewal, with additional documentation:

Documents required:

  • Police report (original and copies)
  • Sworn affidavit explaining the circumstances of the loss or theft
  • Any form of SA identification (Smart ID, ID book, certified copy, driver's licence)
  • Copy of the lost/stolen passport (if available)
  • Two passport-sized photographs (35mm x 45mm, white background)
  • Completed BI-73 application form
  • Proof of residence in the host country
  • Payment of replacement passport fee

Replacement passport fees (abroad):

Circumstance32-page Fee48-page Fee
Not your fault (robbery, theft with police report)R1,200R2,400
Your fault (negligence, no police report)R2,400 (double fee)R4,800 (double fee)

Processing time: 6-8 weeks from abroad (applications are processed in Pretoria). Source: dha.gov.za

Lost or Stolen Within South Africa

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in South Africa, the process differs:

  1. File a police report at your nearest SAPS station. Get a case number.
  2. Visit a DHA office with the police report, your SA ID (Smart ID card or green ID book), and a sworn affidavit explaining the loss.
  3. Apply for a new passport using form BI-73. Biometrics will be recaptured.
  4. Pay the applicable fee:
    • Not your fault (with police report): R600 (32-page) or R1,200 (48-page) — standard domestic fee
    • Your fault (negligence): R1,200 (32-page) or R2,400 (48-page) — double fee
  5. Processing: 4-6 weeks standard; some Live Capture offices may process within 2 weeks.

You can also apply online at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za or book an appointment at services.dha.gov.za.

Protecting Yourself After Loss

Notify Your Bank

If your passport was stolen along with other documents or cards, notify your bank and credit card companies immediately. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. Consider a fraud alert.

Notify Your Airline

If you have upcoming flights, contact your airline to inform them. Most airlines accept Emergency Travel Certificates for return flights to South Africa. Confirm before heading to the airport.

Travel Insurance Claim

If you have travel insurance, file a claim immediately. Most policies cover emergency passport replacement costs, including ETC fees, embassy travel, and accommodation if stranded. Keep all receipts and the police report.

Check Visa Status

If valid visas were in the lost passport, contact the issuing country's embassy about transferring them to your new passport. Some countries can re-stamp visas; others require a new application.

Prevention Tips

  • Photograph your passport data page and store it on your phone, email, and cloud storage
  • Store your passport in a hotel safe when not needed
  • Carry a certified copy of your ID for daily activities instead of your passport
  • Use a money belt or secure document holder when travelling
  • Register with the SA embassy when arriving in a new country for extended stays
  • Note down your passport number separately from the passport itself
  • Consider travel insurance that covers document replacement

Frequently Asked Questions

An Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC, form BI-123) costs R140, paid in local currency at the embassy. It can be issued within 1-2 working days and is valid for a single journey. In genuine emergencies (e.g., medical evacuation, family bereavement), same-day issuance may be possible.

A replacement passport follows the standard overseas processing timeline of approximately 6-8 weeks. Missions with DHA Live Capture equipment may process in ~5 weeks. If you need to travel urgently before the replacement arrives, the embassy will issue an Emergency Travel Certificate within 1-2 working days.

There is no fine, but the replacement fee depends on the circumstances. If the loss was due to negligence (your fault), the DHA charges double the standard fee — R2,400 for a 32-page passport abroad instead of R1,200. If it was stolen or lost through no fault of your own (with a police report), you pay the standard fee. The DHA also flags repeated passport losses, which may result in additional scrutiny for future applications.

Yes, an ETC allows you to travel back to South Africa or to another destination. However, some countries may not accept ETCs for entry. Airlines generally accept them for return flights. Always check with the immigration authorities of your destination country and your airline before travelling on an ETC. It is primarily designed for return to South Africa.

If you are in South Africa, file a police report at your nearest SAPS station, then visit a DHA office with the police report and your SA ID. Apply for a new passport using form BI-73. The domestic fee is R600 (32-page) if not your fault, or R1,200 (double) if due to negligence. Processing takes 4-6 weeks. You do not need an Emergency Travel Certificate — those are only issued at missions abroad.

If all your documents were lost or stolen, the embassy can still help. They will verify your identity through the DHA database using your personal details (full name, date of birth, ID number if you know it). Having a photo of your passport on your phone or email is extremely helpful in this situation. The embassy may take longer to verify your identity before issuing an ETC.

Valid visas in a lost or stolen passport are lost with it. You will need to contact the issuing country's embassy to request replacement visas or reapply. Some countries can re-issue visas to a new passport if you provide proof of the original visa (e.g., a photo or scan). This is why photographing every visa page in your passport is strongly recommended.

Emergency Contacts

Related Pages

Quick Fee Reference

  • Emergency Travel Cert: R140
  • Replacement (not your fault): R1,200 abroad / R600 SA
  • Replacement (negligence): R2,400 abroad / R1,200 SA
  • 48-page (not your fault): R2,400 abroad / R1,200 SA

Full fee schedule