What can you do if your passport is lost or stolen while you're in a foreign country?
This happen with me in Barcelona, Nov 2017My Barcelona story: Adventure or worst nightmare !London(Can I enter?), Spain(if I have to stay), India(Go and come back)So, I was at the Nova Icaria Beach enjoying the cool breeze with my friends, we were having gala time. It was evening time, and then, 2 young boys passed by, they went till the tip of the beach and while returning one of the boy started interacting with us, he asked do you have cigarettes, and made us busy in conversation. It was just 2 mins then, I turned my face around to check my bag, and it was not there. Within fraction of second, I realised it was plot and I m being looted.This starts the worst nightmare for an #Indian travelling from #London to #Barcelona. Bag had my Indian passport. I ran to the road side, asking people if they saw 2 boys in black running with a bag, people here only understand Spanish. I tried to explain people with actions, one family said they saw boys with bag running towards the road. I came at the road side, there was no one there. I asked one person sitting on a bike for help. Police number, police number I asked him. He dialed 112 on my another phone, and told police that I have been looted here. I continued my search, I saw security guards and ran to them, explained them, he called other security guard, then started searching the nearby area. My friends on the other side were also in touch with other security guards near the beach. It was dark now, we all traced the route back from where we sat. Near the garden we found my sweater, driving license, medicines etc. But I was not able to find my passport. I had only one thing in my mind “Passport”. We kept our search on, hoping to find my passport, iPhone etc. By the time, I got call from tourist police in Barcelona, they were speaking in Spanish. I gave the phone to the security guards, we noted the address. And ran to the nearest police station. The police told the translator has left for the day. Come in morning and file an FIR.I was totally blank. Lucky I had my Biometric Resident Permit (BRP). I called my friends in London and asked for advice and help. I emailed my company’s manger for help. It was Saturday, evening time, he was quick enough to respond and provided me the global emergency numbers, I called the SOS team on the hotline, its real issue, they said, they took the Security Specialist team in conference. They guided me for the next steps.1. Police FIR for the stolen bag.2. Indian embassy in Spain.3. British embassy in Spain.4. Airlines (took on conference)5. Visa and immigration authorities.6. Indian embassy in London.I called the emergency number of Indian embassy, the gentleman said, without passport, neither border security forces nor airlines will allow you to enter London. You need to call the British embassy in Spain for assistance. If they can provide the letter. (Very unlikely)I called the British embassy help line number, since it was Saturday, everything was closed. There was one option to call the global emergency helpline number for British passport holders only. I choose that option and then it went to highest authority in London for emergency. I said I have BRP and will have police FIR. They said, 1st you are not British citizen, second you can’t entry London without passport, call Indian embassy for a official letter, which will help you to enter London.Today morning, we went to the police station and got the FIR done. I asked if I can enter London with the BRP and this FIR report. They said it’s all at the discretion of Airlines, Embassy, Border security forces, Visa and immigration department.I again called the Indian embassy in Spain, they said they can’t issue any letter, you can come to Madrid on Monday, where their is Indian embassy. Apply for emergency passport, it will take 7-8 days. At that time, I thought I am in real trouble now.There were three options left with me:1. Go to Madrid, apply for emergency Indian passport. Stay here for 8 days.2. Go India, apply for Tatlak passport and come back to London.3. The riskiest, board the flight, if they allow with BRP. And then in London if the border security don’t allow, I will be deported to India.Now, after 10 hours of full stress talking to different people, I called my parents in India. I am left with these 3 options. They advised me to go according to rules of counties and keep calm.So, if any good can happen it will be at the airport only, I have my flight at 8:50 p.m. from Barcelona to London. I came at the airport around 2 p.m. I rushed to the airlines customer service team. I told I don’t have passport, but I have FIR and BRP. They refused immediately. But I guess, this was always the first 1st response. Then I explained them every damn thing all my talks with embassy and airlines. They understood my request and then listened. They took images of my BRP, FIR report, photocopy of passport, schengen Visa etc and sent to London embassy, security forces and immigration department. They told me to wait for 10 mins for their response.I went to them, after every 10 mins, it was now 1 hr. They pinged them again. After 1.5 hrs, she smiled and waved her hand. They got email from London, approving you coming to London, now you can check in.At that time, I called my parents and was all in tears, I then informed my friends here, Company managers.Currently, I am at Barcelona airport, to board my 8:50 pm flight. I pray to god that, I could pass all the security checks and enter London.Story of an Indian citizen, with british resident permit, currently in an schengen country without passport.