Lost Passport Abroad Guide for Pakistani Workers

It is not only a hassle but a whole set of problems to lose a passport when you have a job abroad in Pakistan. Your identity record, residence permit, work authorization and right to travel might be linked to the old passport number.

If a lost Pakistani passport is found outside Pakistan, make sure you get to safety first, then file a report at the local office. Next, call the closest Pakistan Embassy or Consulate, and request a replacement passport or an Emergency Travel Document and inquire of the immigration authority in the country where you are traveling on how to link up the new document with your existing residence permit.The protocols followed by police, immigration and employers are different in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other countries. This guide thus differentiates the universal Pakistani passport procedure from the country requirements that have to be checked onsite.

A passport loss creates four records to repair

Do not treat the problem as solved merely because you have obtained a police report.

You may need to repair four separate records:

Record	Main authority	What needs to happen
Loss record	Local police or competent authority	Officially record the missing or stolen passport
Pakistani passport record	Pakistan mission and DGI&P	Cancel or flag the old passport and issue a replacement or ETD
Local immigration record	Host-country immigration authority	Add the new passport details to your residence or visa record
Employment record	Employer or sponsor	Update HR, work-permit, insurance and payroll records where necessary

The order matters. Although a new passport might revivify your Pakistani travel document, it won’t automatically revise your record with your employer or foreign residence permit.

First protect yourself and confirm what is missing

Look in your bedroom, at work, in your locker, in your car, in your suitcase and in your passport’s final resting place. Inquire with the hotel, accommodation manager, airline, transport company or the office for security in the workplace whether it has been handed in.

Please don’t wait for several days for the passport to arrive and then report officially.

Determine whether the incident was:

Accidental loss
Pickpocketing
Burglary
Workplace misplacement
Retention by another person
Loss together with a wallet, phone or residence card

This distinction might impact the police report and additional protective measures required.If bank cards, a phone or identity cards were also stolen, block the bank accounts, phone accounts and identities separately. Passport report won’t shield your bank account or telephone number.

also read : Best Free Places to Visit in Dubai for Workers

Do not file a false loss report

Your passport may not have been lost if it was handed to an employer, recruiter or someone else.Avoid using a fake police statement in order to get a new passport. Note the person who has the passport and if the person refuses, ask for the return of the passport in writing and follow up with the relevant labour authority, police or Pakistan mission.

Report the passport to the local authority

Also, upon loss of the passport, a police report is required by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports of Pakistan. It now recommends that the report shall contain the reference to the number of the previous passport.Go to the police station or other relevant authorities of country of incident to retrieve lost or stolen documents.

Request a report containing as much of the following as possible:

Full name
Pakistani nationality
Previous passport number
Date and approximate time of loss
Location of loss
Whether the passport was lost or stolen
Other missing documents
Police report or reference number
Officer or station identification
Official stamp or digital verification

Make sure spelling is correct and check passport number before departure.

In some cases, the police report is required to be in English or official translation of the same in English made by Pakistan missions. Requirements differ based on mission and language and attestation rules; check with the mission serving your location.

What if you do not know the passport number

Look for the number in:

A secure passport scan
Your visa or residence application
Employment records
Airline booking records
Protector documents
Employer HR records
A previous visa copy

According to DGI&P, a machine readable passport number is lost can be readily re-obtained from a Regional Passport Office in Pakistan in the presence of written request accompanied with identity documents whenever necessary. If someone is already abroad, he must first consult his Pakistan mission on what to do in that specific case, regarding the missing number.

Never guess the number to report to the police.

Notify the people responsible for your legal stay

Inform the employer/sponsor about the loss of the passport as soon as possible, especially if the residence permit or work permit is linked to the passport.

Send a written notice stating:

When the passport was discovered missing
Where it may have been lost
Police report number
Whether the residence card was also lost
Which Pakistan mission you are contacting
Whether any planned travel must be postponed

Inquire with the employer which department keeps the immigration records. This could be HR, government relations, the company representative or a sponsor in many workplaces.

