What do I do if I lose my Nepali passport abroad?
विदेशमा राहदानी हरायो भने के गर्ने?
Report the loss to local police, then contact the nearest Nepali embassy. You can apply for a new e-passport there or get a one-way travel document home.
- Cost
- Set by each mission
- Lost passports cost more than a normal application. In the USA a lost 34-page passport is USD 225 instead of USD 150.
- How long
- Several weeks
- A travel document is quicker. Ask the mission for its current time.
- Where
- Nepali embassy or consulate
- Last checked
- 8 Oct 2026
- Awaiting official confirmation
What it is
A lost passport can't be copied or reissued with the same number. You apply for a new one and the old one is cancelled. Abroad, that happens through the Nepali embassy or consulate covering the country you're in.
Fees and timings abroad are set by each mission in local currency, so this page gives the Washington DC figures as an example. Call your mission for its own fee before you go. In 2021 the Department of Passports said lost passport applications made abroad cost double the normal fee. The Washington embassy currently charges one and a half times.
Who needs it
- Nepali citizens whose passport was lost, stolen or badly damaged while living, working or travelling abroad.
What you need
- In practice
Police report from the country where you lost it
Ask the mission whether it needs one. The host country usually asks for it before it moves your visa to a new passport.
- Official
Copy or photo of the lost passport
Not strictly required, but it speeds things up. Keep a photo of your passport's data page on your phone and in your email.
- Official
Your citizenship certificate or a copy of it
- Official
Your National ID number, if you have one
- Official
Pre-enrolment form printout with barcode, choosing the mission as your office
- Official
Fee in the mission's currency
In practice items aren't in the official rules but are commonly asked for at the counter.
How it works
- 1
Report it to the local police
Get a written report or reference number. You'll need it for the host country's immigration office even if the embassy doesn't ask for it.
- 2
Find the right Nepali mission
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists every embassy and consulate and the countries each one covers. Call or email before you go, because some missions work by appointment only.
- 3
Choose a new passport or a travel document
A new e-passport takes weeks to arrive from Kathmandu. The Embassy in Washington DC gives 8 to 10 weeks. If you need to get home sooner, ask for a one-way travel document instead. It only lets you travel to Nepal, where you then apply for a new passport.
- 4
Apply through the mission
Fill in the online form at emrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np, choose the lost passport option and select the mission as your office. Bring the documents and pay the fee at your appointment.
- 5
Move your visa or residence permit
Once you have the new passport, take it to the host country's immigration office, or ask your employer to, so your visa or work permit is moved to the new passport number.
Where to go
Nepali embassy or consulate
New passports and one-way travel documents abroad
mofa.gov.npLocal police
Loss or theft report
Host country immigration office
Moving your visa or residence permit to the new passport
Cost and time
- Official fee
- Set by each mission
- Lost passports cost more than a normal application. In the USA a lost 34-page passport is USD 225 instead of USD 150.
- Processing time
- Several weeks
- A travel document is quicker. Ask the mission for its current time.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Lost or damaged, 34 pages, applying in the USAEmbassy of Nepal, Washington DC | USD 225 |
| Lost or damaged, 66 pages, applying in the USAEmbassy of Nepal, Washington DC | USD 300 |
| Lost or damaged, applying inside NepalDouble the regular fee (DAO Kathmandu and DAO Kalikot) | Rs 10,000 |
Common problems
My employer is holding my passport and won't give it back.
That's different from a lost passport. Contact the Nepali embassy's labour section. Many destination countries, including the Gulf states and Malaysia, don't allow employers to keep a worker's passport.
I need to fly home urgently, for a family emergency.
Ask the mission for a one-way travel document. It's the fastest route and you can apply for a full passport once you're back in Nepal.
I found my old passport after reporting it lost.
Don't use it. Once a lost passport is reported and a new one applied for, the old one is cancelled and airlines and immigration will refuse it.
Will losing my passport affect my labour permit?
Your permit is tied to your passport details, so tell your employer and your manpower agency once you have the new passport number.
Real experiences
Been through this recently? Tell the next person which office you went to and what they asked for. Reports are published as community notes, apart from the official information.
Share your experienceSources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Nepali missions abroadmofa.gov.np
- Embassy of Nepal, Washington DC: e-passport fees and timesus.nepalembassy.gov.np
- DAO Kathmandu: lost passport feedaokathmandu.moha.gov.np
- OnlineKhabar: lost citizenship or passport (2021)english.onlinekhabar.com
- Department of Passports online applicationemrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np
Written from the sources above and last checked on 8 Oct 2026. Some details aren't confirmed against an official page yet, so check fees and documents with the office before you go.
Spotted something out of date?Related