Lost or Stolen UK Passport in Saudi Arabia: What to Do

Deal with immediate risks

If the passport was taken with a wallet or phone, move somewhere safe and contact the local police where a theft, robbery or other crime has occurred. Ask how to obtain a report or reference; the passport service or Saudi authorities may ask for evidence of the circumstances. For an item merely misplaced in a hotel, airport or taxi, contact the operator's lost-property service as well.

Block stolen bank cards and your mobile SIM through their issuers. Change passwords if the missing items could expose email, banking or government accounts. Keep scans or photographs of reports and any passport copy you already hold.

Saudi rules require residents to carry their Iqama, while tourists should carry a copy of their passport and visa. Use the accepted digital Iqama in Absher or Tawakkalna if available, but do not present a scan of a cancelled passport as though it were valid.

Cancel the missing passport

Report the passport lost or stolen through the official GOV.UK service. Cancellation protects against misuse, but it is irreversible: if the passport later turns up, you must not travel on it. GOV.UK's Saudi entry guidance warns that travellers can be denied entry if they try to use a passport reported lost or stolen.

Record the cancelled passport number if you have it, the police reference and the date and place of loss. These details may be needed in later applications or when Saudi residence records are amended.

Choose a replacement or emergency document

If you are not travelling urgently

Use the GOV.UK overseas passport service to apply for a replacement British passport. Follow the document and identity requirements generated for your application rather than an old checklist. Passport fees and processing times can change, and an application may require additional evidence, so do not book travel on an assumed completion date.

If travel is urgent

An emergency travel document may be available if you are abroad, do not have a usable British passport and cannot obtain a replacement in time. Apply through GOV.UK. Before applying, use the official country checker to confirm that every destination and transit country will accept the document and whether a visa is required.

An emergency document is issued for a specific journey and is not a general replacement passport. Your itinerary may be printed on it, and changed plans can require a new application. Wait for official collection instructions before committing to travel. The British Embassy in Riyadh and British Consulate General in Jeddah receive visitors by appointment; the online process will tell you if attendance is needed.

Update your Saudi records

A new passport does not automatically update every Saudi immigration or employment record. If you hold an Iqama, tell your employer or sponsor promptly and ask them to check the passport details held by the General Directorate of Passports. Follow the current Absher, Muqeem or Jawazat process they identify. Keep copies of the old passport, new document, Iqama and loss report available.

If you are a visitor, contact the Saudi authority or visa channel responsible for your permission if the passport number on the visa no longer matches your travel document. Ask your airline to check the documents before departure. Do not assume a police report or emergency document alone preserves a Saudi visa.

Prepare a useful evidence pack

• a copy or clear photograph of the lost passport, if available;
• your Iqama and visa information;
• the police report or incident reference, where issued;
• proof of your urgent itinerary if requesting emergency travel;
• a compliant digital passport photograph; and
• contact details and access to email used for the application.

Only upload documents through an official GOV.UK service or provide them to the relevant Saudi authority. Be cautious of agents promising guaranteed or same-day issue.

When to get help

Use the FCDO's official contact service if you are vulnerable, have been the victim of crime, cannot access the online service, or face urgent travel without acceptable documents. Contact your sponsor or Jawazat about Saudi record changes. If your passport is being withheld rather than lost, or there is a dispute about returning it, obtain appropriate official or legal help. UK2KSA cannot cancel or issue passports, change Saudi records or guarantee travel.