Passport Safety: What Travelers Should Know

Source: https://grs-blog.global.utexas.edu/2026/03/13/passport-safety-what-travelers-should-know/ Parent: https://grs-blog.global.utexas.edu/

Keeping your passport secure is essential when traveling abroad. Losing it can disrupt your trip, delay travel plans, or even require emergency assistance from an embassy. The guidance below highlights common risks, high-theft locations, and tips for staying prepared and confident while traveling.

Tip: Travelers from the United States can enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and get help with passport replacement during emergencies.

High-Risk Places to Carry a Passport

Avoid carrying your physical passport in the following areas unless required:

• Crowded tourist spots: markets, landmarks, festivals, metro systems.
• Nightlife areas: bars, clubs, late-night districts.
• Outdoor activities: beaches, boats, hikes, rain-prone environments.
• Transit hubs*: airports, train stations, bus terminals, ferry ports.

*You will need your physical passport to board most forms of mass transportation; however, if you are only meeting others at a transit hub, you should avoid carrying your passport with you.

Smart Ways to Store or Carry Your Passport

When You Don’t Need It

• Store it in a hotel safe or other secured, lockable location.
• Keep digital and paper copies stored separately.
• Leave an additional copy with a trusted contact at home.

When You Must Carry It

• Use concealed options like hidden pockets, slim under‑clothing belts, or internal jacket pockets.
• Avoid back pockets or open external pockets.
• Use crossbody bags with slash‑proof straps and keep them in front of you.
• Avoid backpacks. They’re harder to monitor and often targeted by pickpockets.
• Use a waterproof sleeve if weather or activities may expose the passport to moisture.
• Only take it out when necessary and avoid storing it in frequently accessed bag compartments.

Questions? Contact UT Austin’s Global Risk and Safety team: grs@austin.utexas.edu.