Can I get an emergency travel document abroad?

What an emergency travel document is

An emergency travel document lets a British national abroad get home, or travel on, when they do not have a usable passport. It is a one-off document.

It lets you make one single or return journey, and you can travel through up to 5 countries on the way.

How much it costs

The application costs £125. You cannot get a refund. If you cannot pay online yourself (for example, because you lost your wallet), a relative or friend can pay for you.

Who can apply

You can apply if all of these apply to you:

• you are a British national and you are outside the UK
• you need to travel within the next 6 weeks
• your UK passport is lost, stolen, damaged, full, recently expired, or held by HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
• you cannot renew or replace your passport from abroad before you travel
• you have had a valid UK passport issued on or after 1 January 2006

If you have never had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006, you can only apply in exceptional cases, such as a child born unexpectedly, urgent medical treatment you can only get by travelling, or the funeral of a close relative. You cannot get one for things like holidays, weddings, family events or job interviews.

What you need

• a digital passport photo that meets the rules
• a phone number and email address
• a debit or credit card

How to apply

1. Check that the countries you will travel through accept emergency travel documents. GOV.UK has a country checker.
2. Apply online.
3. Upload your photo and pay the £125 fee.
4. Wait for an email telling you how and when to collect your document.
5. Book your travel only after you get that email.

If your passport is lost or stolen, you do not need to cancel it separately first. It is cancelled as part of the application. Your old passport is usually cancelled automatically once you have paid.

How long it takes

It is usually ready to collect 2 working days after you apply. It may take several weeks if:

• your passport had already expired
• the application is for a child under 16
• you have not paid
• you need to send more documents or go to an appointment

Children under 16

A child under 16 needs to go to an appointment with both parents or legal guardians. If that is not possible, the parents or guardians can give a signed letter of consent.

When you get home

The emergency travel document only covers that one journey. For future trips, you will need a passport.

Related guides

• What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
• How can I get a passport urgently?
• How long does a passport renewal take and how much is it?
• How much does a UK passport cost?

Where these figures come from

• Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport
• Emergency travel document: how to apply
• Cancel a lost or stolen passport