My passport is lost or stolen in Japan — what order do I do things in?

Short answer: File a police report first — most embassies require it before issuing any replacement document. Then contact your embassy or consulate in Japan to apply for an Emergency Travel Document or replacement passport. Exact document requirements and processing times vary by nationality, so confirm details directly with your embassy once you’ve made contact.

If this is happening now

1. Go to the nearest police station or koban and file a lost/stolen property report — ask for the certificate (often called ishitsu todokede juri shōmeisho, 遺失届出受理証明書) documenting the loss; this is usually required by embassies before they’ll issue a replacement.
2. Contact your embassy or consulate in Japan as soon as possible — explain your nationality, situation, and travel dates; they will tell you exactly what documents and photos you need for your specific case.
3. If you have an imminent flight, tell the embassy immediately — many can issue an Emergency Travel Document faster than a full passport specifically to get you home, but processing still takes time, so start this as early as possible.

Who this applies to

Any nationality visiting Japan whose passport is lost or stolen. The overall order of operations (police report, then embassy) is broadly consistent across nationalities, but exact required documents, fees, photo specifications, and processing times differ by country — always confirm specifics with your own embassy or consulate rather than assuming another nationality’s process applies to you.

Decision table

Japan-specific procedure

Step 1: Police report. Go to the police station or koban nearest to where you believe you lost the passport (or the nearest one, if unsure). Staff will help you file a Lost Property Report or, for theft, a criminal report; you should receive a reference certificate or number. This documentation is what most embassies require before issuing a replacement, since it establishes an official record of the loss in Japan.

Step 2: Contact your embassy or consulate. Each country’s embassy in Japan (most are in Tokyo, with some consulates in Osaka, Fukuoka, and other cities) handles passport replacement differently. In general, expect to need: the police report/certificate, some form of identity proof (a photocopy of your passport if you have one, a driver’s license, or other ID), a completed application form, and passport-style photographs (photo booths are widely available at stations and convenience stores). Many embassies distinguish between a full replacement passport (which can take one to a few weeks) and an Emergency Travel Document (a limited, often single-use document meant to get you home quickly, sometimes issued within a day or two once you have an appointment and complete documents) — ask specifically which applies to your situation and timeline.

Step 3: Departure and immigration considerations. Once you have a replacement document, you may also need to check with Japanese immigration regarding your entry/exit stamp or re-entry permit status, since your original entry record was tied to the lost passport — your embassy can usually advise whether this needs separate handling before you fly, or your airline/immigration counter can guide you at departure.

Because requirements genuinely differ by nationality (a U.S. citizen’s process through the U.S. Embassy will differ in detail from, say, an Australian or EU citizen’s process through their own mission), the most reliable next step after the police report is to look up your own country’s embassy page in Japan directly.

• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan, Replacing a Lost/Stolen Passport: https://jp.usembassy.gov/passports/replacing-loststolen-passport/
• General reference on the police report step: LIVE JAPAN, “Lost Your Passport in Japan? 8 Things You Need to Know”: https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002613/
• For other nationalities: search “[your country] embassy Japan lost passport” to find your specific mission’s page

What this is not

This is not the same as losing a bag that happens to contain your passport but you haven’t confirmed it’s actually missing — search thoroughly and check hotel/transport lost-and-found first (see the lost luggage article), since a false report can complicate the process. It’s also not a matter for the Japan Visitor Hotline alone — that hotline can offer guidance and language support, but the actual document replacement is strictly an embassy/consulate function, not something JNTO or police can issue.

Recovery after a mistake

If you filed the police report at the wrong station, that’s fine — the report is still valid nationally, and your embassy will accept a certificate from any Japanese police station. If you already left Japan without resolving an entry-stamp discrepancy, contact your embassy or the Japanese immigration authority once you’re back home; this is a recoverable administrative issue, not a bar to future travel, but it’s best resolved sooner rather than later. If you find your “lost” passport after already reporting it and starting replacement paperwork, tell your embassy immediately — they will advise whether to cancel the replacement process or void the old passport, since having two valid documents can cause problems at borders.

Questions travelers ask

Do all embassies require a police report before issuing a replacement? Most do, as it’s the standard way to document the loss, but confirm with your specific embassy since exact requirements vary.

How long does an Emergency Travel Document take? It varies by nationality and consulate workload — some can issue one within a day or two once you have an appointment and complete documents, but always ask your embassy for their current estimate rather than assuming a fixed timeline.

Do I need travel insurance to get a replacement passport? No, travel insurance isn’t required for passport replacement, though it may help cover related costs (photos, transport to the embassy, unexpected hotel nights) — check your policy.

What if my embassy has no office near where I am in Japan? Many consular services can be handled remotely by phone or email for initial guidance, with an in-person visit required only for the final application — ask your embassy about remote options if you’re far from Tokyo or the nearest consulate.

Should I carry a photocopy or photo of my passport while traveling? Yes — a photocopy or clear photo of your passport’s data page significantly speeds up the identity-verification step with both police and your embassy.

If this actually happens to you (Travel AI Rescue)

Sequencing police report, embassy contact, and flight logistics correctly — and fast — while stressed in a foreign country is exactly the kind of structured checklist problem Travel AI Rescue is designed to help you work through.

Bundled with the Basic or Premium guarantee tier at eSIM checkout — 40% cheaper bundled (Basic $2.20, Premium $4.40; $3.70/$7.40 standalone). AI-drafted guidance, not a final legal or immigration determination — your embassy/consulate and local police remain the authority on your specific case.

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Sources (checked 2026-07-20)

• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan, “Replacing a Lost/Stolen Passport”: https://jp.usembassy.gov/passports/replacing-loststolen-passport/
• LIVE JAPAN, “Lost Your Passport in Japan? 8 Things You Need to Know!”: https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002613/
• National Police Agency, lost property information: https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/soumu/ishitsubutsu/otoshimono/en/lost-road.html

Update trigger: Re-check if major embassies change Emergency Travel Document procedures, or if Japanese immigration changes re-entry/exit documentation rules for replaced passports.

Related pages: Health & Emergencies hub, Lost Luggage in Japan: Airline, Train and Police Lost Property, Emergency Numbers in Japan: 110, 119 and the Visitor Hotline