Antigua and Barbuda’s Passport Office is raising alarm over a sharp increase in lost passports, reporting 440 cases in 2025 and 73 already recorded in the first weeks of 2026, prompting Cabinet to consider higher replacement fees and stricter controls.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant described the trend as a “very serious and concerning development” during Friday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
“So far for the year — and we are in February — there have been reports of 73 lost passports,” Merchant said. “Last year, 2025, there were reports of 440 lost passports. In 2024, there were reports of 360 lost passports. And so this is of significant concern.”
Merchant stressed that the figures relate specifically to lost passports, not stolen ones.
“These figures are lost passports. They are not stolen passports,” he said, noting that the number of stolen passports is comparatively small.
Officials say the rise presents national security, administrative and financial challenges.
“The trend poses serious national security, administrative and financial challenges,” Merchant said.
He warned that careless handling of travel documents can expose citizens and the state to risks.
“The security risks associated with losing your passport — the potential for identity theft and fraudulent use — place a financial and administrative burden on the state,” he said.
Currently, the replacement fee for a lost passport stands at $200. However, Cabinet is expected to review proposals that may increase that amount.
“One proposal may be to increase the fees from $200 — then persons will pay more attention to securing their documents,” Merchant said.
He added that the Passport Office may also recommend extending the waiting period before individuals can apply for a replacement, except in genuine emergencies.
“Increasing the period whereby you can apply for a new passport outside of emergency cases is another matter that may be discussed,” he said, adding that “an emergency case does not mean that you need to go on vacation.”
Merchant suggested that ease of replacement may be contributing to complacency.
“The passport office is of the opinion that people are just being careless with their travel documents,” he said. “One reason for this is the easy means of getting a new passport if you have reported it lost.”
He also noted the high cost of producing passports.
“Passports for the government — purchasing passports for the government — is at high cost. They do not come cheap,” Merchant said. “The government is consuming most of the costs associated with the production of our national passport.”
Cabinet is expected to review formal proposals from the Passport Office next week.
In the meantime, Merchant urged citizens to treat their travel documents with greater responsibility.
“Safeguard your travel documents,” he said. “They are important to you.”
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