Losing a passport before renewal is a common situation — theft, misplacement, water damage, fire incidents or shifting residences often result in the passport not being traceable. Many Indian applicants ask a critical question: Can you still renew or reissue a passport without the old one?
The answer is YES, you can — but not in the “normal renewal” category. It is processed as a “Re-issue for Lost or Damaged Passport”, with additional documentation and checks.
Renewal vs Re-Issue — Know the Legal Classification
| Situation | Category Used by Passport Office | Can be done without old passport? |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport expiring soon, old passport available | Renewal/Re-issue (Normal Case) | No — old passport required |
| Passport lost, stolen, destroyed, unreadable, missing | Re-issue — Lost/Damaged | Yes — old passport not required |
If your old passport is lost or not retrievable, the system treats your case as Re-issue, not simple renewal.
Mandatory Documents When Old Passport Is Not Available
To compensate for a missing passport, the authorities require replacement evidences:
- FIR or Police Complaint Acknowledgement
— If lost or stolen, attach online or local police report - Self-Declaration Annexure
— Annexure “F” or prescribed loss affidavit declaring what happened - Proof of Identity & Address
— Aadhaar, Voter ID, Electricity bill, Rental agreement, etc. - DOB Proof (if needed)
— Birth certificate, 10th Marksheet, PAN + Aadhaar combination - Supporting Justification
— Travel urgency or record of previous passport number (if known)
Note: If the passport was only “damaged physically but still present,” attach the damaged copy. It strengthens verification.
Is Police Verification Mandatory When Old Passport Is Missing?
In almost all lost/damaged cases, police verification becomes compulsory.
Because the old passport is not available for scrutiny, the government must verify:
- Your identity consistency
- Your criminal/legal history
- Your residence authenticity
- That the lost passport is not being misused
So expect Time + Document + Verification scrutiny more than a simple renewal case.
Processing Time for Re-Issue Without Old Passport
| Mode | Typical Timeline (after successful verification) |
|---|---|
| Normal re-issue | 7–21 working days |
| Tatkal re-issue | 1–3 working days (post-verification clearance) |
Note: Tatkal is not always permitted automatically in lost cases. Eligibility depends on police and system flags.
Fees for Renewing/Re-Issuing Without Old Passport (2025)
| Type | Pages | Approx Total (Normal) | Approx Total (Tatkal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost/Damaged — Adult | 36 pages | ₹3,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Lost/Damaged — Adult | 60 pages | ₹3,500 | ₹5,500 |
The Tatkal surcharge (~₹2,000) is the additional cost for priority processing.
What Happens If You Don’t File Police Report?
Without a police complaint, lost passport re-issue may get:
- Rejected
- Put on hold
- Sent for mandatory physical police visit
- Delayed indefinitely
The authorities need a legal record to prevent passport misuse for crimes, immigration fraud, or identity theft.
Common Reasons for Re-Issue Without Old Passport
- Stolen passport in travel or crowded areas
- Misplaced during house shifting or relocation
- Water/fire damage making it unreadable
- Child passport lost by parents/guardians
- Passport retained by foreign employer or embassy
- Passport destroyed by accident or natural causes
All such cases are legally eligible for re-issue with correct procedure.
Final Answer in One Line
Yes — you can re-issue a passport even without the old one, but it is processed as a lost/damaged category with stricter documentation, police verification, and additional fee.
We Can Help With Lost/Damaged Passport Re-Issue
If your passport is missing and you need fast, compliant processing, Online Passport Agents assists across India with:
- Lost / Stolen / Damaged Passport Re-issue
- Tatkal and Normal Applications
- Minor & Adult Passport Handling
- ECR / ECNR Correction
- Name / Address / Expiry re-issue
- Travel / Study / Work Visa Documentation
- Police verification coordination assistance
All India presence — Guided documentation — Faster approval confidence.