If you lose your passport in Korea, first search the exact place you last used it, then check Korea's police lost-property portal or the relevant airport, hotel, subway, taxi or shop. If it is truly lost or stolen, contact your embassy or consulate immediately because a reported valid passport is usually **cancelled** and cannot be used if you later find it. For urgent travel, many countries issue an emergency passport or emergency travel document, but timing, fees and route limits depend on your citizenship.
Losing a passport in Korea is stressful, but the order of actions matters. Do not jump straight to cancelling it if there is a real chance it is still at airport security, your hotel front desk, a tax refund counter, a subway station office or in a taxi.
Once you officially report a valid passport as lost or stolen, many governments cancel it for identity-theft protection. That is useful when it is truly gone, but painful if the passport is found 30 minutes later and your flight is tonight.
What should you check before reporting the passport lost?
Retrace the last official moment you used the passport. In Korea, that is often one of these places:
1. Hotel check-in desk — hotels usually scan or inspect passports for foreign guests.
2. Airport check-in, security or tax refund counter — Incheon and Gimpo have information desks that can route you to lost and found.
3. Subway station office — if you used a locker, restroom or ticket machine, ask station staff.
4. Taxi or ride-hailing app — check Kakao T, Uber, hotel taxi records or card payment history.
5. Duty-free, clinic or bank counter — staff may have placed it in a safe or handed it to local police.
Search your bag slowly before making the official report: passport cover, laptop sleeve, seat pocket, hotel safe, laundry bag and the flat pocket behind your suitcase handle. It sounds obvious, but this is the cheapest five minutes of the whole process.
Where do you search for lost property in Korea?
Korea's national police lost-property system is the first online place to check for passports, wallets, phones and documents handed in to police or linked facilities. The LOST112 site has English, Japanese and Chinese language options, and its Korean notice says lost-property reporting and searching are being integrated into Police Civil Affairs 24 from January 26, 2026.
For foreigners, the practical path is:
1. Search online using broad terms such as passport, wallet, bag or your country name.
2. Check the place-specific lost and found too, especially airports, subway operators and hotels.
3. Call the police civil complaint number 182 if you need help with a lost-property record.
4. Use 112 only if the passport was stolen or there is an active police emergency.
If you find a possible match, bring another ID if you have one, a passport photo or scan, your phone number, and proof that the item is yours. A photo of the passport identity page is extremely useful here.
When should you contact your embassy or consulate?
Contact your embassy or consulate when the passport is stolen, cannot be found quickly, or you have upcoming travel that requires a valid travel document. Your embassy is the only place that can tell you what document your country can issue in Korea.
Do not assume every emergency document works like a normal passport. For example, the UK emergency travel document is usually for a specific urgent journey, and GOV.UK tells applicants to check whether the countries they will leave, enter or transit accept it. U.S. guidance says a valid U.S. passport reported lost or stolen will be cancelled, and the traveler must apply for a new passport.
Before you contact the embassy, prepare:
- A photo or scan of your passport identity page, if you have one
- Another ID, such as a driver's license, residence card or national ID
- A recent passport-style photo, digital or printed depending on your country
- Your flight itinerary and any transit country details
- A police report or lost-property reference, if available
- A payment card or cash for the embassy fee, if your country charges one
If you are flying very soon, say that clearly in the first message or call. Embassy appointments, document approval and pickup rules vary by country, weekends and public holidays.
Can you still fly out of Korea without the original passport?
No. A photo, photocopy or police report can help prove your identity, but airlines and immigration normally require an original valid passport or an official emergency travel document. A passport scan alone is not a boarding document.
If your replacement document is approved, check three things before booking or rebooking flights:
1. Destination acceptance — the country you are entering must accept that emergency document.
2. Transit acceptance — every transit country must accept it too, even if you stay airside.
3. Printed itinerary limits — some emergency travel documents are issued for a specific route and date range.
For tight flights, ask the airline before paying a change fee. The airline can still refuse boarding if the document, visa or transit rule does not match its system.
What if your Korean visa or ARC was in the passport?
If you live in Korea and your passport held your visa record, contact both your embassy and Korean immigration guidance channels. A new passport or emergency document may not automatically carry the same passport number, and your Korean residence or visa record may need to be updated.
If you have an Alien Registration Card, keep it with you but do not treat it as a passport replacement for international travel. It can help prove your Korea status inside the country, but you still need a valid passport or emergency travel document to leave and re-enter.
If you are a tourist, focus first on the embassy document and flight route. Your airline and embassy will tell you whether your new document is enough for departure and transit.
How can you reduce the damage before your Korea trip?
Do three small things before you fly to Korea:
- Save a passport identity-page scan in secure cloud storage and offline on your phone.
- Keep one printed copy separate from the actual passport.
- Store your embassy's Korea emergency contact page before you need it.
In Korea, carry your passport only when it is genuinely needed: airport, hotel check-in, tax refund, some medical or bank visits, and any situation where an official asks for it. For everyday sightseeing, a secure hotel safe is usually lower risk than a jacket pocket in a crowded area.
Trip Budget Calculator
[Trip Budget Calculator]— A lost passport can add rebooking, transport, photo and emergency-document costs. Recalculate your Korea budget before changing flights or extending your hotel stay.
Frequently asked questions
Should I report a lost passport to Korean police?
Report it to police if it was stolen, if your embassy asks for a police report, or if you need a lost-property record. If you only misplaced it in a hotel or airport and staff are still searching, check there first before triggering passport cancellation with your own government.
Can I use a photo of my passport to leave Korea?
No. A photo or scan can help your embassy identify you, but it is not a travel document. You need your original passport or an official emergency passport or emergency travel document.
What happens if I find my passport after reporting it lost?
Do not use it until your embassy confirms its status. Many governments cancel a valid passport once it is reported lost or stolen, and a cancelled passport can cause boarding or immigration problems even if you physically have it.
How long does an emergency travel document take in Korea?
It depends on your citizenship, appointment availability, documents, payment and travel urgency. Some countries can issue emergency documents quickly in straightforward cases, while others require extra checks or in-person appointments.
Should I go to the airport or the embassy first?
If you may have left the passport at the airport and your flight is still soon, call or visit the airport lost and found first. If it is stolen, unrecoverable, or your departure is at risk, contact your embassy immediately and ask what document they can issue in Korea.