Deep breath — this is fixable. It happens to travelers in China every week. Follow the steps in order.
Step 1: Police report (same day)
- Go to the nearest police station (派出所) where it was lost/stolen
- Get an official loss report certificate (报案证明) — you'll need it at every later step
- Bring your passport photocopy and any ID you have left
Step 2: Embassy or consulate (next working day)
Apply for an emergency travel document or replacement passport:
- Bring: police report, passport photos (booths everywhere, ¥30), photocopies, flight booking
- Emergency documents are often issued same day or within 1–3 days; full replacement passports take 1–3 weeks
- Fees: ~$100–200 depending on country
Step 3: Exit-Entry Bureau (visa replacement)
Your new passport has no Chinese visa — visit the local PSB Exit-Entry Administration within their deadline to transfer/replace your entry record. Bring everything from steps 1–2. They issue a new visa or exit permit in ~7 working days (ask about urgency).
If you fly out before everything is done
With police report + emergency passport, the exit bureau can issue a one-time exit permit so you can leave on schedule — embassies coordinate this daily.
Prevention (do this now)
- Email yourself a scan of your passport photo page and visa
- Carry a paper copy; lock the original in the hotel safe for sightseeing days
- Know your embassy's address and after-hours emergency number
Timeline reality: Most travelers are sorted within 3–7 days and salvage the rest of the trip. The police report is the key that unlocks every door — get it first.