Save all messages.It is not possible to obtain a Pakistani passport from your employer, but a passport may require assistance from your employer for updating your local residence, work-permit, insurance or payroll records once you receive your new passport.

Find the correct Pakistan mission

Do not rely on an address provided by an unknown person or any un-official social media page, instead use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory of Pakistani overseas missions. The directory includes Embassies and High Commissions/consulates of Pakistan in various countries and cities.

The responsible mission may depend on:

Country of residence
City or province
Consular jurisdiction
Whether a consulate operates nearer than the embassy
Whether the mission has a machine-readable passport facility

Contact the mission before travelling there. Ask about:

Appointment requirements
Police-report format
Required identity documents
Photographs and biometric presence
Passport application route
Lost-passport fees
Method for collecting the new passport
Emergency Travel Document eligibility

Never share your passport/ID scans with an unverified email address or WhatsApp number.

Choose the correct recovery document

Passport replacement is not valid for an Emergency Travel Document.

Replacement Pakistani passport

If you plan on continuing to work legally in another country while abroad and require a normal passport for your residence and travel, a replacement machine-readable passport is the best option.

DGI&P reports that Pakistan missions abroad accept applications for lost, damaged and expired passports as well as other types of passports among overseas Pakistanis. It also has an online system which includes the category Reprint Lost (first or second passport loss). The third loss should be dealt with through the appropriate Pakistan mission.

Depending on the mission and application channel, you may be asked for:

Police report
Copy of the missing passport
Original CNIC or NICOP
Copy of the local residence visa or card
Passport photographs
Application form
Biometric attendance
Official fee receipt
Employer or residence evidence
Additional verification documents

Requirements are subject to the requirements of the mission and the appeals situation. Use the checklist provided by the Mission that is handling your application.

Emergency Travel Document

An Emergency Travel Document is basically issued to return to Pakistan in case of the loss of passport and when the case fulfills the emergency conditions as decided by the mission.In case of emergency, the DGI&P can issue an ETD for return to Pakistan for a mission to Pakistan, it says. The document can only be used for the purpose of travel back to Pakistan and is issued subject to multiple missions in Pakistan.

Mission ETD requirements commonly include:

Police report
Proof of Pakistani identity
Copy of the missing passport where available
Photographs
Application form
Air booking
Evidence of urgency

The documents and fee/process varies per mission.

Which option fits your situation

Your situation	More appropriate starting route
You will continue working abroad	Replacement passport
You need normal future international travel	Replacement passport
You must return urgently to Pakistan	Ask the mission about an ETD
You cannot currently qualify for a replacement	Ask whether an ETD is available
This is your third reported passport loss	Apply through the Pakistan mission for referral and review
Your residence has expired or become irregular	Contact both the mission and host-country immigration authority

An ETD should not be used as a shortcuts passport. It can enable you to come back to Pakistan but it does not automatically give you your foreign residence, employment or right to re-enter the host country.

What happens when the passport has been lost before

The higher passport fees are applied to repeated losses for DGI&P.

Its current guidance states:

A first-time loss is charged at double the relevant passport fee.
A second-time loss is charged at four times the relevant fee.
A third-time loss abroad may be referred by the Pakistan mission to DGI&P for further orders when the mission considers the circumstances appropriate.

Review the current fee schedule with DGI&P or through the mission prior to applying. NEVER use an old blog or payment screen shot.If a claim is a repeated loss claim, it may be necessary to verify more in depth. Avoid making a trip reservation or committing to an employer to a definite completion date until the mission indicates how the case will be handled.

Reconnect the new passport to your residence record

This is just the Pakistani side of the recovery for the replacement passport.

Your foreign immigration record may still contain:

Old passport number
Old passport expiry date
Residence visa connected to the lost passport
Work permit information
Entry and exit history
Employer sponsorship record

Please check with the host-country authority to keep this information up to date before you travel.

