As a foreign student studying in Turkey, losing your passport can be really frustrating. Passport loss can be a big problem for both official transactions and everyday life. Fortunately, if you know the right steps, you can manage this process quickly and safely.
Loss of Passport in Turkey: First Steps
Notification and Reporting to Police Headquarters
The first thing you should do when you lose your passport is to go to the nearest police station or police station and report the loss. The police officers will give you a lost passport report, which is essential for further procedures. This official document for a lost passport in Turkey will be used for both new passport applications and embassy procedures.
For international students living in Turkey who lost their passport, it is very important to create an official record, because without this document you cannot get a temporary travel document from your embassy.
Passport Loss Notification Period and Documents
In Turkey, it is best to report the loss of a passport as soon as possible. It is advisable to report officially within 24 hours. When getting a lost passport report, if you have your student ID, your residence permit document in Turkey and a photocopy of your old passport, if any, the procedures will go faster.
Get Temporary Travel Document from Consulate or Embassy
As a student who has lost a passport in Turkey, your next step is to contact the embassy or consulate of your home country in Turkey.
What is an Emergency Passport?
After your application to the embassy, you will usually receive an emergency passport or temporary travel document within 24 hours. This document can only be used to return to Turkey. In other words, you can only travel to Turkey with this document; you cannot travel to other countries.
Note: After you receive this document, when you arrive in Turkey, you need to report loss again and apply for a new passport.
Return to Turkey with Temporary Travel Document
To get a temporary travel document, you should apply to your embassy with documents such as your passport loss report, your student certificate and your residence permit in Turkey. The first thing you should do when you return to Turkey is to apply for a new passport.
For detailed information on this process, please see The e-Visa System for Students in Turkey: How to Use it You can also check our article.
New Passport Application After Passport Loss in Turkey
If you have lost your passport in Turkey and have received a temporary travel document or have returned to Turkey, you should contact the embassy or consulate of your home country to apply for a new passport.
New Passport Application Process and Documents
The following documents are required to apply for a new passport:
- Lost passport report (document from police station)
- Student certificate (official document showing that you are studying in Turkey)
- Residence permit document (residence card for foreigners)
- 2 biometric photos
Lost Passport Renewal Fee and Payment
As of 2025, the fee to apply for a new passport is approximately 39 USD. You must submit the receipt showing that this fee has been deposited in the bank to the embassy during your application.
For more information, see The Directorate of Migration Management in Turkey: Services for International Students You can review our article titled
Note: The current dollar rate is calculated as 39 TL.
What to Do Required Documents Report the loss to the police station Student ID, residence permit, copy of old passport Apply to the embassy for a temporary travel document Police report, student certificate, residence permit Return to Turkey and apply for a new passport Police report, biometric photo, 39 USD fee Extra Safety and Tips for Students in Turkey
While living in Turkey as a student, it is very important to take some precautions to avoid the stressful situation of losing your passport.
Keeping Your Personal Belongings Safe
The best way to reduce the risk of losing your passport in Turkey is to take care of your personal belongings. Keep your purse and wallet out of sight, especially in crowded places, on public transportation or in student dormitories. It also helps to keep your passport, cash and bank cards in separate places.
Another tip is to back up a color photocopy or a clear photo of the front of your passport and visa page on your phone or email. This makes it much faster to contact both the police and the embassy when you go missing.
Communication Center for Foreigners in Turkey (YİMER): Services and Communication
If you lose your passport or have a problem in Turkey in general, The Foreigners Communication Center (YİMER), a hotline number 157, is available 24/7. Offering support in English, Arabic, Russian and German, the hotline is very helpful for students in both lost passport reports and immigration processes.
YIMER can also be contacted to get information about the processes after passport loss. It is one of the most important sources of support when you lose your passport as a student in Turkey.
What to Do in Case of Passport Loss: Recommendations
Don’t panic as a student who lost your passport in Turkey! By following the steps, you can both ensure your security and complete your transactions quickly. Remember, backing up your documents and being careful before you lose your passport makes your job much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do after a lost passport
First of all, the ALO 199 hotline of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs is called to report the loss of a passport. An appointment for a new passport application can also be made during the interview.
How much is the fine for losing a passport?
There are no direct fines for the loss of a passport, but the fees and wallet fee for issuing a new passport must be paid again.
My passport was torn, what should I do?
A torn passport is invalid. Renewal application should be made by going to the nearest civil registry office.
Can a passport be renewed without an old passport?
Passport pages with valid documents such as visas, residence permits or work permits are not subject to cancellation. In this case, the person must keep the old passport with the new passport when traveling.