Stolen or Lost Documents in Rome: What to Do Immediately
5 steps to take in the first 30 minutes: block your cards, block your SIM, file a free police report, and start getting duplicates. Practical guide with numbers and addresses.
In a Nutshell
If your wallet and documents are stolen or go missing, every minute counts. You need to block your cards and SIM within the first few minutes, then file a police report — completely free — at any police station or Carabinieri barracks in Rome. The incident report you receive is what you'll need to get duplicates issued and to protect yourself against identity theft.
At a Glance
| Cost | Report: free. Duplicate CIE: €22.21. Passport: ~€116. Driving licence: ~€42. Residence permit: ~€77. |
| Timeline | Police report: 30–60 min. Duplicate CIE: 6 working days. Duplicate passport: 7–15 days. |
| Where in Rome | Questura (police headquarters — also issues residence permits) Central, Via San Vitale 15; 15 district police stations; Carabinieri barracks in every neighbourhood. |
| Documents | Any valid ID (even different from the one lost), a list of what was stolen/lost, confirmation of card and SIM block. |
What to Do in the First 30 Minutes
Your absolute priority is to block payment cards and your SIM before anyone can use them.
Block your cards by calling your bank's emergency number (available 24 hours a day):
| Network / Bank | Block number |
|---|---|
| Bancomat / PagoBancomat | 800 822 056 |
| Visa | 800 819 014 |
| Mastercard | 800 870 866 |
| American Express | 06 72 282 |
| PostePay / Carte BancoPosta | 800 902 122 |
| Intesa Sanpaolo | 800 822 056 |
| UniCredit | 800 086 086 |
| BPER / BPM | 800 027 027 |
| Revolut / N26 / other fintechs | instant block via the app |
Write down the date, time, operator's name, and block reference code: you'll need them for the police report and to dispute any unauthorised transactions. Under PSD2 rules (D.Lgs. 11/2010), you're entitled to a refund for fraudulent transactions made after the block.
Block your SIM by calling your network operator from another phone:
| Operator | SIM block number |
|---|---|
| TIM | 800 124 119 |
| Vodafone | 800 034 191 |
| WindTre | 800 999 800 |
| Iliad | iliad.it website |
| Ho Mobile | ho-mobile.it website |
| PosteMobile | 800 160 000 |
| Fastweb Mobile | 192 193 |
Ask for both the block and the issue of a replacement SIM. To collect the new SIM, explain that your document was stolen and bring a copy of the police report.
How to File the Report
The report is free and can be filed at any police station (commissariato) or Carabinieri barracks in Rome, regardless of where the incident happened.
For loss, you can start online at denuncia.poliziadistato.it by logging in with SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE (Italian electronic ID card). You get an immediate receipt, but within 48 hours you must go in person to the designated station to validate it.
For theft, you must appear in person: theft is a criminal offence that can trigger an investigation.
Main locations in Rome:
- Questura Centrale — Via San Vitale 15, tel. 06 46861 (Reports Office open 24/7)
- 15 district commissariati — full list at questure.poliziadistato.it/it/Roma
- Polfer (railway police) — Stazione Termini, Piazza dei Cinquecento, tel. 06 47306960 (for thefts on trains or in stations)
- Carabinieri barracks in every neighbourhood — find the nearest one at carabinieri.it
In an emergency: 112 (Single Emergency Number) or 113 (State Police).
Bring any valid ID — even a different type from the one lost (driving licence, passport, Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens), health card) — plus a list of everything you've lost and your card and SIM block confirmations. The officer fills out the incident report: read everything carefully before signing, and be precise about whether it was theft or loss, because the two have different legal consequences. You receive a free copy of the report — keep it for years.
Getting Replacement Documents: Who Does What
Once you have the report, you can apply for duplicates:
Electronic ID Card (Carta d'Identità Elettronica — CIE): book online at agendacie.interno.gov.it and visit the Anagrafe (civil-registry office at the Comune, handles residency) in Rome. You need the report, 1 photo and €22.21. The CIE is delivered to your home within 6 working days.
Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID) / Tessera Sanitaria (Italian health-insurance card): free of charge. Visit any Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy's tax-revenue agency) office in Rome (Roma 1–7), or download it immediately from the secure online area using SPID or CIE.
Passport: Questura di Roma (Via San Vitale 15) or a district commissariato, or book online at passaportonline.poliziadistato.it. You'll need the report, 2 photos, proof of a €73.50 payment to postal account 67422808, and a marca da bollo (revenue stamp you stick on official forms) worth €73.50. Timeline: 7–15 days.
Driving licence: Motorizzazione Civile (Via Salaria 1339) or a vehicle-registration agency. At the time of filing the report you can request a temporary permit that allows you to drive for up to 90 days.
Permesso di soggiorno (for non-EU nationals): Questura di Roma — Immigration Office, Via Teofilo Patini 23. You'll need the report, a valid passport, 4 passport-size photos, and payment of roughly €77 in total across postal orders and revenue stamp. You receive a receipt that serves as a temporary permit while you wait (30–90 days).
If you're a foreign national who has also lost your home-country passport, contact your Consulate or Embassy in Rome — you can find contact details at esteri.it. The embassy can issue an emergency travel document to get you back home.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the next day to block your cards. Every extra minute risks unauthorised withdrawals and purchases charged to you.
- Not filing a report because "it won't help." The incident report protects you if someone uses your documents for fraud or identity theft — it proves it wasn't you.
- Throwing away the report copy once you've received replacements. Keep it for years: it's proof of good faith in any future dispute.
- Declaring theft instead of loss, or vice versa. These are legally distinct: theft is a criminal offence that can be prosecuted; loss is not. Always report what actually happened.
- Giving your card PIN to the call-centre operator. Your bank will never ask for your PIN — if someone does during the block call, hang up immediately.
Special Cases
If you have no documents at all, law enforcement can identify you through their databases and, if necessary, biometric records. You won't face problems if you go in voluntarily.
Asylum seekers and people with international protection status who lose their permit should go straight to the Questura Immigration Office (Via Patini 23) with the report: a duplicate is issued to avoid being left without a valid document.
If the theft or loss also involves a vehicle registration booklet or circulation permit (libretto auto or carta di circolazione), the process is the same: file the report first, then go to the Motorizzazione Civile or a vehicle-registration agency with the required documents.
Official Sources
- State Police — Online Report
- Online Report Portal — State Police
- State Police — Theft or Loss
- Passport Online
- Rome Questura
- Carabinieri — Local Barracks
- CIE Appointment Booking — AgendaCIE
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Foreign Representations in Italy
- Single Emergency Number 112
Legal references: Criminal Code art. 624 and 624-bis (theft), art. 640 (fraud), Code of Criminal Procedure art. 333 (private-party report), D.Lgs. 11/2010 and EU Directive 2015/2366 PSD2 (refund of unauthorised transactions), DPR 642/1972 (reports exempt from stamp duty).