Saudi Arabia

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) is the Saudi official body responsible for the entry, residence and travel-status of expatriates. The current guidance of the Saudi government regarding the loss of expatriate’s passport or Iqama is to report to the relevant Passport Department, in cases of a theft, to the police.Due to possible changes in procedure or penalties, please check the current reporting process with Jawazat or official complaint and report service. Residents have an official channel through the General Directorate of Passports to make complaints and reports.

Your employer/combination representative might need to help you update the new passport in the immigration and employment systems.

United Arab Emirates

According to the UAE Government guidance, an expatriate resident who loses his/her passport must report the incident to the police, get a new passport from the embassy/consulate of his/her country and re-register the residence record with the new passport. The supporting requirements may vary depending on a person’s company sponsorship, family sponsorship or the emirate they have the residence under.

GDRFA Dubai is responsible for handling Dubai residence matters. ICP oversees matters of identity and residence under the Federal government, for the other emirates. Please verify the appropriate authority before applying.

Qatar

The Ministry of Interior issues a form for modifications of information about the resident, including modification of the passport and reporting of loss of passport or identity card, in Qatar. It also provides its residence services to transfer information from an expired, lost or damaged passport to a new passport.Find out from the employer or sponsor what procedure applies to your residence record, under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior.

Other countries

Don’t replicate the Saudi, UAE or Qatar process in other countries.

Contact:

Local police
National immigration authority
Labour authority where relevant
Employer or sponsor
Pakistan embassy or consulate

Request written instructions for the procedure, if possible.

Do not travel until the new status is clear

Having a replacement passport will not necessarily be sufficient to travel overseas or return to your country of employment.

Before purchasing or using a ticket, confirm:

Replacement passport has been received.
Name and date of birth are correct.
Host-country residence record has been updated.
Work permit remains valid.
Exit or re-entry authorization is valid where applicable.
Airline accepts the documents for the planned journey.
Transit-country requirements are satisfied.
Old passport has been officially reported and cancelled.

ETD usually goes back to Pakistan not a routine trip to a different country! Check with the issuing mission and airline before making a booking.

What if the old passport is found later

It should not be used with unofficially given instructions.

If a passport has been lost it may have been declared invalid or cancelled. It can cause identity and immigration issues if it is attempted for travel purposes.

Contact:

The police station that recorded the loss
The Pakistan mission handling your case
The host-country immigration authority where required

Complete their instructions to surrender, cancel or keep the retrieved booklet.

Do not tear out pages, visas or stamps.

Protect yourself from recovery scams

An employee who has lost his/her passport is easy prey for those willing to supply illegal solutions.

Avoid anyone who claims they can:

Remove the lost-passport record
Issue a passport without identity verification
Create a replacement police report
Transfer a visa through a private contact
Produce an unofficial ETD
Guarantee same-day immigration approval
Arrange travel using an edited passport scan
Recover the passport after an advance payment

Only pay via the channels designated by the police, Pakistan mission, DGI&P or host country authority.It is illegal for any private person or organization to make a Pakistani passport or ETD.

Build one recovery file

Create a paper and digital folder containing:

Police report
Police reference number
Copy of lost passport
CNIC or NICOP copy
Residence card copy
Work permit copy
Employment contract
Employer letter
Passport application receipt
Mission correspondence
New passport copy
Immigration update receipt
Airline communication
Record of all official payments

Use clear dates in the filenames.

A simple recovery log can prevent confusion:

Date	Action	Authority	Reference	Next step
Day of loss	Police report filed	Local police	Report number	Contact mission
Next contact	Passport case opened	Pakistan mission	Application number	Submit documents
After issuance	New passport received	Pakistan mission	Passport number	Update residence
Final stage	Residence record updated	Immigration authority	Transaction number	Confirm travel status

It’s not the number of papers that you collect that is the most useful evidence. It is a clear chain which provides details of the time that the loss was reported, the restoration of Pakistani identity and how the host country treated the new passport.

