How to Replace a Lost Passport in the UAE (Expat Guide)
If you lose your passport in the UAE, follow these steps. Report the loss to the police. Get the formal lost passport certificate. Apply for a new passport at the embassy or consulate of your country in the UAE. Then go to GDRFA to have your residence visa stamped into your new passport. In Dubai, one extra point applies. Before the formal certificate is issued, your police report must be endorsed by the court, the Public Prosecution, and GDRFA. Embassy fees and processing times change from country to country.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Varies — confirm embassy fees and GDRFA fees
- Total time:
- Days to weeks (embassy processing varies by country)
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- u.ae
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Go Same day
Report the loss to the police
Report the loss or theft at the police station closest to where it happened. If the passport belongs to a minor, the sponsoring parent should be there to endorse the report.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare Same day
Submit the sponsor letter (if required)
If your employer sponsors you, you need a letter about the loss. The letter must be in Arabic. It must be on the letterhead of your sponsoring employer. Take it to the police department of the emirate that issued your residence visa. Also take a copy of the licence of your employer and a copy of its establishment card. If a family member sponsors you, the letter must be signed by your sponsor. Also take a copy of the passport of your sponsor.
Click to mark as done
- Go Days
Get endorsements (Dubai procedure)
In Dubai, you first make the police report. Then take the report to be stamped by the UAE court, the Public Prosecution, and GDRFA. Go to the offices in the emirate that issued your visa. Then take the report back to the police station. The police then issue a formal lost passport certificate in Arabic.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Varies by embassy
Apply for a new passport at your embassy
Take your formal lost passport certificate to the embassy or consulate of your country in the UAE. Apply there for a new passport. Ask your embassy what it needs from you, what it charges, and how long it takes.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Varies
Re-stamp the residence visa on the new passport
Take your new passport back to GDRFA. They will stamp your residence visa into it. If your old visa is still valid, the new visa keeps the same end date. If your visa expired while you were inside the UAE, GDRFA issues a new one. Ask the GDRFA office that serves your area about the application and the fees.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up Same week
Update your records
Update your new passport details everywhere your old number is recorded. Do this with your employer, your bank, and any other place that holds it. Keep a copy of your lost passport certificate with your records.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I lose my passport outside the UAE?
Report the loss in that country. Contact the embassy or consulate of your country there for a new passport. If you hold a UAE residence visa, you may need a new entry permit to come back. Check with the UAE embassy in that country.
Does the new residence visa keep the old expiry date?
Yes. GDRFA gives you a residence visa with the same end date as your old visa, if it is still valid. If your visa expired while you were inside the UAE, GDRFA issues a new one.
Are there fines for losing a passport?
u.ae does not list a fine for losing a passport. For the re-stamping step, ask the GDRFA office that serves your area about the application and fees.
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