uk Travel, documents & being abroad lost arrival card • lost departure card • missing immigration card • lost entry card • lost exit card • lost landing card • embarkation disembarkation card • tourist card lost • immigration slip missing • passport insert lost • entry form lost • departure form lost • border control paperwork lost • leaving country without card • replacement arrival departure card • overstayed because card lost • visa slip missing • entry stamp evidence • airport immigration desk • local immigration office • consular signposting

What to do if…
you lose the arrival or departure card you were told to keep with your passport

Short answer

Treat this as a routine immigration admin issue: gather evidence of your entry, then contact the local immigration/border authority (often at the airport or a local immigration office) to ask how to replace or document the missing card before you travel.

Do not do these things

Do not try to create your own “replacement” card or write anything into your passport.
Do not wait until you are at the airport on departure day if you were explicitly told to keep the card.
Do not hand over your passport to unofficial “helpers” offering to sort it for cash.
Do not assume the airline can fix it at check-in.
Do not report your passport lost unless your passport is actually missing.

What to do now

Do a calm, thorough re-check: passport sleeve, every pocket of the cover/wallet, luggage liners, yesterday’s clothes, hotel safe, and the last place you changed money or showed your passport. Ask hotel reception/lost property if anything was handed in.
If you think it may have been stolen, report the theft locally (for example to local police) and keep the reference number—some immigration offices ask for this when issuing replacements.
Make a quick “entry evidence” pack on your phone (even if incomplete):
- a photo of your passport photo page
- photos of any entry stamp/visa sticker
- your inbound flight details (booking/boarding pass confirmation)
- where you’re staying (address/booking)
Check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for the country you’re in and look for practical contact routes or local procedures (the right office can vary by country).
Contact the local authority that issued/collects the card:
- If you’re near the airport: ask for the immigration/border information point and where missing-card issues are handled.
- If you’re not near the airport: contact the country’s immigration department/office and ask what to do if your “arrival/departure card” (their local term may differ) is missing.
If you’re departing soon (same/next day), act today:
- Go to the airport earlier than you normally would and ask for immigration guidance before joining long queues.
- Be prepared that you may need to complete a form and, in some places, pay an official fee.
If the card showed your permitted stay/exit deadline, ask the immigration office how to confirm your authorised stay in their system so you don’t accidentally overstay while sorting paperwork.
If you cannot get clear instructions locally, contact the nearest British embassy/consulate or the FCDO for signposting (who to contact and what to take). They cannot replace another country’s immigration card, but they can help you reach the right local channel.

What can wait

You do not need to decide right now whether to complain, claim on insurance, or “work out who lost it.”
You do not need to replace your UK passport unless your passport is also missing.
You do not need to argue with hotels/airlines today—focus on getting the correct local immigration clearance/documentation to travel.

Important reassurance

This is a common, fixable travel problem. In many places it’s resolved by completing a replacement form or having your entry recorded/confirmed in the system—being calm, organised, and early usually matters most.

Scope note

This is first-step guidance for the moment you realise the card is missing. Country rules vary widely, so the goal is to get you to the correct local authority with the right basics and avoid last-minute airport disruption.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Immigration processes vary by country and can change; follow instructions from the local immigration/border authority and ask for clarification if something is unclear.

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What to do if…you lose the arrival or departure card you were told to keep with your passport