Practical Recovery Checklist

Immediately after discovering the loss

Search the last verified locations.
Determine whether the passport was lost or stolen.
Secure any missing bank cards and phone services.
Notify the employer or sponsor.
Find a secure copy of the passport.
Record the approximate time and location of loss.

At the local authority

File an official report.
Include the previous passport number where possible.
Check the spelling of your name.
Obtain a stamped or verifiable copy.
Ask whether translation or further certification is available.
Save the report reference number.

With the Pakistan mission

Confirm the correct consular jurisdiction.
Ask whether an appointment is required.
Confirm lost-passport document requirements.
Choose replacement passport or request ETD assessment.
Use only the official fee channel.
Save the application and payment receipts.
Do not promise a completion date until confirmed.

After receiving the new document

Check all personal details.
Update the employer.
Update the residence or visa record.
Update work-permit information where required.
Update insurance and banking records if linked to the old number.
Confirm travel eligibility before booking.
Keep the police report and replacement evidence.

Security precautions

Never use the reported lost passport if recovered.
Never alter a passport scan.
Never buy an unofficial travel document.
Never give identity copies to an unknown intermediary.
Blur passport numbers when sharing a case publicly.
Store future copies in a protected digital folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply online after losing my Pakistani passport abroad

DGI&P’s online service includes the Reprint Lost category for a first or second reported loss by overseas Pakistanis. A third loss requires handling through the relevant Pakistan mission. Confirm that you meet the online application conditions before paying.

Is a police report always required

DGI&P requires a police report for a lost passport case and states that the previous passport number should be included. The mission may impose additional local requirements depending on the country.

Can I continue working with only a passport photocopy

A photocopy can help prove your identity and support the replacement application, but it is not a valid replacement passport. Ask your employer and local immigration authority what temporary evidence is accepted while the case is being processed.

Can the Pakistan embassy issue a passport immediately

Do not assume so. Identity verification, previous-passport confirmation, repeated-loss review and document delivery can affect the process. Mission timelines differ, and official estimates may not include additional verification or courier delays.

Can I travel to another country using an Emergency Travel Document

A Pakistani ETD is generally issued for returning to Pakistan only. Confirm the permitted route directly with the issuing mission and airline. Do not assume it supports continued employment travel or re-entry into your country of residence.

Will my residence permit remain valid after the passport is lost

The legal status does not necessarily disappear at the same moment as the passport, but the residence record may need to be updated with the replacement passport. Follow the process of the host-country immigration authority and do not travel until your status is confirmed.

What if the passport and residence card were both lost

Report both documents. The passport is replaced through the Pakistan mission or DGI&P process, while the residence card is replaced through the host-country authority. These are separate applications.

Should I report a passport being kept by my employer as lost

Do not knowingly file an inaccurate loss report. Request the passport’s return in writing and seek assistance from the appropriate labour authority, police or Pakistan mission if it is being withheld.

Disclaimer

The information in this guide is official information that was reviewed on 25 July 2026. Passport and police, residence and immigration requirements may vary and are subject to change with each country and unique situation. Before paying fees or travelling, double check the current process with the Pakistan mission in the country of interest and the authority in that country.

Final Factual Verification Notes

DGI&P currently requires a police report for a lost-passport application.
The report should include the previous passport number where available.
Online Reprint Lost applications are currently limited to first and second reported losses.
Third-loss cases abroad require handling through a Pakistan mission and may be referred to DGI&P.
An ETD is generally for returning to Pakistan and is not equivalent to a replacement passport.
Mission documents, fees and appointments vary by country and should be rechecked before publication.
A replacement Pakistani passport does not automatically update a foreign residence or work record.
Saudi, UAE and Qatar examples are presented separately and should not be applied to other countries.
No universal passport replacement or residence-update processing time is promised.
The article does not guarantee passport issuance, immigration approval, employment continuity or travel permission.