How to Replace Lost or Damaged Pakistan Passport

Losing a Pakistani passport — whether physically misplaced, stolen, or damaged beyond usability — is a stressful event particularly when international travel is involved or imminent. Unlike CNIC duplication where the CNIC number stays the same on the replacement, lost or damaged passport replacement produces a fresh passport with a new passport number. Old passport numbers don't transfer to replacements; this matters because visas issued to the old passport number don't automatically transfer either. The replacement process involves police reporting for lost cases, documentation chain to establish identity without the original passport in hand, and full reissuance procedure. This guide covers the complete process for replacement and the cascading considerations.

Passport number changes — a key distinction from CNIC

Understanding what's different about passport replacement:

• CNIC duplicate keeps the same number — your 13-digit CNIC number is permanent across renewals and duplicates. The underlying NADRA record continues uninterrupted.
• Passport replacement creates new passport number — each issued passport has a unique passport number. Replacement is treated as a new passport issuance with its own number, not as continuation of the lost one.
• Why the difference — passports are travel documents that get scanned, stamped, and physically used in ways CNICs aren't. The passport number is tied to the specific physical document; a new physical document needs a new number for tracking and verification purposes.
• Implications for visas — visas issued in your lost passport were linked to that specific passport number. The new passport has different number; the relationship between you and the old visa isn't automatically transferred.
• Old visa validity — depends on the issuing country's policies. Some countries honour visas issued to previous passports of the same person (verifying via CNIC linkage); others require visa transfer or reissuance to new passport number.
• Practical approach — for international travel needs after passport replacement, verify each visa's status with the relevant country or consulate before depending on it.

Police FIR for lost or stolen passport

The First Information Report process:

• Why FIR is required — creates legal documentation that you reported the passport lost or stolen on a specific date. Protects against misuse claims if someone else uses the lost passport.
• Where to file — police station with jurisdiction over where the loss occurred. For uncertain locations, file at the station near your residence or near where you last had the passport.
• What to include in FIR — passport number (from photocopies you may have kept, or memory if you remember), date and approximate time of loss, circumstances (theft details if applicable), your CNIC details, contact information.
• Certified copy essential — request official certified copy of the FIR. DGIP needs the formal document, not just your verbal account.
• Damaged-but-present passports skip FIR — if your passport is damaged but still in your possession, you have the physical evidence and don't need police report.
• Time-sensitive filing — file FIR promptly after discovery of loss. Delays may raise questions about whether the loss is genuine and when it actually occurred.
• Lost abroad — file police report in the country where the loss occurred (per local procedures). Pakistani embassy may also be informed for emergency travel document if needed for return.

Documents required for passport replacement

The specific documentation set:

• FIR certified copy for lost/stolen cases. Establishes the loss officially.
• Damaged passport itself for damaged cases — even if illegible or in pieces. Physical evidence of the damage and the passport number on cancelled remnants.
• Valid CNIC — identity verification. Must be current.
• Photocopies of old passport if you have them — the bio-data page, visa pages, anything showing the lost passport's number and details. These help DGIP locate the original record.
• Recent photograph — DGIP-compliant for the new passport.
• Affidavit explaining circumstances — notarised statement covering: when and how the passport was lost or damaged, your relationship to the document, confirmation that you haven't recovered it since, intention to replace.
• Replacement fee — full passport fee for the new passport based on chosen parameters. Treated as fresh issuance.
• Additional supplementary documentation — driving licence as secondary identification, any older passports if you've had multiple, etc. Helps establish the identity chain when primary document is missing.

Step-by-step replacement process

1. 1
   File FIR if passport was lost or stolen

   Visit nearest police station promptly after discovering loss. Provide passport number, circumstances of loss, your CNIC. Request certified FIR copy for DGIP submission. For damaged passports, this step is skipped.

2. 2
   Gather supporting documentation

   FIR copy, damaged passport (if damage case), CNIC, photographs, affidavit explaining circumstances, any old passport photocopies you have. Prepare for both online submission and possible office visit.

3. 3
   Apply through DGIP portal or visit passport office

   Online submission through DGIP portal or Passport Asaan App with supporting documentation uploaded. Alternatively, in-person submission at passport office. Complex cases may benefit from in-person submission.

4. 4
   Specify replacement reason

   Application form asks why replacement is needed: lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed. Provide accurate information; different categories may have slightly different verification requirements.

5. 5
   Submit documentation and affidavit

   All supporting documents alongside the application. DGIP staff verify completeness and authenticity. Queries are issued for any deficiencies.

6. 6
   Pay the replacement fee

   Full passport fee for your chosen parameters. Processing speed selection applies normally — urgent or fast track for time-sensitive needs.

7. 7
   Biometric appointment

   Fresh biometric capture for the new passport. Bring all documentation to the appointment for verification by office staff.

8. 8
   Background verification

   Lost passport replacement may trigger additional background checks than routine renewal — confirming the FIR's authenticity, any border control flags, etc. Allow extra processing time.

9. 9
   Receive replacement passport

   New passport with new passport number. The lost one is recorded as cancelled in DGIP's system — if it's ever presented at borders, it shows as cancelled rather than valid.

What happens to visas from the lost or damaged passport

The downstream implications:

• Visas are linked to specific passport numbers — the issuing country's records show the visa associated with the old passport number. New passport doesn't automatically inherit them.
• Country-specific policies — some countries verify visas via passport holder identity (CNIC or biometrics) rather than just passport number, honouring valid visas across passport changes. Others strictly tie visa to passport number.
• Visa transfer procedures — some countries have specific procedures for transferring valid visas to new passports. Apply at the country's consulate with your new passport, old visa evidence (from your photocopies if old passport is unavailable), and required fees.
• Visa reissuance may be needed in some cases — effectively applying for a fresh visa to the new passport. Time and fee investment but produces clean documentation.
• Travel before resolution — for urgent travel needs before visa transfer is complete, contact the destination country's consulate to understand options.
• Specific countries with automatic recognition — some countries (with Pakistan's specific visa agreements) may recognise previously-issued valid visas across passport changes more readily. Check destination policies.
• Plan visa matters alongside passport replacement — if you have valuable visas in the lost passport, addressing them is part of the replacement process broadly, not just the passport itself.

Lost or damaged passport — common questions

Closing note on passport stewardship

Pakistani passports represent significant documentation investment and (when they accumulate visas) considerable international travel infrastructure. Treating passports as the valuable documents they are — secure storage at home, careful carrying when travelling, photocopies kept separately as backup — reduces loss probability and limits the damage if loss does occur.

Keeping good photocopies of your passport (bio-data page plus any active visa pages) in safe separate locations is particularly valuable. If loss occurs, the photocopies substantially help in: police FIR (you have the passport number to include), replacement application (DGIP can locate the original record faster), visa transfer requests (documentation of what visas existed).

Replacement procedures, fees and visa considerations described above reflect DGIP's operational practice and international visa infrastructure as of early 2026. Specific procedures evolve — verify current details when actually facing a replacement situation.