Lost Your Passport in Pakistan? Complete Replacement Guide & Contacts
Lost your passport in Pakistan? This step-by-step guide covers FIR requirements, Directorate General of Immigration & Passports process, fees, timelines, and emergency travel documents.
Lost Passport — More Common Than You Think
Thousands of Pakistanis lose their passports annually — in airports, hotels, at home, from bags, or through theft. A lost Pakistani passport creates serious complications: you cannot travel internationally, cannot apply for visas, and may need to re-prove identity for various processes. The good news: Pakistan's Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGIP) has a well-defined replacement process.
Step 1: File an FIR
Unlike CNIC (where FIR is recommended), reporting a lost passport to police is strongly recommended and may be required by the passport office — especially if the passport was stolen. An FIR protects you from liability if someone fraudulently uses your passport documents.
- 1Visit the nearest police station
- 2Report the loss: provide passport number (from a copy or from DGIP records), your name, CNIC details
- 3Get a copy of the FIR
- 4For stolen passports: the FIR is typically mandatory
Step 2: Online Token via DGIP Portal
The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (dgip.gov.pk) handles all Pakistani passports. The process now requires an online appointment token before visiting the passport office:
- 1Go to dgip.gov.pk and create an account
- 2Select 'Passport Renewal' (lost passport uses the same process as renewal)
- 3Fill in your details, upload required documents
- 4Select your nearest passport office and get an appointment slot
- 5Pay the fee via bank or online payment
- 6Visit the passport office on your appointment date
Required Documents for Lost Passport
- CNIC (original and photocopy)
- Copy of old/lost passport if available (any copy you have)
- FIR copy (for stolen passport, or if requested by passport office)
- Bank payment receipt of the passport fee
- 2 recent passport-size photographs (blue or white background)
- Old passport details (number, issue date, expiry date) if known
Fee Structure for Passport Replacement 2026
| Passport Type | Normal (30 days) | Urgent (7-10 days) | Fast Track (2-3 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36-page, 5-year validity | PKR 3,000 | PKR 5,000 | PKR 10,000 |
| 72-page, 5-year validity | PKR 5,000 | PKR 8,000 | PKR 15,000 |
| 36-page, 10-year validity | PKR 5,000 | PKR 8,000 | PKR 15,000 |
| 72-page, 10-year validity | PKR 7,000 | PKR 10,000 | PKR 18,000 |
Note: Fees are approximate and subject to revision. Check dgip.gov.pk for current fees before visiting.
Lost Passport ABROAD — Emergency Process
If your passport is lost or stolen while you're outside Pakistan, you cannot simply visit a DGIP office. The process is through the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate:
- 1Report theft to local police and get a police report/crime reference number
- 2Contact the Pakistani embassy/consulate immediately
- 3For emergency travel: request an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) — issued within 24-48 hours
- 4ETD allows one-way travel to Pakistan to complete full passport replacement
- 5For non-urgent replacement: embassy issues a new passport (takes 4-8 weeks, varies by country)
QR Tags on Passport Covers and Travel Document Holders
A passport cover with a Nishaaan QR tag means that if your passport is left in a hotel room, on a plane, or at an airport — an honest finder can scan to return it. Hotel staff routinely find passports in rooms after checkout. Airport staff find them at gates. Having a QR tag on the cover — linking to your name and a contact number — enables instant return without going through official lost property channels (which can take days).
DGIP Contact Information