What should you do if your documents are lost or stolen?

Losing or having important documents stolen—passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, or immigration documents—can be very stressful, especially in a foreign city. In Calgary, as everywhere else in Canada, there is a clear algorithm of actions that will help minimize the consequences and restore your documents as quickly as possible. In this article, we will go through all the steps step by step — from reporting to the police to ordering duplicates — and also recommend security measures to take to avoid similar situations in the future.

1. Immediate steps after discovering loss or theft

1.1 Assess the situation

  1. Determine whether it is accidental loss or theft.
  2. Choose a safe place where you can calmly check your belongings and make a list of lost documents.

1.2 Notify the local police

  1. Call 911 if a crime (theft, robbery) has been committed.
  2. If the documents are simply lost, contact your local police station or the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line: 403-266-1234.
  3. Obtain a criminal report or language report of loss, which will be necessary for reimbursement from insurance companies and for document replacement.

1.3 Block or cancel lost documents

  1. Credit and debit cards: call your bank (e.g., RBC, TD, Scotiabank) to block your cards and order new ones.

  2. Health card (Alberta Health Card): visit the AHS website or call 310-0000 (no area code) to block it.

  3. SIN – Social Insurance Number: Call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218; ask about replacement and precautions against identity theft.

2. Replacing essential documents

2.1 Passport or immigration documents

2.1.1 Canadian citizens

  1. Contact Passport Canada: apply online for a new passport at https://www.canada.ca/passport.
  2. Submit an application for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) if you need to leave urgently.
  3. Payment: regular passport $120 CAD for 5 years; expedited processing — additional fee.

2.1.2 Foreigners and immigrants

  1. For a lost Permanent Resident Card (PR Card), contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) using the online form at https://www.canada.ca/IRCC.
  2. For a work permit/study permit, fill out form IMM 5444 or IMM 5710, respectively.
  3. Include a copy of the police report and pay $50 CAD for a replacement PR Card or $75 CAD for other documents.

2.2 Birth or marriage certificate

  1. Contact Vital Statistics in the relevant province (Alberta: https://www.alberta.ca/order-birth-certificate).
  2. Order a duplicate birth or marriage certificate.
  3. Cost: in Alberta – $20–$30 CAD; processing time – 4–6 weeks (express option available for an additional fee).

2.3 Driver's license

  1. To renew your Alberta driver's license, contact Alberta Registries & Land Titles or go online at https://www.alberta.ca/driver-licence.

  2. Prepare a police report of loss and your personal documents to confirm your identity.

  3. Pay the renewal fee: $32 CAD; processing time is usually the same day at the office.

2.4 Social Insurance Number (SIN)

  1. Visit a Service Canada office with the original loss report, passport, or PR Card.
  2. Complete the SIN renewal form (Service Canada Form NAS-2120).
  3. Your SIN will remain the same; you will be given a confirmation letter.

3. Additional Documents

3.1 Health Insurance Card (AHS Card)

  1. Visit the AHS website or Health Care Registration Office.
  2. Fill out the form for a new health card and present your ID.
  3. Receive a temporary card on the spot; the permanent card will be mailed to you.

3.2 Citizenship card or immigration certificate

  1. Contact the IRCC Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, for information about the loss.
  2. Submit form AR-11 (Address Notification) and the document replacement form.

4. Precautions and protection against identity theft

  1. Credit report monitoring – Use Equifax or TransUnion for a free annual report.

  2. Preventative services – Freeze your credit account by contacting the credit bureaus.

  3. Security of personal belongings – Keep your documents in a safe or hidden place.

  4. Electronic copies – Scan all important documents and store them in a secure cloud storage.

5. Legal support and useful contacts

6. Tips for quick recovery

  1. Keep copies of your documents separately: in digital and paper form.
  2. Act quickly: notify the police and relevant services on the first day.
  3. Know the procedures in advance: save time and nerves.
  4. Consult a lawyer: in doubtful or complex cases (theft of documents from many categories).

Losing documents is unpleasant and stressful, but clear actions, knowledge of contacts and procedures in Calgary will help you deal with the situation as quickly as possible. Follow the reporting procedure, renew your documents with the relevant authorities, and protect yourself from the possible consequences of identity theft. This will ensure your peace of mind and smooth integration into Canadian society.