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Here are some smart and careful ways to keep your passport safe and avoid losing it.
1. Never send it by mail.
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, stamp it, and send it through the post office. Submit it in person or use a registered mail service, as the post office is more responsible for the goods being sent. If it gets lost, you'll have to start all over again.
2. Don't bring it if you don't need it.
Once you have a national ID card, there's no reason to carry your passport with you every time you go out unless absolutely necessary. If your bag or wallet containing your passport is stolen, getting a replacement is a hassle. Getting a new national ID card is much simpler anyway.
3. Store in a safe place.
It's not safe to keep your passport in your underwear drawer, computer desk drawer, or jewelry box, as those are the first places a thief would search. Hide it in a place nobody would expect or that's difficult to access, like a safe.
4. Take a photo and keep a copy.
If you lose your passport while traveling abroad, you'll need a copy (or scan) to get home. Keeping this copy is just as important as keeping the original. If you have an electronic copy, make sure it's encrypted in a file on an encrypted drive.
5. Report the loss of your passport immediately.
If your passport is lost or misplaced, especially while traveling abroad, report the loss to the authorities immediately. Don't waste any more time reminiscing about the past. The worst thing that can happen is that while you're waiting and hoping it will appear, someone with your passport might be plotting something bad, like terrorism.
