What happens if I lost my old Indian passport before surrendering it?

If you have neither the original passport nor a copy, don't panic, but expect the Consulate to need additional evidence.

The documents accepted can depend on the country and the evidence available. The Consulate General of India in Houston lists examples of documents that may help establish previous Indian citizenship, including a foreign naturalisation certificate, current foreign passport, sworn affidavit explaining the loss, Indian birth certificate and certain Indian educational or domicile documents.

That doesn't mean every document on that list will automatically be accepted in every jurisdiction. The Consulate makes the final decision on whether the evidence is sufficient.

I would gather whatever you have before contacting the Consulate: your Indian passport number if known, old passport scans or photographs, Indian birth records, previous Indian address records and your foreign citizenship documents.

Also, explain clearly that the passport was lost before surrender and that you are trying to complete the formalities after acquiring foreign citizenship. Ask which certificate you should apply for and whether they need an affidavit in a prescribed format.

Once you receive the appropriate certificate, check the OCI checklist for your jurisdiction to confirm which additional documents you need.

I would report the passport missing and ask the local police what documentation they can provide. Keep a copy of the report or other official record, if issued, because the Indian Mission may ask for evidence explaining the loss.

The High Commission of India in London advises that a lost passport should be reported to the nearest police station and to the relevant Passport Office or Indian Mission when abroad.

For the surrender or renunciation application itself, requirements vary by consular jurisdiction. For example, the Consulate General of India in Los Angeles describes a Renunciation Declaration Certificate for applicants who have lost or misplaced their last Indian passport. It requires a sworn affidavit about the loss and other supporting documents.

So I would not assume that a police report alone will be sufficient. You may also need a sworn affidavit and proof that you previously held Indian citizenship, such as your old passport copy, Indian birth certificate or other documents accepted by the Consulate.

If you have the passport number or a scanned copy, include that information when contacting the Consulate. Ask for the current lost-passport procedure before paying any application fees.

If you still have a scanned copy of your old Indian passport, that is helpful. I would contact the Indian Consulate responsible for your area before submitting the application.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto has specific instructions for people who have lost their last Indian passport. Its published guidance says applicants should email copies of the first and last pages of the lost passport and their foreign citizenship certificate to the Consulate. After the Consulate approves the request, the applicant can submit the surrender application with a copy of the lost passport through BLS. The Consulate issues a Renunciation Certificate instead of a Surrender Certificate in this situation.

If you don't have a copy of the old passport at all, the Consulate may ask for additional evidence of your former Indian citizenship.

I wouldn't submit the standard application without checking first, because the original passport is normally part of the required documents. Also, keep your Canadian citizenship certificate and current passport ready.

Which country are you applying from? The procedure in Canada may differ from the one followed by the Indian Mission in the UK or USA.