How to Apply for Lost Passport? Step-by-Step Guide 2025

When traveling, the experience of losing your passport becomes very stressful. Learning how to apply for lost passport will significantly simplify the administrative procedures. The proper actions at your current location in India or abroad will lead to the quick acquisition of your replacement passport. You'll find all the necessary information about applying for a lost passport throughout this guide, which shows step-by-step instructions for filing an FIR, collecting documentation, and making appointments at either the Passport Seva Kendra or an embassy. Following proper procedures and knowing how to apply for passport when lost while being prepared will help you receive your passport replacement quickly.

Latest Facts & News Related to Lost Passport (2025)

Losing your passport can be stressful, but staying updated on the latest developments can ease the process. Here are some recent updates:

1. The Ministry of External Affairs has streamlined online applications for lost passports in India.

2. Passport Seva Kendras now offer Tatkal services for urgent reissues.

3. FIR submission is mandatory but can now be uploaded digitally.

4. Indian missions abroad have introduced faster Emergency Certificate issuance.

5. Passport application fees have been revised for 2025.

6. Biometric verification is now required for all reissued passports.

7. Annexure L affidavit has been simplified for quicker notarization.

8. Digital tracking of passport applications is available via mobile apps.

9. Enhanced security measures are being implemented to prevent fraudulent reissues.

10. New guidelines have been issued for reporting lost passports while travelling internationally.

What to Do Immediately After Losing Your Passport in 2025?

Take immediate steps to know how to apply for lost passport  to avoid complicated situations. Here's what you need to do:

1. The first step should be to stay calm while tracing your recent steps.

Respond with a calm attitude to check your belongings, then inspect your hotel room and your latest locations. New identities occasionally replace lost passports because people tend to misplace them rather than lose them permanently.

2. The next step for how to apply for lost passport requires filing a First Information Report.

Report the loss at the nearest police station. You need to acquire the FIR document since it is required to support.

3. Call the Passport Office or visit the nearest Indian Embassy abroad for assistance.

To know how to apply for lost passport in India requires visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). International travellers must reach the Indian embassy or consulate nearest them to get guidance.

4. Contact your travel insurance provider when this service applies to you (and has been obtained).

Some travellers' insurance policy reimburses expenses, including reissue fees and emergency travel documents following passport loss.

5. Having multiple copies of your lost passport will aid the process of how to apply for lost passport.

Keep all passport copies, both digital and physical forms, easily accessible. Attestation for the passport reissue can be accelerated through identity verification.

6. Monitor for Misuse

You must report your passport loss to immigration authorities to stop possible scams from using your document when knowing how to apply for a passport when lost. Report any observed questionable activities to the police and passport office while taking immediate action. 

Also Read: What is RPO in Passport? Experts Complete Guide 2025

How to Apply for Lost Passport in India in 2025?

 The process of how to apply for lost passport becomes easier when individuals follow the appropriate procedures after losing their passports. Here's what you need to do: 

1. Filing an FIR

• The formal process of how to apply for lost passport in India begins with the local authority's report submission.

• The nearest police station in the area of your lost passport must be your first destination for reporting.

• Report the loss to the authorities at a police station by filing an FIR, which should include all pertinent details.

• After submitting an FIR, one must obtain a copy because reissued passports require this document. 

2. Collecting Required Documents

• These documents are necessary to obtain a new passport: Identity proof, Address proof, a copy of the lost passport, FIR, and an Annexure L Affidavit.

• Proof of Identity, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, Voter ID, or Driving License.

• The following documents endorse proof of residency for how to apply for lost passport in India: utility statements, including electricity, water, and gas, alongside banking documentation and rental accords.

• Providing a copy of your lost passport remains mandatory if you possess a scanned or photocopied version.

• An official proof showing your submission of the lost passport case to police authorities.

• Annexure L Affidavit is a certified affidavit showing the presence of the pass of loss of the passport of loss. 

3. Scheduling an Appointment at PSK

• The next step on how to apply for lost passport is to create an appointment at any Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

• Users should access the official Passport Seva website.

• Complete either registration or login using the valid credentials you have established.

• Complete the application form, which processes lost passport services with accurate information.

• Visit one of the Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in the area where you currently reside.

• Users must select their desired appointment date according to available spots during the booking process. 

4. Paying the Application Fees

The amount necessary on how to apply for lost passport depends on the chosen processing method.

Candidates can complete payment through debit/credit cards, UPI, and net banking online systems.

After completing these steps during their scheduled appointment, people must visit the PSK with their documents for biometric verification to learn how to apply for a passport if lost. 

Also Read: What is File Number in Passport? Latest Experts Guide

Latest Documents Required for Lost Passport Application in 2025

Correct documentation serves as a key factor that accelerates applications to know how to apply for lost passport. All needed documentation must be obtained before submitting your application. 

1. A person must show proof of their identity through one of the allowed documents.

• The Aadhaar Card represents a standardized government-issued identifier available for service authentication throughout India.

