Your passport is your most important document whenever you travel abroad. It serves as your primary means of identification, especially if you are visiting or working in another country.
But what happens if you lose your passport? This may sound like an enormous problem, indeed. Fortunately, in Dubai, there are steps you can take to resolve the situation.
Steps to Take: Lost Passport Procedure in Dubai
Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do if you lose your passport in Dubai:
#1 – Report the loss to the nearest police station.
The Dubai Police coordinates with the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and the Dubai Courts regarding these matters. At the police station, you will be asked to fill out a form and prepare some documents for a police report.
#2 – Prepare the following requirements.
If you are sponsored by a company, prepare:
- Copy of your lost passport
- Copy of loss certificate issued by the police station, stating your passport number and names of dependents (if any)
If you are sponsored by a spouse or individual, prepare:
- Copy of your lost passport
- Copy of your sponsor’s passport
- Copy of loss certificate issued by the police station, stating your passport number and names of dependents (if any)
If you are a minor, your sponsor (mother or father) should be present at the police station to report the loss.
Image Credit: Dubai Police Official FB Page
#3 – Take the police report to Dubai Courts, then to the Public Prosecution Department.
At Dubai Courts, they will acknowledge and stamp the police report. The same procedure will be done at the Public Prosecution Department, which is right next to Dubai Courts.
#4 – Take the police report to the GDRFA.
At the GDRFA, they will acknowledge and stamp the police report as well.
#5 – Return to the police station.
Upon submitting the police report with the stamps from Dubai Courts, Public Prosecution Department, and GDRFA — the police station will issue you a lost passport certificate in Arabic.
#6 – Take the loss certificate to your embassy.
Now that you have a loss certificate, you can now proceed to your embassy, where they will provide the guidelines for getting a new passport.
Losing a passport can be a scary experience, but there’s no need to worry too much. As long as you follow the steps provided in this article, you can report the loss and get a new passport in due time.
