If your passport, driving licence or other important documents are lost or stolen abroad, try and inform the local police within 24 hours. Or as soon as you possibly can.

Make sure you get a written report and reference number. This will help in your application for a new passport or emergency travel document.

If you don’t need to travel back home from your trip urgently, you could order a replacement passport abroad.

To find out how long it might take, you can try the Government’s overseas passport tool for more information.

It’s important to cancel your lost or stolen passport as soon as possible. This will reduce the risk of it being used by criminals for identity theft.

It’s quick and simple to cancel your passport immediately online. And you can even cancel someone else’s passport if they can’t do it themselves.

If it’s your passport that’s missing, you should also contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission as soon as possible – ideally within 24 hours.

They can help you report the loss to the UK passport office and organise replacement travel documentation.

If you need to travel home urgently, for example on your pre-booked flight back home, you can apply for an emergency travel document.

This temporary document, sometimes called an emergency passport, costs £100 and can be applied for online.

Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll be told how and when you’ll get your emergency travel document.

This may include attending an appointment at the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

If any credit or debit cards are lost or stolen, contact your bank or card issuer to cancel the missing card.

Most major card issuers have international telephone numbers they can be reached on overseas. You might also be able to use your banking app to cancel any cards instantly.

Read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice for an up-to-date look at the destination you’re travelling to.

You’ll get a detailed guide to the social and political situation in the country you’re visiting. Plus, information on theft hotspots and common scams and crimes

Make a copy of the personal details page and take a note of your passport number.

This will help the UK passport office quickly issue you with a new one if yours is lost or stolen.

You might also want to store scans or photocopies of your passport, driving licence and any other important documents in a password-protected online account.

If you lose the originals, you can easily print off any copies you might need to present to the authorities to get replacements.

Before you leave, consider taking out a travel insurance policy. Some policies will cover the cost of getting replacement passports, driving licences and other travel documents if they’re lost or stolen abroad.

It's a good idea to bring a combination of cash and cards, rather than carrying large amounts of cash on you. That way, you've got backup if one or the other goes missing.

Pre-paid currency cards are another option. We offer a Travel money card where you can load up to 15 currencies on to your card.

Make sure travel documents and valuables are kept in a safety deposit box rather than left out in your room.

If you don’t take reasonable care to keep important items locked away, you won’t be able to make a claim on your travel insurance.

When you’re wandering around unfamiliar cities, it’s important to keep your wits about you and be aware of your surroundings.

Explore travel guides and FCO travel advice to find out what areas to avoid and where you need to take extra precautions.