Passport Stolen in Italy: What to Do Next

Record what happened and secure what remains

1. Move to a staffed, safe location. Do not pursue or confront a suspected thief.
2. Write down the time, location and last moment you had the passport. For a train journey, note the operator, service, carriage and seat if available.
3. List other missing items. Contact your bank or mobile provider through verified channels if cards or a phone were also taken.
4. Have a secure passport copy, any remaining identity document and your next travel booking ready for the authorities. Do not publish them in a public appeal.

Report the theft locally

Contact a local police station or Carabinieri station to report the theft. Ask for the report reference and a copy for your consulate and any insurance claim. Describe what you know, and distinguish suspected theft from an item whose location is simply unknown.

The Carabinieri’s Denuncia vi@ Web service can start a theft or loss report online, but its guidance describes subsequent attendance at the selected station. Do not treat an online submission as proof that every reporting step is complete.

Check the right lost-property service in parallel

If the passport disappeared during a rail journey, use the actual operator’s official service. Trenitalia provides a FindMyLost route for items lost on Frecce and Intercity trains. Check its current instructions for your service; do not assume another operator or a regional train follows the same process.

A lost-property enquiry is separate from a theft report and passport cancellation. Keep each reference clearly labelled so you know which organisation to contact for an update.

Contact your own embassy or consulate before changing travel plans

Find the responsible mission through your government’s official website. Explain your nationality, current city, next departure and transit route. Ask which documents, photographs, appointments and fees apply, and whether an emergency document is appropriate for the journey.

For Singapore passport holders, MFA provides an ICA reporting and Document of Identity application route. That is nationality-specific guidance, not the procedure for all visitors. Use the official source below rather than a third-party replacement service.

Can you leave Italy with only a police report?

UK travel advice explicitly warns that a police report cannot be used to leave Italy when a passport is stolen. Confirm acceptable travel documents with your issuing authority and carrier, including transit requirements, before booking a replacement journey.

Tell your insurer what happened and ask what evidence and expense approvals it requires. Keep receipts and records of changed bookings without assuming reimbursement is guaranteed.

If someone later finds the passport

Follow your issuing authority’s instructions before attempting to use a recovered document. If you already attached a ReturnKind QR, you can check for finder messages alongside the official process. ReturnKind is not a theft-prevention device or tracker, and it cannot reconnect an untagged passport by adding a code after the event.