We talk a lot about where Australians are travelling. Less about what happens when their passport disappears mid-trip. New figures show emergency documents are rising, with clear hotspots – some established and others emerging – overseas.
The Australian Passport Office (APO) issued more than 9,000 emergency passports to Aussies overseas in the 2024-25 financial year, an increase of more than 10 per cent on the roughly 8,000 emergency passports issued the year before, new government data shows.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) recently released Consular State of Play 2024-25 report, the APO issued more than 2.3 million passports in 2024-25, down from the 2.5 million issued the previous year.
Despite this, the total number of passports issued was more than 200,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels.
While emergency passport numbers grew – possibly due to an increase in conflict in the Middle East – the number of lost passports dropped slightly to around 2,600 (from 2,678), while the number of stolen passports also fell to about 1,800 (from 1,942).
When it comes to the places Aussies are seeing the most lost and stolen passports, Italy once again took top spot – despite not being among the top 10 most visited countries – followed by the United States and United Kingdom (the 5th and 9th most visited nations, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics travel data).
Rounding out the top five countries were Spain and Japan, which displaced France and Greece, respectively. Given Japan’s meteoric rise to the top three most popular hotspots, it’s little wonder the Asian nation makes the list – although with its low level of crime, one could assume it’s mostly lost passports (and not stolen) propping up its total.
Pointers for passports
To help Aussies hold onto and maintain their passports, DFAT has the following advice for travellers:
- Keep your passport somewhere safe from theft and pickpocketing
- Avoid using it as hire collateral
- Protect it from water damage and tears, especially on the photo page
- Don’t remove any pages, alter or tamper with it
DFAT also reminds travellers that emergency passports only last up to 12 months and don’t include an e-chip, which can limit entry in some countries. So always check visa rules before you fly.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Emergency passports rising is a quiet reminder to brief clients on document safety. Italy topping the list is telling. A quick pre-departure warning could save travellers stress and you after-hours calls.
