Indian Passport Renewal Fee Saudi Arabia: Latest Update

Summary

“Fresh passport, reissue, lost passport, minor passport, Tatkal each has a different fee, and most of them changed this year. This post lists the current rates for every category applicable in Riyadh and Jeddah.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, revised passport and consular service fees worldwide through Gazette Notification GSR 516(E), dated 25 June 2026. The new rates took effect on 1 July 2026 and apply at the Embassy of India, Riyadh, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, and every VFS Global centre operating under M/s VFS GCC LLC across the Kingdom. If you last checked passport fees before this date, the numbers you have are outdated.

Who Handles Passport Services in Saudi Arabia

Passport applications from Indian citizens residing in Saudi Arabia are processed through two jurisdictions:

• Embassy of India, Riyadh — covers central and northern Saudi Arabia.
• Consulate General of India, Jeddah — covers the western province.

Both offices route applications through VFS Global, the outsourced service provider, operating locally as M/s VFS GCC LLC. Applicants must apply online through the Passport Seva portal (embassy.passportindia.gov.in), book a slot on VFS Global’s website, and appear in person with an Iqama and supporting documents. Since October 2025, Saudi Arabia has also moved to Global Passport Seva Version 2.0, which requires ICAO-compliant photographs at the time of submission. The Embassy prescribes the government fee; VFS collects it along with its own service charge on the Ministry’s behalf, which is why the amount on your receipt is always higher than the base figure listed in the official fee notification.

It is worth noting that this is a nationwide revision, not a Saudi-specific one. Indian missions in the UAE and Bahrain issued similar advisories the same week, confirming that the new rates under GSR 516(E) apply uniformly across all Indian embassies and consulates globally, including all VFS-run Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs).

Why the Fee Revision Matters for Indian Expats

Saudi Arabia hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate populations in the Gulf, and passport renewal is a recurring necessity tied directly to Iqama renewal, exit-re-entry visas, and family visit visa sponsorship. A passport nearing expiry can hold up any of these processes, so budgeting for the correct, current fee avoids last-minute cash shortfalls at the VFS counter. Since the revision affects almost every fee slab — from a routine 10-year reissue to a lost-passport replacement — even applicants who renewed just a year or two ago should not assume the old rate still applies.

Updated Fee Table: Fresh Issue and Reissue of Passport

These are the government fees only, in Saudi Riyals (SAR), before VFS and ICWF charges.

A Tatkal application gives faster processing and is available at select VFS centres such as Riyadh, where eligible applicants can walk in on working days between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM without a prior appointment.

Fee Table: Minors

Minors under 18 have separate, lower fees depending on age and booklet type.

Parents should note that a minor between 15 and 18 can choose either the short-validity booklet or the full 10-year, 36-page passport by paying the higher applicable fee. There is no separate Jumbo (60-page) option for minors below 15, since their travel and visa-stamping needs are typically lower.

The senior citizen concession applies only to a fresh passport, not a reissue. If a person above 60 is renewing an existing passport, the standard reissue fee applies rather than the discounted senior citizen rate.

Fee Table: Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Passport

Replacing a passport lost, damaged, or stolen in Saudi Arabia costs significantly more than a standard reissue, since it involves police verification and additional scrutiny.

Before a lost or stolen passport can be replaced, applicants are usually required to file a police report in Saudi Arabia and submit an affidavit explaining the circumstances. This adds processing time on top of the higher fee, so travellers should report a loss immediately rather than waiting until travel is imminent.

Fee Table: Special Documents and Miscellaneous Services

An Emergency Certificate is a one-way travel document typically issued to Indians without a valid Iqama who need to return to India urgently. It is not a substitute for a regular passport, and holders must apply for a fresh passport once back in India.

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is commonly required for Gulf employment visas, family sponsorship in other countries, or long-term visa applications abroad. It confirms that the applicant has no pending criminal case in India and is issued based on passport and residence records held by the Embassy.

A Surrender Certificate is needed by individuals who have acquired foreign citizenship and must formally surrender their Indian passport, a mandatory step under the Citizenship Act before applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

Additional Charges on Top of the Government Fee

The government fee shown above is not the final amount you pay at the VFS counter. Two extra charges apply to every application:

1. Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) fee — a flat SAR 8 per document, charged by the Embassy on all passport and consular services.
2. VFS Global service fee — approximately SAR 13 plus VAT per application, charged by the outsourcing agency for processing, biometric capture, and centre operations. This amount can vary slightly by centre and by optional add-ons such as photocopying, form-filling assistance, or SMS alerts.

Applicants who opt for extra services at the VFS centre — such as on-site photography, courier delivery, or premium lounge access — pay separately for those, and these are optional, not mandatory.

Worked Example: Total Cost of a Standard Renewal

A working adult renewing a 36-page, 10-year passport under the normal (non-Tatkal) category would pay approximately:

For the same renewal under Tatkal, the government fee alone rises to 827 SAR, pushing the estimated total to roughly 850 SAR once ICWF and VFS charges are added.

How and Where to Pay

Payment is collected at the VFS Global centre at the time of document submission, typically via MADA card. Applicants should carry the exact appointment confirmation, as payment methods can vary slightly by centre. VFS Global operates centres in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar, Abha, Tabuk, Al Jouf, and Jazan, among other cities, giving most Indian residents a nearby option.

Documents Typically Required

• Printed online application form from the Passport Seva portal
• Original passport plus self-attested copies of the first, last, and visa pages
• Original Iqama and a photocopy
• Two ICAO-compliant photographs (some centres offer on-site photo services)
• Proof of local address, usually the National Address (Wasel) registration

If the Iqama has expired at the time of application, most VFS centres will ask for a sponsor letter or an Absher printout confirming the renewal status before accepting the file. Applicants whose passport has been expired for more than three years must also attach a sworn affidavit explaining the delay, along with the standard document set.

Fee Amounts Are Fixed in SAR, Not INR

All the fees above are prescribed directly in Saudi Riyals by the Government of India for services rendered in Saudi Arabia; they are not converted from a rupee figure at a floating exchange rate. This means the SAR amount stays fixed regardless of daily currency fluctuation, unlike fees paid in India, which are quoted in INR. Applicants transferring money from India to cover these costs should still check the prevailing SAR-INR rate for their own budgeting, but the fee itself will not change with the exchange rate.

Conclusion

The 2026 revision has changed nearly every passport fee slab for Indians in Saudi Arabia, from routine renewals to Tatkal and lost-passport replacements. Before booking your VFS appointment, use the tables above to calculate your exact total, including the ICWF and VFS service charges, so there are no surprises at the counter.

Frequently Asked Questions