Govt issues new guidelines for reissuing lost, stolen or damaged passports

Photo: Collected

The government has issued new guidelines for the reissue of passports that have been lost, stolen or damaged.

Under the new rules, no additional penalty fee will be charged beyond the prescribed passport fee if a passport is lost, stolen or damaged for the first time. However, from the second occurrence onwards, a penalty of Tk 10,000 will be charged in addition to the prescribed fee each time a passport is lost, stolen or damaged.

The guidelines were issued in a circular from the Immigration-4 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Deputy Secretary Mohammad Nuruzzaman signed the circular, which was published by the ministry on Tuesday (September 22).

According to the circular, a significant number of people have recently been applying for passport reissue after declaring their passports lost, stolen or damaged within the country. As passports are sensitive travel documents, their misuse may create serious security risks, including human trafficking, illegal entry and anti-state activities. The new guidelines have been issued considering these concerns.

Under the new rules, a lost, stolen or damaged passport must be reported immediately through the designated website or online system of the Department of Immigration and Passports. A general diary (GD) must also be filed at the nearest police station.

The concerned police station will verify the authenticity of the GD within 72 hours and send a report to the Department of Immigration and Passports or the nearest passport office. However, if the report is not received within 72 hours, an application for passport reissue can be submitted by attaching a copy of the GD. The Department of Immigration and Passports will then issue a ‘Lost Circular’ and complete the reissue process.

If verification of the GD reveals that a passport was submitted to an individual, organisation or travel agency for the purpose of obtaining a visa and was unlawfully withheld, and it is not immediately possible to recover or retrieve the passport, a new passport may be issued after revoking the previous one.

After receiving information about a lost or stolen passport, the Special Branch will update the necessary information in its Immigration Management System (IMS). If necessary, Interpol will also be notified and further action will be taken in accordance with the rules.

If a passport is lost, stolen or damaged while abroad, the incident must be reported through the designated online system as well as to the concerned Bangladesh embassy, high commission or consulate. The concerned mission will issue a ‘Lost Circular’, complete the passport reissue process and forward the relevant information to the appropriate authorities.

The circular further states that when a new passport is issued in place of a lost, stolen or damaged passport, the datapage will clearly state, ‘PREVIOUS PASSPORT IS REPORTED TO BE LOST’. The status of the previous passport must also be updated as ‘Lost/Revoked’ in the relevant database.

In the case of reissuing a lost or stolen passport, the applicant’s basic identity information—including name, date of birth, father’s name and mother’s name—cannot be completely changed. However, lawful corrections of valid information may be considered separately through the prescribed correction process.

If an applicant still possesses an identifiable portion of a partially damaged passport, a new passport may be issued after surrendering that portion. However, if the passport is completely damaged and no identifiable portion can be produced, the guidelines applicable to lost passports must be followed.

A passport reported as lost or stolen cannot be reactivated or used for international travel even if it is subsequently recovered after being revoked.

If the passport is found, the concerned person must immediately notify the police station and report it through the designated online system. Those staying abroad must also notify the concerned Bangladesh mission.

The relevant authorities may update the database and immigration alerts, if necessary.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the new guidelines were issued by consolidating and revising previous circulars, orders and instructions related to the reissue of lost, stolen or damaged passports. The guidelines will come into effect from the date of issuance of the circular.