Loss, Theft or Damage of a Document of Third Country Nationals
All third countries citizens who hold a long-term visa, long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit must report loss, theft or damage of a visa or a residence permit document.
Long-term visa
Long-term & Permanent residence
What is the time limit to report loss, theft or damage of a document?
3 working days.
Where can you report loss, theft or damage of a document?
You can report loss, theft or damage personally at a Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an advanced electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative. If the loss or the theft occurred abroad, report it to a diplomatic mission.
What is the administrative fee?
You do not pay an administrative fee for a visa duplicate.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A VISA DUPLICATE IN CASE OF ITS LOSS, THEFT OR DAMAGE:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
To apply for a visa duplicate you will need:
- A valid travel document.
- In the case of theft, it is recommended to have a confirmation from the police that you have reported the theft of the document.
- A form for notification of changes, if you are reporting the loss by post.
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the loss notification form
You can fill in the form online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.
You can also download a blank form, print it out and fill it in by hand, or you can collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior. The form must be filled in legibly, in block capitals and Latin characters.
3. Send the form or make an appointment at a Ministry of the Interior office
You must report loss or theft personally at a Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an advanced electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative, or report it at a diplomatic mission.
Please make an appointment online or by phone beforehand. If the offered appointment slot is after your time limit for reporting the loss or the theft expires, visit a Ministry of the Interior office during opening hours without an appointment. With no appointment reservation, you have to wait your turn. If you fail to report the change within the time limit, you can be fined.
When reporting loss, theft or damage by post, it usually takes several days to process the filing. After registering the loss or the theft, the Ministry employees will prompt you by phone or in writing to come to receive your visa duplicate in the travel document. If you are not prompted within 30 days, call the hotline. The hotline employees will check if the change has been made and will schedule an appointment for you to come and receive your visa in the travel document.
4. Go to a Ministry of the Interior office
Go to a Ministry of the Interior office to report loss, theft or damage of a document. The Ministry employees will make a written record with you and you will receive a confirmation that you have reported the loss, theft or damage.
If you already have the new travel document, the staff will include the visa duplicate in it right away.
If you do not have the new travel document yet, you will receive a confirmation that you have reported the loss, theft or damage of the visa and you will have to come back in person later when you do have the new travel document, so that the employees can include the visa duplicate in it.