Finding out your passport is gone — or that someone is refusing to give it back — is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a worker in Israel. Your first instinct might be to wait and see if it turns up, or to hope the situation resolves itself. Please do not wait. Every day without a passport can affect your legal status, and the sooner you act, the more options you have.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, who to call, and what documents you will need. Workers who have been through this say the first phone call is the hardest part. After that, it gets clearer.
| ⚠ IMPORTANT |
| Act on the same day you discover the problem. Do not wait until the next day to start the process. |
Step 1: Understand What Happened – Three Different Situations
The steps you take depend on how your passport went missing:
| What happened | What this means |
| Lost or misplaced | You had it and now cannot find it. No crime may have happened, but you still need to report it and get it replaced. |
| Stolen | Someone took it without your permission. This is a criminal matter – go to the police first, before anything else. |
| Held by an employer or agency | Someone has your passport and will not give it back. This is illegal under Israeli law. You have the right to demand it back – and help is available. |
Step 2: If It Was Stolen – Go to the Police First
Go to your nearest Israeli police station (Tachnat HaMishtara) and report the theft. You do not need to speak Hebrew. Ask for a translator, or bring someone who can help you communicate. The police are required to take your report.
Ask for a printed copy of the report with a reference number (mispar tik). You will need this for every other step that follows – keep it safe.
| ✓ QUICK TIP |
| Police emergency number in Israel: 100. Non-emergency: 110. If you go in person, bring any other photo ID you have – your Sri Lankan NIC, a driving licence, anything. |
Step 3: Contact the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tel Aviv
The Embassy is the only authority that can give you an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or start the process for a new passport. Call before you go to confirm what you need to bring.
| Sri Lankan Embassy – What to bring and when to go |
| Sri Lankan Embassy, Bnei Brak Address: 1 Ben Goriun Street, Bnei Brak Phone: +972-3-527-7635 Email: slemb.telaviv@mfa.gov.lk Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 09:00-16:00 Bring with you: – A copy of your lost or stolen passport (if you have one saved) – The police report (if it was stolen) – Two passport-size photographs – Any other ID – NIC, driving licence, anything with your photo – Proof that you work in Israel (contract, salary slip, a letter from your employer) |
In most cases, the Embassy can issue an Emergency Travel Document within 2-5 working days. Call ahead – fees and exact requirements can change.
Step 4: Tell the Immigration Authority (PIBA)
The Population and Immigration Authority (Rashat HaIvura) has a record of your visa linked to your old passport number. When your passport is gone, that link is broken. You need to tell them what happened so they can update your file.
You can call their Foreign Workers Hotline – you do not need to visit an office for the first contact:
| PIBA Foreign Workers Hotline |
| Foreign Workers Hotline (PIBA): 1-800-354-554 Sunday-Thursday, 08:00-18:00 – free call from any Israeli phone Tell them: Your name, your old passport number (from a copy if you have it), your employer name, and that your passport has been lost or stolen. Ask them: Is my work permit still valid? What do I need to do while my new passport is being processed? |
Step 5: If an Employer Is Holding Your Passport and Will Not Return It
This is a different situation – your passport is not lost, it is being held against your will. That is a violation of Israeli law, and you have real options.
| 1 | Send a written message asking for your passport back – a WhatsApp message is fine. Save a screenshot of everything you send and receive. |
| 2 | If they refuse, call the Foreign Workers Hotline: 1-800-354-554. They handle exactly this kind of complaint and know how to apply pressure on employers without you having to do it alone. |
| 3 | Call Kav LaOved (Worker’s Hotline): 03-688-2126. This is an NGO that fights for foreign worker rights. They sometimes have Sinhala-speaking contacts. |
| 4 | File a complaint with the Ministry of Economy’s enforcement unit. The hotline can walk you through how to do this. |
| 5 | If you feel unsafe or threatened, contact the police directly. Illegally holding a passport can be treated as a criminal offence. |
| ⚠ IMPORTANT |
| Try not to leave your job or your housing until you have your passport back – unless you are in physical danger. Once the employment relationship ends and your employer is no longer reachable, getting the passport back becomes much harder. |
After You Get Your New Passport or Travel Document
A new Sri Lankan passport will not automatically have your Israeli visa in it. After you receive it, there are five things to do:
- Take your new passport and your police report (and any Embassy paperwork) to the nearest PIBA office.
- Ask PIBA to link your visa and work permit to your new passport number.
- Tell your employer and agency that your passport number has changed – they need to update your employment permit file with PIBA.
- Update your health insurance provider with your new passport number.
- Take a photo of your new passport right away and save it in Google Drive and Gmail.
So It Does Not Happen Again
Once this is behind you, set up a simple protection system:
- Never hand your original passport to anyone without getting a written receipt first.
- Keep a photo of your passport’s main page in your email, in Google Drive, and with someone you trust back home.
- Check your passport expiry date once a month. Replacing a passport before there is a crisis is ten times easier than replacing one during one.
If your situation is complicated — employer is being aggressive, you feel unsafe, you are not sure which office to contact first — do not try to navigate it alone.
| Have a question about this? |
| Still not sure? Ask the Expert. My employer has my passport and is refusing to return it. My visa is expiring soon. What do I do first? The LankaConnect Ask the Expert corner is here for exactly these questions. Real answers, in Sinhala or English, from people who understand the Israeli system. Go to: LankaConnect.com/ask-the-expert |
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