Lost your passport? Here is the calm, correct sequence
A lost passport feels like an emergency, but the recovery path is well defined: police report first, then a reissue under the Lost/Damaged category. We handle the affidavit, the application and the appointment for a flat ₹499 — government replacement fees are separate and go directly to Passport Seva.
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A lost passport is replaced, not "re-printed"
There is no duplicate-copy counter for passports. When a booklet is lost or stolen, you apply for a reissue under the "Lost/Damaged" category on the Passport Seva portal. The passport office cancels the old booklet in its records and, after its checks, issues a brand-new passport with a new number. Any visas inside the old booklet are lost with it and must be taken up separately with the issuing country's embassy.
Two things make this category different from an ordinary renewal: the government fee is substantially higher, and the passport office scrutinises the case more closely — it is replacing a travel document it can no longer account for. That is also why the police report matters so much: it fixes the date of loss on record and protects you if the booklet is misused by someone else.
Honest scope note
We are a documentation-assistance firm, not a government agency. For ₹499 we prepare the paperwork, the Annexure F affidavit and the application, and help with the appointment. The decision, the verification and the passport itself rest entirely with the Ministry of External Affairs through Passport Seva. Nobody can lawfully "fast-track" a lost-passport case beyond the official Tatkal route.
The first 48 hours: report it, then reconstruct your records
Step one is always the police. Go to the police station covering the area where the passport was lost or stolen and lodge a report. Stations differ in practice — some register an FIR, others a lost-property complaint — but you need the report in original, because the passport office requires it with a lost-passport application. Keep extra certified copies; embassies ask for them too if a visa was inside.
Step two is reconstruction. Gather whatever traces of the old passport exist: a photocopy of the first and last pages, a scan on your phone or email, the number quoted in an old visa application, airline booking or bank KYC. None of these are strictly compulsory — the passport office can trace its own records — but every detail you supply accurately makes the file cleaner and the process quicker.
Step three is honesty in the affidavit. The Annexure F affidavit states how, when and where the loss happened. Write it plainly and truthfully. Inconsistencies between the police report and the affidavit are a common source of questions at the Kendra, and suppressing facts in a passport application is an offence under the Passports Act, 1967.
If the loss happened while you were abroad, this page does not apply — contact the nearest Indian mission, which handles Emergency Certificates and reissue overseas.
Documents for a lost-passport reissue
Carry originals plus one set of self-attested photocopies to the PSK:
- Police report / FIR in original for the lost or stolen passport
- Annexure F affidavit — how and where the passport was lost
- Proof of present address — Aadhaar, utility bill, bank passbook, rent agreement or another proof from the accepted list
- Proof of date of birth — birth certificate, school certificate showing DOB, PAN, Aadhaar or another accepted proof
- Copy of the old passport (first and last pages), if any copy or scan survives
The exact list for your case — for example, if the lost passport was a minor's, or if your address has also changed since it was issued — comes from the official Document Advisor on passportindia.gov.in. We run it with you before you gather anything. Our general passport documents page explains each proof type.
Step-by-step: from loss to new booklet
- Lodge the police reportAt the station covering the place of loss. Collect the report or FIR in original, plus copies. This document anchors everything that follows.
- Message us the detailsWhen and where it was lost, whether any copy of the old passport exists, and your travel plans. We confirm your document list from the official Document Advisor and quote the fixed ₹499 fee.
- We draft Annexure F and file the applicationReissue application under "Lost/Damaged" on the Passport Seva portal, with the affidavit drafted to match the police report exactly.
- Pay the government fee and book the slotOnline payment is mandatory before booking. We help you choose PSK Vadodara (Nizampura) or a nearby POPSK with earlier availability.
- Attend the PSK appointmentOriginals verified, biometrics captured, and the Granting Officer reviews the lost-passport case — expect a few factual questions about the loss.
- Police verification and deliveryFresh verification at your address is common in lost cases. After grant, the new passport — with a new number — arrives by Speed Post. We help you track it.
Replacement fees — effective 1 July 2026
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 revised all passport fees from 1 July 2026. Lost and stolen passports fall in the higher Lost/Damaged reissue category:
| Category | Normal | Tatkal |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 36-page booklet | ₹5,000 | ₹7,500 |
| Adult, 60-page booklet | ₹6,000 | ₹8,500 |
| Minor | ₹4,250 | ₹6,750 |
Compare that with ₹2,500 for a standard adult 36-page reissue and the incentive to keep your passport safe is obvious. Fees are paid online, directly to the government; confirm the live amount for your case on the official fee page and Fee Calculator — several popular websites still show pre-July-2026 rates.
Our professional fee: ₹499, flat
Police-report guidance, Annexure F drafting, the online application, document verification against the official list and appointment booking. Fixed quote before we start — see passport assistance pricing.
Indicative timeline — and what to do when travel is close
Lost-passport cases carry more variables than ordinary reissues because of record checks and, commonly, fresh police verification. Indicative ranges only:
| Stage | Commonly seen range |
|---|---|
| Police report | Same day to a few days, depending on the station |
| Application to appointment | Days to ~2 weeks, subject to slot availability |
| Grant with police verification | ~2 weeks to 30–45 days after the appointment |
| Printing + Speed Post delivery | A further ~3–7 working days |
If you must travel soon: apply immediately — every day matters; consider the Tatkal option, accepting that the passport office decides whether to allow it in a lost case and that the premium is not refundable if the application is downgraded to normal; and do not book non-refundable tickets against an assumed issue date. We will give you a frank read of your dates rather than a comforting one. Understand the trade-offs on our Tatkal passport page, and track progress via the steps on our application tracking guide.
So this never happens again: a five-minute checklist
- Scan the first and last pages today; store copies in email, cloud storage and DigiLocker
- Note the passport number, issue date and expiry date somewhere separate from the booklet
- Photograph every valid visa page before each trip
- Carry the passport only when actually needed — use Aadhaar or a driving licence for routine domestic ID
- At home, keep it in one fixed place; while travelling, use the hotel safe and carry a photocopy for daily identification
- Never hand the original to agents, landlords or employers for "safekeeping" — a self-attested copy suffices for legitimate purposes
A surviving copy will not spare you the reissue, but it makes the application faster and the police report more precise. For the immediate do-this-now sequence in a crisis, our knowledge article on first steps after losing a passport is written to be read on a phone, in a hurry.
The bottom line
There are two ways forward from here: bookmark this page and handle each step yourself, or send one WhatsApp message and have our team carry it. Either way you now know exactly what should happen — which is how we like our clients: informed.
Lost passport — questions we answer every week
What should I do first after losing my passport?
How much does replacing a lost passport cost in 2026?
Why is a lost passport more expensive than a normal reissue?
Is an FIR compulsory, or is a police complaint enough?
What is Annexure F?
I don't remember my old passport number. Can I still apply?
My passport had a valid visa in it. What happens to that?
I need to travel soon. Can a lost passport be replaced under Tatkal?
Will police verification be needed again?
What if I find my old passport after the new one is issued?
My passport was stolen abroad. Does this page apply?
What does Harsiddhi Services charge, and what do you actually do?
Passport lost? Send us one message and get the full plan
Tell us when and where it was lost and whether you have any copy of it. We reply with the police-report guidance, your exact document list and a fixed ₹499 quote — before any work begins.