Emergency Travel Document UK – Emergency Passport

What To Do If You Lose Your Passport Abroad

Losing a passport abroad can quickly turn a stressful situation into a serious logistical problem — especially if urgent travel is required for medical, family, or legal reasons. For UK nationals, an Emergency Travel Document provides a fast and reliable solution, allowing you to return home or continue essential travel without waiting for a full passport replacement.

What Is an Emergency Travel Document?

An Emergency Travel Document allows UK nationals to travel home (or to another approved destination) when their passport is lost, stolen, expired, or unavailable. It is typically issued quickly and is valid for a single journey, making it ideal for urgent situations.

When You May Need One

You may need an Emergency Travel Document if your ability to travel is impacted and a replacement passport is not available in time.

• Your passport has been lost or stolen abroad
• Your passport has expired and you need to travel urgently
• You are medically unfit to delay travel
• You are being repatriated to the UK for treatment or recovery
• You or your child have been born abroad and do not yet have a valid UK passport

Emergency Medical Situations

In medical repatriation scenarios, passport issues are more common than many expect. Patients living abroad may have expired documents, misplaced passports, or be physically unable to manage documentation themselves. In these cases, an Emergency Travel Document becomes a critical part of coordinating safe and timely transport back to the UK.

In urgent medical cases, such as hospital transfers or air ambulance repatriation, an Emergency Travel Document is often required when the patient cannot access their passport. Delays in documentation can directly impact treatment timelines, so early action is essential.

We regularly support families and hospitals where:

• The patient has been living abroad and their passport has expired
• The passport cannot be located during an emergency
• Immediate travel is required for life-saving treatment

In these situations, timing is critical. Applications can often be expedited, but coordination with the embassy, medical teams, and transport providers is essential to avoid unnecessary delays.

Emergency Travel for Children and Newborns

Special provisions may apply if a child or newborn does not yet have a passport, particularly in urgent or unexpected situations.

Exceptional circumstances include:

• A baby born unexpectedly abroad
• Urgent medical treatment required in another country
• Travel needed to attend the funeral of a close relative

In these cases, an Emergency Travel Document may be issued to allow immediate travel without waiting for a full passport application, helping families return to the UK when time is critical.

Passengers who cannot locate their passport may need an emergency travel document to continue their journey

How to Apply

You must apply online via the UK Government website. You will need to provide:

• Your personal details
• Your travel plans
• A recent photograph
• Details of your lost or unavailable passport

Apply here: Emergency Travel Document Application

How Long Does It Take?

Processing times vary depending on the country, but Emergency Travel Documents are typically issued within a few days. In urgent medical cases, applications may be prioritised to support faster travel.

How SkyCare Can Help

At SkyCare Repatriation, we regularly assist patients and families facing passport issues during urgent medical transport. We understand how critical timing and coordination can be in these situations.

We can:

• Support documentation for medical urgency
• Align travel plans with our air ambulance or medical escort services
• Help avoid delays during critical repatriation cases

Need Urgent Help?

If you are dealing with a medical emergency abroad and cannot locate a passport, acting quickly is essential. Our team can guide you through the process, liaise with the relevant authorities, and help ensure a safe and efficient return to the UK.