Lost Your Passport in Albania? A Step-by-Step Emergency Guide (2025)

Discovering you’ve lost your passport while in a foreign country is one of the most stressful experiences a traveler can face. It’s your primary proof of identity and your ticket home. The first and most important step is not to panic. By following a clear and methodical process, you can resolve the situation and get home safely. This emergency guide will tell you exactly what to do if you have lost your passport in Albania.

Step 1: File a Police Report Immediately

This is your first, non-negotiable action. Go to the nearest police station (Stacioni i Policisë) and report your passport as lost or stolen.

Why is this critical? The official police report is a legal document. You will need it for almost every subsequent step, including applying for an emergency travel document at your embassy and for exit procedures with Albanian immigration.
What to do: Explain the situation to the police. They will take your details and provide you with an official, stamped copy of the report. Keep this document safe.

Step 2: Contact Your Country's Embassy or Consulate

Your next priority is to get a new travel document. Only your home country's embassy or consulate in Albania can issue this.

What they provide: They will typically issue an "Emergency Travel Document" (ETD), which is a temporary, limited-validity document designed to get you home. In some cases, they may be able to issue a full new passport, but this often takes much longer.
What you'll need: You will generally need to provide the police report, another form of photo ID (like a driver's license or a copy of your lost passport), and new passport-sized photos.
Action to take: Find the contact information and location for your country's embassy (usually in Tirana). It is highly recommended to call them first to explain your situation and ask for their specific requirements and opening hours.

Step 3: Address Your E-Visa Status for Exit

Once you have your new Emergency Travel Document, you have one final step within Albania. Your new ETD is a clean document; it does not contain the Albanian entry stamp or the e-visa that was linked to your old passport.

What to do: You must visit the local Regional Directorate for Border and Migration (the same office that handles visa extensions).
Why is this needed? You need to present them with your new travel document and the police report. They will verify your legal entry and provide you with the necessary authorization or an "exit permit" that allows you to leave the country without being flagged as having an invalid visa. Skipping this step can lead to major problems at the airport when you try to depart.

Prevention is Better Than a Cure: Tips for Your Next Trip

Losing a passport is a difficult lesson. For your future travels, always take these preventative steps:

Make Digital Copies: Before you leave, take clear photos of your passport's data page, your e-visa, and other important documents. Save them to a secure cloud service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or your email).
Keep Physical Photocopies: Have a couple of black-and-white photocopies of your passport page. Keep them in your luggage, separate from your actual passport.
Share with Family: Email a copy of your documents to a trusted family member or friend back home.

These simple actions, covered in many Albania Visa & Travel Tips, can make the recovery process much faster in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an Emergency Travel Document (ETD)?

An ETD is a temporary travel document issued by your embassy that is valid for a very short period and for a limited journey, typically for a one-way trip back to your home country. It is not a full-validity passport for general international travel.

How long does it take to get an Emergency Travel Document?

This depends entirely on your embassy's procedures. However, if you have the required police report and other identification, it can often be issued within 1-3 business days.

Since my original e-visa was lost with the passport, is it a problem?

The main problem is the lost passport itself. Because your e-visa is electronically linked to your old passport number in the system, its physical loss is secondary. Once you have a new travel document from your embassy and an exit permit from the Albanian migration office, your visa status for departure is considered resolved.