Are passports held longer than other lost items at airports?

Yes. Passports are treated as high-priority items at Indian airports and are NOT subject to the standard 60–90 day hold period. They are held indefinitely and never auctioned. However, you should still act as quickly as possible.

Can I still recover my lost item after the airport deadline?

Potentially yes, but it becomes significantly harder. If the item has not yet been auctioned, it may still be in AAI central stores. Contact the airport immediately and WhatsApp ParcelGo at +91 89763 23555 — we can check on your behalf even after the standard deadline.

How Long Do Airport Lost & Found Keep Your Items? India & International Guide 2026 | ParcelGo

Q: How long do Indian airports hold lost items?

Most Indian airports (AAI-operated) hold lost items for 60 days. Major private airports like Mumbai (CSMIA) and Delhi (IGI) hold items for up to 90 days. After the deadline, items may be auctioned or destroyed. Passports are an exception — they are held indefinitely.

Q: What happens to lost items after the airport deadline?

After the hold period, unclaimed items at Indian airports are typically transferred to AAI central stores, auctioned, or destroyed (for perishables). Valuable items like passports and legal documents may be transferred to immigration or police authorities rather than auctioned.

Quick Answer

Indian airports hold lost items for 60–90 days (Mumbai & Delhi: 90 days; all others: 60 days). International airports generally hold items for 90 days. Passports are held indefinitely at Indian airports and never auctioned. After the deadline, items may be auctioned, destroyed, or transferred to government stores.

One of the most common questions we get at ParcelGo Global is: "How long do I have to recover my lost item before the airport gets rid of it?"The answer varies by airport — and the clock starts ticking from the moment your item is logged in Lost & Found. Here's the complete guide.

Indian Airport Hold Periods — Complete Table

Airport	Operator	Hold Period	Contact
Mumbai (BOM/CSMIA)	Adani Airports	90 days	+91 22 66851010
Delhi (DEL/IGI)	GMR Airports	90 days	+91 99103 55553
Bangalore (BLR/KIA)	BIAL	60 days	+91 80 6678 2000
Hyderabad (HYD/RGIA)	GHIAL	60 days	+91 40 6654 5370
Chennai (MAA)	AAI	60 days	+91 44 2256 0551
Pune (PNQ)	AAI	60 days	+91 20 2668 0474
Kochi (COK/CIAL)	CIAL	60 days	+91 484 261 0115
Kolkata (CCU/NSCBI)	AAI	60 days	+91 33 2511 8787
Goa (GOI/Manohar)	GMR/AAI	60 days	+91 832 254 1040
Ahmedabad (AMD/SVPI)	Adani Airports	60 days	+91 79 2286 9211
Passports (all Indian airports)		Indefinite	Never auctioned

*Hold periods are approximate based on AAI guidelines and airport-specific policies. Always contact the airport directly to confirm.

What Happens After the Deadline?

🔨

Valuable Items → Auctioned

Electronics, jewellery, and other valuable unclaimed items are typically put up for public auction by the airport or AAI.

📁

Documents → Police or Immigration

Passports, visas, and official documents are handed over to immigration (FRRO) or airport police, not auctioned.

🗑️

Perishables → Disposed

Food items, medicines (in some cases), and perishables are disposed of much earlier — often within a few days.

🏛️

Remainder → AAI Central Stores

Some items are transferred to AAI central warehouses before auction. Recovery is still possible but much harder.

⚠️ Don't Wait Until the Last Day

Recovery becomes significantly harder as the deadline approaches. Lost & Found offices get busier, items get moved to different storage areas, and the paper trail gets more complex. Start the recovery process immediately — even if you cannot travel back to the airport.

International Airport Hold Periods

Airport	Hold Period	Contact
Dubai (DXB)	90 days	+971 4 224 5555
Singapore Changi (SIN)	90 days	+65 6595 6868
London Heathrow (LHR)	90 days	+44 844 335 1801
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)	90 days	+31 900 0141
Paris CDG (CDG)	90 days	+33 1 70 36 39 50
Frankfurt (FRA)	90 days	+49 69 690 0
Hong Kong (HKG)	90 days	+852 2181 8888

📄 Can't travel back to collect? Download our free Airport Authorization Letter Template → and send a trusted representative on your behalf — or WhatsApp ParcelGo and we'll handle everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Indian airports hold lost items?+

Most AAI-operated Indian airports hold items for 60 days. Major private airports (Mumbai, Delhi) hold items for up to 90 days. Passports are held indefinitely and never auctioned.

What happens to lost items after the airport deadline?+

After the hold period: • Valuable items: Transferred to AAI central stores or auctioned • Perishables: Disposed of after a shorter period • Passports/legal documents: Transferred to immigration or police, never auctioned • Medicines: Disposed of according to CDSCO guidelines

How long does Dubai Airport hold lost items?+

Dubai International Airport (DXB) holds unclaimed lost items for 90 days. After this, they may be auctioned. Contact: +971 4 224 5555 or email lostfound@dubaiairports.ae.

Are passports held longer than other items?+

Yes. Passports at Indian airports are NOT subject to the 60–90 day rule. They are held indefinitely and treated as special documents. However, act quickly — the sooner you recover it, the better.

Can I still recover my item after the deadline?+

Possibly. If not yet auctioned, the item may still be in AAI central stores. WhatsApp ParcelGo at +91 89763 23555 — we can investigate on your behalf even after the standard deadline.

Does a connecting flight airport or the departure airport hold my item?+

The item is held by the airport where it was found. If you lost it on the aircraft, the airline holds it. If you lost it in the terminal (security, lounge, gate), the airport Lost & Found holds it. Always check both the airline and the airport.