Travel Money Safety: Carry Cash and Cards Without Losing Them

Carrying money abroad safely comes down to three things: spread your cash and cards so no single loss wipes you out, keep a record of your passport and card numbers somewhere separate, and know the official steps to cancel and replace documents if something is stolen. Official guidance from the UK government and the EU sets out the reporting routes and emergency numbers you should have saved before you travel.

Who this affects

Anyone travelling abroad with cash, cards or both. The rules and services below are most specific for UK and EU travellers, but the practical habits apply to any trip.

If you hold a UK passport, the reporting and replacement routes are set by HM Passport Office. If you are an EU citizen, consular protection applies when you are abroad. Travellers of other nationalities should check the equivalent service from their own government before departure.

What to do step by step

1. Before you go, save the numbers. Store the contact number for your bank or card provider, and the emergency number for the country you are visiting. Within the EU, 112 is the single emergency number you can use anywhere in the EU.
2. Split your money. Carry a small amount of cash for the day and keep the rest, plus a backup card, in a different bag or pocket. Do not keep everything in one place.
3. Keep a separate record. A photocopy or photo of your passport helps you answer questions if you need to cancel or replace it. Store it away from the passport itself.
4. Check your insurance. The UK FCDO advises researching your destination and getting appropriate travel insurance that covers your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
5. If your passport is lost or stolen, cancel it as soon as possible. You can report a lost or stolen passport for someone else if they cannot do it themselves. You will need a phone number to use the service, and a photocopy or photo of the passport can help you answer questions.
6. If you are abroad and need to travel urgently, you might be able to apply for an emergency travel document. You will need to pay a fee. If you apply for an emergency travel document, you do not need to cancel your passport separately now: you will cancel it as part of that application.
7. If you need help cancelling a passport, contact HM Passport Office.

Costs and timing

There is no fee stated in the official guidance for cancelling a lost or stolen passport. An emergency travel document, however, requires a fee. The exact amount is not given in the sources used here, so check the current fee on the official UK government page before you apply.

Timing matters more than cost. The guidance says to cancel a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible. If you delay, the risk of someone else using your passport or identity increases. If you need to travel urgently, applying for an emergency travel document also cancels the passport as part of the process, so you do not need to do both separately.

For EU citizens, consular protection means EU consulates and embassies can assist in case of accidents, serious illness or if you lose your passport. The EU also points travellers to the European Health Insurance Card and information on access to healthcare abroad, which are relevant if a theft or loss turns into a medical situation.

Exceptions and country-specific advice

Travel advice is country-specific. The UK FCDO publishes advice for 226 countries and territories, covering entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences. Before you travel, read the page for your destination rather than relying on general guidance.

For the USA, the FCDO travel advice was still current at 11 October 2026 and was updated on 18 August 2026 with information about US hurricane season predictions. That advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

If you are travelling by plane, the EU advises reading about airport and airline security before departure, including mandatory security screenings, prohibited items and guidelines for carry-on luggage. This matters for money because some items and arrangements may be restricted at security.

What is not yet confirmed

The sources used here do not state the fee for an emergency travel document, the processing time, or a full list of documents you must provide. They also do not give a single global rule for carrying cash across borders. Check the official UK government pages and your destination's travel advice for current figures and requirements before you travel.