• The PAN card functions mainly for tax purposes yet provides equal validity as an ID document.

• Voter ID – Issued by the Election Commission, it serves as proof of identity and citizenship.

• Driving License – A valid government-issued identity document that sometimes serves as address proof. 

2. The required evidence for address confirmation includes the following options.

• The applicant must submit an electricity or water bill that has been issued within the last three to six months and should be addressed to them for verification of residence.

• Any recognized bank can issue Bank Statements covering six months that must demonstrate the applicant's current residence location for authentic verification.

• Proof of residence depends on the Rental Agreement, a legally signed contract between tenant and landlord that establishes official proof. A notarized document makes its contents more trustworthy to external parties. 

3. Annexure L Affidavit

• An officially sworn document asserts that the missing passport belongs to the applicant and the applicant does not currently possess it.

• The affidavit must obtain notarization for both legitimacy and authentication purposes. A notary public holding public registration status must verify and apply their seal to the document.

• The affidavit must present key information about the lost passport number, the situation of the loss, the applicant's truth statement, and a petition to obtain a new passport.

• If your documents are prepared in advance, you will face less trouble since the processing of how to apply for a passport if lost will be faster. 

How to Apply for a Passport When Lost Abroad in 2025?

You will likely encounter distress from losing your passport when travelling outside India and need to know how to apply for a lost passport; however, swift action can lead to recovering your essential travel documentation. Here's what to do: 

1. Notify the Authorities Concerned about the Lost Documents in the Region

Submit a report to the closest police station to start the passport recovery process.

Request to receive an official copy of the filed police report. 

2. Reach out to Indian diplomatic locations, either Embassies or Consulates abroad.

Go to the closest Indian mission facility and provide details about your missing passport.

Schedule an appointment if required. 

3. Obtain the Emergency Certificate (EC) application at the embassy where you submitted your certificate report.

The Emergency Certificate application form enables you to travel back to India.

Present the police report while submitting identity proofs, including Aadhaar, PAN, or voter ID documents. 

4. Pay the Applicable Fees

This service's costs differ based on the destination country and the travel urgency.

The accepted payment methods consist of using local currency or credit card options. 

5. Collect Your Emergency Certificate

Emergency cases are processed faster than other applications, although the exact processing duration differs.

Travelers can utilize an emergency certificate upon issuance of an emergency certificate once they enter India. 

6. Process to obtain a new passport occurs in India 

Travel back to India to complete the lost passport application at the Passport Seva Kendra to obtain a new passport. 

Also Read: Difference Between a Visa and a Passport: Complete Guide

Current Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Lost Passport 

A minor error can postpone your passport renewal. Prevent these usual blunders and know how to apply for lost passport:

1. Failure to File an FIR

• In most situations, an FIR is unavoidable, particularly if the passport has been stolen.

• Your application can be rejected or held up without a copy of the FIR.

• Submit it at the closest police station and obtain a copy as proof.

2. Submission of Incomplete Documents

• Double-check that you possess all documents necessary, such as:

• Proof of identity (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, etc.)

• Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)

• Annexure L affidavit (notarized affidavit of loss of passport)

• Missing documents can result in delay or application rejection.

3. Delaying the Application

• Apply immediately after losing your passport.

• Delays can affect future travel plans and raise security concerns.

• Timely action guarantees quicker processing and reissue.

4. Completing Wrong Information in the Form

• Recheck personal information before applying.

• Errors in name, date of birth, or address can cause delays in processing.

• Be accurate to prevent unnecessary rejection or corrections.

5. Failure to Notarize Annexure L Affidavit

• Annexure L is a compulsory affidavit of loss of a passport.

• It should be notarized by a qualified notary to be valid.

• An unsigned or unnotarized affidavit may lead to application rejection. 

Also Read: Passport Types in India: Expert's Latest Guide in 2025

Conclusion

The process of how to apply for lost passport will reduce both replacement time and travelling inconveniences. Recovering from losing your passport becomes more manageable if you start the replacement immediately. You must store your passport, visa, and essential documents as digital copies in secure cloud storage or email to easily access these documents. Reporting a lost or stolen passport to authorities immediately prevents identity theft and misusage of your passport while helping you obtain a replacement.

The Indian process of how to apply for passport when lost begins with an FIR submission at your closest police station and subsequent application at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). You must gather all mandatory documents, including identity proof, address proof, an FIR copy, and a notarized Annexure L affidavit. Seek help from the Indian embassy or consulate near your location, together with local police reporting and an Emergency Certificate application to enable your return.

Having proper documentation and adhering to appropriate procedures leads to simplified passport issuance. The Tatkal service helps people speed up the process of how to apply for lost passport in cases of emergency authorization. Preventing travel document-related troubles requires travellers to maintain passport copies and invest in protected containers to secure essential travel materials. Contact TerraTern for more information on how to apply for passport if lost.