Lost Passport in Korea

Losing your passport in Korea is stressful, but it is a manageable situation. South Korea has a well-organized system for helping foreign nationals replace lost or stolen travel documents, and with the right steps you can often resolve the problem within a few business days. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Report the Loss to Korean Police

Before you can apply for a replacement passport, you need an official loss report from a Korean police station. This document is required by both your embassy and Korean immigration authorities.

• Go to the nearest police station (경찰서, gyeongchalseo) or a police box (파출소, pachulso) — there are hundreds across Seoul, Busan, and every major city.
• Ask for a 도난·분실 신고서 (theft/loss report). Officers at tourist-heavy stations in Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Haeundae are accustomed to helping foreign visitors and often have English-speaking staff.
• If you cannot communicate, dial 120 (Seoul Dasan Call Center, English available 24 hours) or 1330 (Korea Tourism Hotline, English/Chinese/Japanese, 24 hours) and ask for translation assistance at the police station.
• Keep multiple printed copies of the report — your embassy, airline, and immigration will each want one.

Step 2: Contact Your Country’s Embassy or Consulate

Your next call is to your home country’s embassy in Seoul, or the nearest consulate if you are in another city. Most major embassies are clustered in the Jongno-gu and Yongsan-gu districts of Seoul, within a short taxi or subway ride of each other.

• US Embassy Seoul — 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu. Emergency passport appointments: +82-2-397-4114. An emergency passport for US citizens typically costs around USD 130 (approx. 175,000 KRW) and can be issued within one to two business days for travelers with imminent flights.
• UK Embassy Seoul — Sejong-daero 19-gil 24, Jung-gu. Emergency travel documents cost approximately GBP 100 and take one to two working days.
• Australian Embassy Seoul — Sejong-daero 19-gil 19, Jung-gu. Emergency passports are available; fees vary but typically start around AUD 180.
• Bring your police report, any remaining ID (driver’s licence, national ID), a passport-size photo, and proof of your travel itinerary (flight booking, hotel confirmation).
• If you are in Busan, check whether your embassy maintains a consulate there — several do, including the US, Japan, and China, saving you a trip to Seoul.

Step 3: Notify Korean Immigration

If you are in Korea on a tourist visa or visa exemption, losing your passport also means losing your proof of legal entry. You must inform the Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인청) so your status is protected while you wait for a replacement document.

• Call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (available in English, Chinese, and other languages, Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00).
• The main Seoul Immigration Office is at 10 Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu (청파로 10, 용산구), a short walk from Namyeong Station (Line 1). Busan’s office is at 19 Chungjang-daero 199beon-gil, Dong-gu.
• Bring your police report, your new emergency passport or embassy letter, and any supporting ID. Staff will update your entry record and issue guidance on your departure.
• If your stay allowance has expired because of the delay, immigration can grant a short extension — this is common and they handle it routinely. Once your documents are sorted, revisit your departure day checklist to make sure nothing else is missing before you head to the airport.

Practical Tips to Speed Things Up

A few habits can dramatically reduce the pain of a lost passport situation before it even happens — and help you recover faster if it does.

• Photograph your passport before you travel and store the image in your email and cloud storage. Embassies can process replacements much faster when they can see your original passport number and photo page. It also helps to review our passport and visa-free travel basics guide so you know exactly which documents Korean immigration expects to see.
• Use the hotel safe. Most passport thefts in Korea happen in crowded tourist markets like Namdaemun or at beach areas in Busan during summer. Carrying a copy and leaving the original locked up is the safest approach.
• Know your embassy’s emergency line. Many embassies have after-hours emergency numbers specifically for passport loss — find this number before your trip, not after.
• Budget for the costs. Between the police report (free), embassy emergency passport fee (100,000–200,000 KRW equivalent depending on nationality), passport photos at any convenience store photo booth (around 5,000–8,000 KRW for four prints), and potential transport to Seoul, expect to spend at least 150,000–250,000 KRW in total.
• The T-money card you loaded for the subway is still valid without a passport — do not toss it while sorting out your documents.

Costs, Timelines, and Temporary Travel Documents

Replacing a lost passport in Korea involves fees at two stages: the Korean police report is free, but your embassy will charge its own replacement fee. Most Western embassies charge the equivalent of a new passport application — typically ₩60,000–₩150,000 (as of 2026 — verify before visiting) depending on nationality, urgency, and whether you need a full passport or an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). An ETD is a one-trip document valid only for your flight home and costs significantly less (often ₩30,000–₩60,000), but it cannot be used for onward travel to other countries, so choose carefully if your itinerary continues beyond Korea.

Processing times vary widely. Standard replacement passports typically take 5–10 business days at most embassies in Seoul. If your departure is imminent, request an emergency or expedited service — most embassies offer same-day or next-business-day ETDs if you arrive early and have all documents ready. The US Embassy in Seoul, for example, handles emergency passport appointments on the same day for travelers departing within 72 hours.

What to Bring to Your Embassy Appointment

Arriving unprepared is the most common reason travelers face delays. Before your embassy visit, gather the following:

• Original Korean police loss report (도난·분실 신고서) — the embassy will not accept a phone photo; bring the physical copy.
• Proof of citizenship: a photocopy of your lost passport (stored in email or cloud) is ideal; a national ID card or driver’s licence also works.
• Two recent passport-sized photos (4×3 cm). Many convenience stores and photo booths near embassy districts in Gwanghwamun and Itaewon offer instant passport photos for ₩5,000–₩8,000 as of 2026 — verify before visiting.
• Your flight itinerary or e-ticket showing your departure date — essential for expedited processing.
• Cash or card for the replacement fee; some embassies accept only specific payment methods, so check online before you go — if you need Korean won on short notice, see our airport money exchange strategy for the best rates near Incheon.

While waiting for your replacement document, carry your police report and any secondary ID at all times. Korean immigration law requires foreign nationals to be able to show valid identification on request, and the police report serves as your official interim proof of status.