A passive retrieving interosseous suture passing instrument (10) having a guide handle (13) with a proximal end for grasping and a distal end for engagement with a bone (11) to which suture (22) is to be attached. The bone (11) is provided with a first tunnel (15), and a suture retrieving arm (12) carried at the distal end of the guide handle (13) is provided with a distal tip dimensioned to be received in the first tunnel (15).