Lost Passport Abroad? Here's What Indian Expats Must Do (and What NOT to Do)

Every year, thousands of Indian expats face passport emergencies — lost, stolen, or damaged — while traveling outside Saudi Arabia. The process can be confusing, stressful, and expensive if you don’t know the exact steps. Here is the complete guide, including the Absher complaint workflow that most Indians don’t know about.

What to do IMMEDIATELY (within 24 hours)

Step 1: File a police report

If your passport is lost or stolen:

• In Saudi Arabia: Visit the nearest police station (شرطة) and file a report. You will receive a police report number — keep this safe.
• Abroad: File a report with the local police in the country where you lost it. Get a copy of the report.

Step 2: Report on Absher (if in Saudi Arabia)

If you lost your passport while still in Saudi Arabia:

1. Login to Absher
2. Go to “My Services” → “Passports” and choose the service to report a lost expatriate passport (your employer can also report it through Muqeem)
3. Complete the online report
4. You will receive a reference number

Saudi rules require a lost passport or Iqama to be reported promptly to Jawazat (or to the police if it was stolen), so do not delay this step.

Important: After filing on Absher, you can follow up by contacting @CareAljawazat on Twitter. As @CareAljawazat confirmed: “You will receive an SMS on your registered phone number once your request is processed.” (Source)

Step 3: Contact the Indian Embassy

Whether in Saudi Arabia or abroad:

• Indian Embassy Riyadh: +966 11 488 4144 (general enquiries); 24x7 helpline +966 11 488 4697; toll-free 800 247 1234
• Indian Consulate Jeddah: +966 12 261 4093 (general enquiries); helpline +966 12 661 4276; toll-free 800 244 0003
• Indian Embassy abroad: Contact the nearest Indian mission

If you live in Saudi Arabia with a valid Iqama, the Embassy/Consulate issues a new passport in lieu of the lost one (applications go through the VFS centres). An Emergency Certificate (EC) is a one-way travel document to India only: the Embassy issues it mainly to Indians on a visit visa, or when you must travel urgently and a new passport cannot be issued in time. Issuing an EC cancels your existing passport.

The Absher complaint workflow (what most Indians miss)

A real case from Twitter: A user filed a lost passport report on Absher and waited over a month with no response. (Source)

Here is how to follow up:

1. File the report on Absher — get your reference number
2. Give it some working days — processing takes time
3. If there is still no response, contact @CareAljawazat on Twitter with your reference number
4. @Absher will redirect you to @CareAljawazat for status updates (Source)
5. @CareAljawazat will update you via SMS on your registered phone (Source)

Tip: Don’t just wait. Follow up actively through Twitter — it’s faster than calling.

What documents do you need?

For Indian Embassy (Emergency Certificate)

• Online application form filled at embassy.passportindia.gov.in (bring the printout)
• Copy of your final exit visa, or a letter from your sponsor undertaking to get the exit visa issued (not needed if you are on a visit visa)
• Copy of the lost passport (and the original passport, if available)
• Recent 2 x 2 inch passport photographs with a white background

For a new passport in lieu of a lost one (residents)

• Online application form (printout)
• Annexure F affidavit for a lost/damaged passport
• Jawazat or police report of the loss, with an authorised English translation
• Jawazat printout of your Iqama/residency status, with an authorised English translation
• Copy of your valid Iqama (original shown for verification) and a photocopy of the lost passport, if you have one
• Two recent 2 x 2 inch photographs with a white background

For Absher report

• Your Absher account credentials
• Iqama number
• Details of when/where passport was lost
• Any supporting documents

What NOT to do

• ❌ Don’t panic — the process is straightforward if you follow steps
• ❌ Don’t travel without reporting — traveling on a lost passport is illegal
• ❌ Don’t ignore the Absher report — it protects you from misuse of your passport
• ❌ Don’t delay contacting the embassy — the Embassy says an Emergency Certificate is normally delivered the same day, but a replacement passport takes longer
• ❌ Don’t forget to transfer your Iqama details to the new passport (Naqal Maloomat) — note that Absher’s online passport-update service (SAR 69 through the employer’s account) requires you to confirm the old passport was not lost, so after a loss this is usually done through your employer at Jawazat

Cost of replacement

Embassy fees shown are those in force since 1 July 2026 (Embassy of India, Riyadh passport fee schedule).

Tip: If you have travel insurance, you may be able to claim the cost of the Emergency Certificate and additional travel expenses.

Related guides

• Passport Validity Rules: 3 Months vs 6 Months
• Indian Passport Renewal in Saudi Arabia
• Absher Complete Guide
• Emergency Certificate — Saudi Arabia
• Check Huroob Status

References

1. @AljawazatKSA — Lost passport report procedure — Twitter (July 2026)
2. @CareAljawazat — SMS notification for passport report — Twitter (July 2026)
3. @Absher — Redirect to @CareAljawazat for status — Twitter (July 2026)
4. Indian Embassy Riyadh — Emergency Certificate procedures, Lost/stolen passports, Passport fee

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Passport replacement procedures may change. Always verify with the Indian Embassy and Jawazat before acting.