Lost your passport in UAE? Here's how to get a new one

Top Stories

Lost your passport in UAE? Heres how to get a new one

The first thing you need to do is lodge a police complaint

By Web Report

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Mon 30 Oct 2017, 10:16 AM

Last updated: Tue 31 Oct 2017, 4:57 PM

If you have lost your passport in UAE, the first thing you need to do is lodge a police complaint and obtain a letter from the police station addressed to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner's Affairs (GDRFA). After this, you must approach the GDRFA that will stamp the police letter. 
The GDRFA should provide you with a printout of your visa status. 
Your smartphone is now your passport at Dubai airport
You will be issued a 'lost passport' certificate to make you eligible to get a new passport. Once you have secured the certificate, you may contact the foreign consulate in Dubai and apply for a new passport.  Upon issuance of a new passport, you should go back to the GDRFA for them to stamp a visa on it.

Reporting a lost passport 

Documents required:  
- Two recent passport size photographs
- A copy of the lost passport (if any)
- In case the lost passport belongs to a minor, sponsor (father or mother) should be present
- A printed, stamped letter from the company and copies of the company's Trade License and the Establishment Card (only for expatriates on company's sponsorship)
- A letter from the sponsor showing his/her signature and a copy of the sponsor's passport (only for expatriates on an individual's sponsorship) 

Procedure

1. Expatriates should go to the police station closest to where they lost their passport, fill out a special form and submit the above-listed documents. Collect the police report which then needs to be endorsed by 3 other Dubai government entities.
2. Take the police report and go to Dubai Courts reception, who will enter it on their system & stamp the police report at no charge.
UAE passports get digital security upgrade
3. Go to the Public Prosecution Department (next to Dubai Courts) for the same procedure at no charge.
4. Next, take the report to the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), pay Dh20 and get the police report stamped.
5. Submit to the same police station that gave you the report. They will then issue you a formal 'lost passport' certificate in Arabic.
6. Take the certificate to your embassy and follow your embassy's rules to get a new passport.
Some embassies require you to have the Dubai Police 'lost passport' report legally translated from Arabic into your country's language.  Once you have the new passport from your embassy, return to GDRFA to get a new visa issued. 
UAE citizens can directly go to the General Department of Investigation to complete all procedures.
Steps for those sponsored by an individual/spouse
The required documents for registration of report of passport loss for people sponsored by individuals include a copy of the sponsor's passport, a copy of the passport of the sponsored and a copy of the 'lost passport' certificate issued by the police station, stating the passport number and names of the dependents (if any).
Steps for minors
In case the lost passport belongs to a minor, the sponsor (father or mother) should be present to report the loss at a police station. Once you report at the police station, they will issue a police report to you.
Steps for UAE citizens
Request for issuing a passport (electronic) in lieu of lost passport for UAE citizens.
This service allows the customer the possibility of applying for electronic passport in lieu of lost one.
Required documents: 
1. Minutes of the statement from the naturalization investigation section.
2. One recent photograph according to the specifications of the applicant.
Additional Info
* Requirements for passport photo to issue the electronic passport:
1. Colour image with a white background.
2. Clear and free of shadows.
3. Natural colours and eyes open and clear.
4. The glasses must not reflect the lights and its lenses not coloured and should not cover any part of the eye.
5. You can wear the headscarves and head cover (gutra) that does not affect the general appearance of the right person and the basic features of the face.
6. With respect to children, the baby must appear in the picture alone without persons and chairs and the facial expression and mouth must be closed.
7. The validity of passport 5 years from the date of issue.

Processing Time: 

1 working day 

Fees: 

Dh300 for replacement of passport.
Dh20 delivery fees 
Restamp UAE residence visa
Once you have the new passport in place, the next step is to get the residence visa, which ensures your legal stay in the UAE.
Issuing of residence visa due to lost passport inside UAE only 
Procedure
Residency Department offers a service of issuing a residence visa with the same validity period as that in a lost passport if still valid, or issuing a new residence permit with a new validity only if it is expired inside UAE.
Documents required 
Lost passport application form prepaid through E-form (which includes 2 photographs of the sponsored person + sponsor's signature and stamp (in case lost inside UAE):
- Original newly issued passport.
- Lost passport report and certificate from the police station.
- Data list of the lost residence permit.
Special note 
In case the sponsored person is working at a government or semi-government department:
- Copy of the establishment card (valid).
In case sponsored person is working at private sector:
- Copy of the valid commercial license + copy of the valid establishment card.

Fees Required

Dh170 residence permit fees payable through (E-form), remaining period of old residence permit considering each year Dh100.  
In case the passport is lost outside UAE, sponsor must cancel residence permit and reissue a new entry permit. 
Also, the applicant must contact the embassy of the country in which the passport was lost to obtain a permit.


More news from