Here are some smart and careful ways to keep your passport safe and avoid loss.
1. Never send by post
If you need to renew your passport, the authorities will ask you to send them your old passport for cancellation. Never put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and send it by post, but hand it in in person or use a registered mail service, as the post office is more responsible for the goods sent. If it is lost, you will have to start all over again.
2. Don't bring it if it's not necessary
Once you have an ID card, there is no reason to carry your passport with you when you go out unless absolutely necessary. If your bag or wallet containing your passport is stolen, it will be a hassle to get a new one. However, re-issuing an ID card is much simpler.
3. Store in a safe place
It’s not safe to keep your passport in your underwear drawer, your computer desk drawer, or your jewelry box, as these are the first places a thief will look. Hide it somewhere less likely or harder to reach, like a safe.
4. Make a copy to keep
If you lose your passport while traveling abroad, you will need a copy (or scan) to get back home. It is just as important to keep this copy as the original. If you have a digital copy, make sure it is encrypted in a file on an encrypted drive.
5. Report lost passport immediately
If your passport is lost or stolen, especially while traveling abroad, report it to the authorities immediately. Don’t waste any more time reliving the experience. The worst thing that can happen is that you are sitting around waiting and hoping for it to show up because someone with your passport could be planning something bad, like terrorism.
