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My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?
★ Troubleshooter · critical

My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?

Problem solver·Visa & Entry·Updated 2026-06-16
§ 01 · The 5-min panic check

My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?.

Symptom: Your passport is gone (theft or loss) and you're in mainland China without travel documents.

Cause: This is a multi-step emergency — you cannot exit China without a valid passport or emergency travel document.

Fix: Step 1: Report to local police (110) and get a loss report (报案证明). Step 2: Visit your embassy/consulate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Wuhan. Step 3: Get an emergency travel document (usually 3–5 business days). Step 4: Apply for a new Chinese exit visa at the Public Security Bureau.

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Quick Answer

My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?

Cause: This is a multi-step emergency — you cannot exit China without a valid passport or emergency travel document. — Solution: Step 1: Report to local police (110) and get a loss report (报案证明). Step 2: Visit your embassy/consulate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Wuhan. Step 3: Get an emergency travel document (usually 3–5 business days). Step 4: Apply for a new Chinese exit visa at the Public Security Bureau.

Severity

Critical

Fix time

<30 min

Last verified

Jun 16, 2026

Category

Visa & Entry

What you see

Your passport is gone (theft or loss) and you're in mainland China without travel documents.

"Your passport is gone (theft or loss) and you're in mainland China without travel documents."

Why it happens

This is a multi-step emergency — you cannot exit China without a valid passport or emergency travel document.

"This is a multi-step emergency — you cannot exit China without a valid passport or emergency travel document."

How to fix

Step 1: Report to local police (110) and get a loss report (报案证明). Step 2: Visit your embassy/consulate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Wuhan. Step 3: Get an emergency travel document (usually 3–5 business days). Step 4: Apply for a new Chinese exit visa at the Public Security Bureau.

"Step 1: Report to local police (110) and get a loss report (报案证明). Step 2: Visit your embassy/consulate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Wuhan. Step 3: Get an emergency travel document (usually 3–5 business days). Step 4: Apply for a new Chinese exit visa at the Public Security Bureau."

When to act fast vs. when you can wait

Act within the hour. Critical problems block core trip functionality (payment, transport, visa, or check-in) and do not self-resolve. Apply the fix before your next planned activity — most of these take less than 30 minutes once you stop to do them.

3

sources cited

2026-06-16

last verified

8

FAQs answered

critical

severity

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Frequently asked questions

What is the symptom of My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?
Your passport is gone (theft or loss) and you're in mainland China without travel documents.
What causes My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?
This is a multi-step emergency — you cannot exit China without a valid passport or emergency travel document.
How do I fix My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?
Step 1: Report to local police (110) and get a loss report (报案证明). Step 2: Visit your embassy/consulate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Wuhan. Step 3: Get an emergency travel document (usually 3–5 business days). Step 4: Apply for a new Chinese exit visa at the Public Security Bureau.
How common is this problem?
This is one of the most common blockers we see for first-time China travelers. It usually blocks the entire trip until resolved.
How quickly should I act on this?
Same day. Critical problems block core trip functionality (payment, transport, or visa) and do not self-resolve.
Can this be prevented before I arrive?
Yes — most of these problems are avoidable with 10 minutes of pre-trip setup: install the right apps (Alipay, Amap, a VPN if you need western services), verify your passport in Alipay before you fly, and top up Tour Pass to at least ¥150 before you land. See the related guides at the bottom of this page for the full pre-trip checklist.
What if the fix does not work?
If the fix does not work in 30 minutes, contact the relevant Chinese hotline (12345 for government services, 12301 for tourism complaints) or your hotel concierge for a live-language translator.
Where can I get more help?
Three free options: (1) the related guides below cover the broader topic in full, (2) the "Still stuck?" form at the bottom of this page reaches our editors in under 24 hours, (3) the Help Center (linked in the page footer) collects every escalation path including 24/7 hotlines.

12 more guides to keep you unstuck

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