Applying for an emergency passport
Are you travelling and have you lost your passport or identity card? Is it also not possible to apply for a new travel document before the start of your journey? Depending on the country that issued your passport or identity card, you can apply for an emergency passport. This is a temporary travel document.
Last updated on 28 August 2024
Lees deze informatie in het Nederlands
An emergency passport is issued only under exceptional circumstances and subject to specific conditions. There is no guarantee that you will receive it in time for your intended travel.
Conditions for an emergency passport in the Netherlands
Are you travelling on a Dutch passport? You can only obtain an emergency passport if you meet the requirements. For example, you must show that you cannot postpone your trip.
Applying for an emergency passport for Dutch citizens
In the Netherlands, you can apply for an emergency passport at the Koninklijke Marechaussee (Royal Netherlands Marechaussee) at, for example, Schiphol Airport.
Outside the Netherlands you can apply for an emergency passport at a Dutch embassy or consulate. You will be issued with a Dutch laissez-passerif it is not possible to issue an emergency passport in time.
Dutch laissez-passer
If it is not possible to issue an emergency passport in time then a Dutch laissez-passer can be issued. The passport holder's details are filled in by hand. This is done because of the short time frame. In most cases, a Dutch laissez-passer is intended to allow the holder to travel home. It is issued only outside the Netherlands. A Dutch laissez-passer has a blue cover and does not contain a embedded electronic microprocessor chip.
Conditions for an emergency passport in the European Union (EU)
Are you travelling on a passport from another EU Member State? It is up to each EU country to decide whether and/or when it allows EU citizens to enter or exit their territory without a valid travel document.
As there are no EU rules on travelling without a valid travel document, conditions and procedures vary widely from country to country (and may change without notice).
If you have already set off on your trip and:
- you are in the EU, the first place you should go to is your country's consulate or embassy.
- you find yourself outside the EU, where your country does not have a consulate or embassy, you have the right to seek consular protection from any other EU country.
Where some countries allow you to leave or enter their territory without a valid travel document, you may still need to show one in countries you are transiting through.
Applying for an emergency passport in the EU
View the exact rules for the countries you are travelling to and from on the europa.eu website.
Conditions for an emergency passport for all other countries
Are you travelling on a passport from a country other than an EU Member State? It is up to each country outside the EU to decide whether and/or when it allows travellers to enter or exit their territory without a valid travel document.
Review the rules for the country that issued your passport on how to access an emergency passport or travel document.
Laws and regulations (in Dutch)
Paspoortuitvoeringsregeling Koninklijke Marechaussee 2001
Paspoortuitvoeringsregeling Buitenland 2001
EU Consular protection directive
EU Directive on emergency travel document