Brits are being warned about what to do if they find a lost passport while travelling or on holiday.
You might think it is as simple as sending it back to the person it belongs to through the post or handing it back to them yourself.
However, there is one thing you must do when trying to get it back to its owner.
HM Passport Office has released advice on what you should do if you find a British passport and how to send it back to protect its owner from identity fraud.
Found a British passport? A few simple steps can help us keep it safe.
Learn more: https://t.co/sVXId6h8BS #ProtectThePublic pic.twitter.com/baeDN8MbnA— His Majesty’s Passport Office (@HM_Passport) July 31, 2026
What should I do if I find a lost British passport?
With thousands of Brits heading off on summer holidays and travelling by train, bus, and aeroplane, it is more likely that people will lose their passports along the way.
Not only is a passport an important travel document but it is also used as a form of identification.
If it falls into the wrong hands, criminals might use it to commit identity fraud or other forms of financial crime.
If you find a lost passport while travelling, you should not leave it where you found it or try to return it to the owner if they are not sure who it is.
HM Passport Office posted on social media and said: "Found a British passport?
"A few simple steps can help us keep it safe."
The social media post contained a link to the official Recovered British Passport form that needs to be filled out and sent along with the document.
The passport and form should be sent to HM Passport Office using the Freepost address provided.
This way the HM Passport Office is able to return it using an official process and deal with it securely.
Before sending it off, you must cut off the right-hand corner of the passport.
This means if the passport is intercepted while it is being sent to HM Passport Office, it cannot be used for crime.
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If you find the passport outside of the UK, you should take it to the closest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
You will have to share when and where you found the passport along with the details from it to help identify its owner.
Have you ever found someone's lost passport while travelling? Let us know in the comments.
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