What to do if you lose your nric?

Photo from Astro Awani

Lose your IC more than twice and you may have to pay up to RM1,000 to get a replacement! Expensive-nya! And, if you are one of those who tend to be careless with your personal belonging, here’s what you need to know if you ever lose your IC:

1. What’s the big deal?

No matter what your excuses are, losing your IC is a big deal, period.

If it falls into the wrong hands, a lot of nasty things may happen to you. Criminals can easily steal your identity and use your IC to commit theft or fraud.

For example, your IC can be used to sign up for multiple new broadband services or to apply for new credit cards. Imagine having those bills sent to your home address.

2. What to do

Make a police report. Whether it’s due to crime or your own negligence, always make a police report for your lost IC.

If you don’t have the time to visit the nearest police station, you can make your police report online at e-reporting. (e-reporting is currently only available for non-criminal cases in Kuala Lumpur).

Next, visit any Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) branch with your police report to apply for a replacement. You can also try out JPN’s online “MyKad Replacement System”, subject to terms and conditions.

3. What if you lose your IC overseas?

If you lost your IC during your overseas trip, go to the nearest local police station there and make an official police report.

When you are back in Malaysia, bring the overseas police report to your nearest police station. PDRM would definitely want a record on the overseas incident before filing a report for you locally.

4. What if you were robbed?

If you are a victim of a robbery or snatch theft, you’ll be exempted from having to pay for the replacement fee.

The Government also extends the exemption to the disabled, the poor, senior citizens aged 60 years and above, victims of natural disasters and adolescents aged 18 and below.

5. The Fees / Penalties

Applies to all Malaysians

For more details, do check out JPN’s official website.

WARNING: never, ever make a false police report! If you've lost your IC due to your own carelessness, admit it. Do not claim that you were robbed thinking it will be the ticket for you to avoid paying the penalty for a replacement.

In doing so, you’ll be committing a serious offence and be charged in court for making that false report. If found guilty, you’ll risk bearing a life-long criminal record! Having a criminal record will have a negative impact on not just yourself but also on your family, as you will find it difficult to obtain a loan or unable to be a guarantor for your child’s study loan.

All that just to avoid paying the replacement fee?

6. How long does it take to process your new IC?

Source: JPN' website

You can also check the status of your application via MyPay.

The Singapore NRIC Card is a document of identity that is compulsorily required for citizens of Singapore as well as for foreign citizens who are permanent residents there. People residing in Singapore must register for an NRIC after becoming permanent residents. The NRIC card bears a nine-character alphanumeric code that is unique.

The NRIC is required for specific government procedures and also for purposes like opening a bank account and other matters. Loss of Singapore NRIC Card can create several hassles, and so the card should be kept securely and prevented from loss or damage. You can also get photocopies of it and also take photos on your smartphone.

When you lose a Singapore NRIC Card, you must report it immediately. Not getting a replacement for the same is an offence under Singaporean Law.

NRIC is an identifier for residency in Singapore and hence it is important to possess one.

If you happen to lose your Singapore NRIC Card, then the first step you need to do is to report the matter to the ICA within 14 days of the loss. If somebody has stolen the card, then go to the police station to register a complaint. Next, you can apply for a replacement card at the ICA.

During application, you need to submit the following documents:

For permanent residents, additional documents are required, such as:

These documents need to be submitted to the ICA personally on working days. You also need to pay the fees of $100 for the first loss and $300 for further losses. You will be provided with a collection slip after making the due payment. The slip will bear a date from which the new identity card can be collected. The original collection slip has to be shown at the time of getting the card. The collection counter will verify your identity with biometrics.

If someone finds your NIRC Card and post it to you, you can find one. If you aren’t currently residing in the address mentioned in the card, then please find out if your NIRC Card has been delivered there.

Police may contact you if they find your NIRC Card.

Replacement of NRICs must be applied for in person at ICA in Singapore. If you are unable to apply for a replacement NRIC in person at ICA within 14 days, you need to inform ICA of the loss by email at ICA_IC_Unit@ica.gov.sg.

However, over the years and decades, there might come a time when we inadvertently and unintendedly misplaced our NRIC and wonder what needs to be done next to get a replacement, and which authorities need to be informed.

Here's a concise guide to help.

Contrary to popular misconception, you do not need to make a report to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for a lost NRIC, unless you are a victim of crime, such as your NRIC being deliberately stolen from you, lost to a robbery or burglary, or lost due to a scam.

If there is imminent threat to life and/or property, please dial 999 for immediate police assistance. For non-emergency reporting of a crime, you can lodge a police report using the SPF's e-Service, or by visiting the nearest Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre.

Though not legally required, you can use the SPF e-Service to report lost property (including your NRIC) not due to a crime, such as accidentally misplacing it, for documentation purposes and in case the lost property is returned by a member of the public.

The issuing authority of NRICs in Singapore is Immigrations & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). If you lose your NRIC, you must report the loss and apply for a replacement in person within 14 days to:

IC Unit Citizen Services Centre 10 Kallang Road ICA Building, Level 3 (Next to Lavender MRT station) Singapore 208718

The operating hours are from 8am to 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays, and 8am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. You will need to bring along the following documents for the lost NRIC report and NRIC replacement process:

- Hard copy recent passport-sized colour photograph, taken within the last three months and adhering to ICA's guidelines. - Police Report (for NRIC lost to a crime) or completed Statutory Declaration (for NRIC not lost to a crime) - Baptism or religious certificate (for Singaporeans with religious names), deed poll (for Singaporeans with a change of name), marriage certificate (for those who want to include married name) - Permanent Residents also need to provide a digital image of the page(s) of their current passport that contain their personal particulars (bearing new name if applicable)

If you are unable to make this report and apply for a replacement NRIC in person at ICA within 14 days, you must still inform ICA of the loss by email first.

ICA charges a replacement fee is $100 for the first loss and $300 for subsequent losses. Payment can be made using NETS, NETS FlashPay or CashCard.

If your lost NRIC is found after a replacement has been issued, your old NRIC must be returned to the ICA.

After making payment, you will be issued with a collection slip, which indicates the date from which your new NRIC will be ready for collection.

For the first-time loss, the processing time for a new NRIC is 1 month, while replacement NRIC for subsequent losses will have a processing time of 3 months.

You can then make an e-Appointment to collect your replacement NRIC, choosing from appointment slots after the date stated on your collection slip.