Lost your passport in Vietnam: what to do, step by step
Lost your passport in Nha Trang? Report it to the ward police, get an emergency travel document from your embassy or consulate, then a new visa from the Khanh Hoa provincial immigration office before you fly, and tell your landlord. The steps and documents.
Short answer: report the loss to the police, then ask your embassy or consulate for a replacement or emergency travel document. Your visa or visa-free entry stamp was in the lost passport, so before you fly you need a new visa from the immigration office of the Khanh Hoa provincial police. And tell your landlord or hotel.
What should I do in the first hour?
Check the hotel, the scooter, the taxi and the cafés you were in. Block your bank cards if they went missing with the passport. Find a copy or photo of the passport, the visa or the entry stamp — they speed everything up. If the passport was stolen rather than lost, say so straight away, to the police and to your consulate.
Where do I report a lost passport in Nha Trang?
At the ward police station (công an phường) where the passport went missing or where you live. Say when, where and how it happened, and ask for something in writing — a confirmation or a copy of your statement. Bring someone who speaks Vietnamese, or your landlord. The report puts the loss on record, so if someone uses your passport you can show you reported it.
How do I get a travel document from my embassy?
Each country has its own rules, so start with your embassy’s website. For Russian citizens the procedure is set by Russian Foreign Ministry Order No. 10304: the certificate of return to Russia is free and normally ready within 2 working days, or up to 27 working days if identity checks with Russia are needed. You bring an application form with a photo, two 35×45 mm photos, your internal Russian passport if you have it — otherwise written statements from at least two Russian citizens confirming who you are, signed at the consulate — and any photo ID. The certificate is only for getting home; the new passport is issued in Russia.
Citizens of other countries go to their own embassy or consulate. Embassies are in Hanoi, and some countries also have consulates in Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang: check which office covers Khanh Hoa province and book ahead, because you usually have to go in person.
How do I leave Vietnam without my old visa?
Your visa or visa-free entry stamp was in the lost passport, so the new document needs a new visa. In Nha Trang that is handled by the immigration office (Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh) of the Khanh Hoa provincial police: in September 2025 it helped a Korean tourist who lost his passport in Khanh Hoa get a new visa. The provincial police accept entry and exit paperwork at the public service centre at 2 Le Thanh Ton Street, on weekdays and Saturday mornings (notice of 16 July 2025).
For a visa issued inside Vietnam the Ministry of Public Security usually asks for form NA5, a 4×6 photo on a white background and the travel document itself, and gives up to 5 working days. A lost-passport case may need more, so confirm the list at the immigration office before you buy a ticket.
What should I tell my landlord?
Tell them you have a new document: under Article 33 of Law 47/2014 as amended in 2023, a foreigner whose passport details change must be registered again. Your landlord or hotel enters the new document number in the police system. How registration works and what to ask your host is in our guide to temporary residence registration.
How do I avoid losing it again?
Keep photos of your passport, visa and entry stamp on your phone and in the cloud. Carry the passport only when you need it: the bank, buying a SIM, checking in. Do not leave it as a deposit for a rented scooter — if the bike is stolen or scratched, your passport becomes the bargaining chip. Renting a place: renting in Nha Trang. Visas: Vietnam visa and e-visa.
Can I fly out of Vietnam if I lost my passport?
You need two things: a travel document from your own country and a new Vietnamese visa. A Russian citizen gets a certificate of return from the consulate, and it is for returning to Russia (Russian Foreign Ministry Order No. 10304). The visa or entry stamp stayed in the lost passport, and the provincial police immigration office issues the new one (a Khanh Hoa case, September 2025). Citizens of other countries go to their own embassy or consulate: what document they give depends on the country.
What is the fastest way to replace a passport in Vietnam?
There is no shortcut: the order is police, consulate, immigration office, and only preparation speeds things up. The Russian certificate of return takes up to 2 working days if no extra checks are needed. Under Law 47/2014 (Article 19), a visa decision for a foreigner already in Vietnam is made within 5 working days after the complete file is received. So gather everything listed above beforehand: photos, ID with a photo, a copy or photo of the passport. Nobody can promise an exact date; it depends on whether your case needs extra checks.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do first if I lose my passport in Vietnam? Block your cards if they were lost with it, then report to the ward police where it went missing or where you live. After that, your embassy or consulate.
Do I need a police report? Make one: it puts the loss on record in case someone uses your passport. Ask the police for written confirmation.
How long does a Russian certificate of return take? Up to 2 working days if no extra checks are needed, up to 27 working days if they are. It is free.
Do I need a new visa if I entered visa-free? Yes, the entry stamp was in the lost passport. The provincial immigration office puts a new one in your new document; ask there what to bring.
Where is the immigration office in Nha Trang? Khanh Hoa provincial police take entry and exit paperwork at 2 Le Thanh Ton Street, weekdays and Saturday mornings, according to their notice of July 2025.
Can I fly via a third country on an emergency document? It depends on the document and the transit country. Ask your consulate before booking a connecting flight.
What should I do if I lose my passport abroad? Report it to the local police, then ask your embassy or consulate for a travel document home. In Vietnam you then need a new visa from the provincial police immigration office.
Can I fly if I lost my passport? Only with a travel document from your own country and a new Vietnamese visa. For Russians this is the certificate of return, issued for returning to Russia.
What is the fastest way to get a passport replaced? The order is the same: police, consulate, immigration office. The certificate takes up to 2 working days without extra checks; a visa decision comes within 5 working days after the complete file.
Sources and checks
Russian certificate of return, documents and timing — Russian Foreign Ministry administrative regulation (Order No. 10304 of 28.06.2012). A new visa after a lost passport in Khanh Hoa — Khanh Hoa provincial police report of 16.09.2025. Where entry and exit paperwork is accepted — provincial police notice of 16.07.2025. Form NA5, photo and processing time — Ministry of Public Security services portal. Re-registration after a passport change — Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13 as amended by Law 23/2023/QH15. The Russian embassy and consular portal websites did not open on 22.10.2026, so we do not give consulate addresses or hours here. Links below, opened 22.10.2026. Visa decision within 5 working days — Article 19 of Law 47/2014/QH13 (full text on caselaw.vn, opened 23.10.2026). The websites of the Russian embassy and consulates again did not open on 23.10.2026, so we still do not give consulate addresses or hours. Updated 23.10.2026.