Emergency Certificate (EC) — Saudi Arabia | Indian Embassy Guide

An Emergency Certificate (EC) is not a passport. It’s a one-way travel document issued by the Indian Embassy that lets you fly back to India when your passport is lost, stolen, damaged, or has expired and you can’t get a new one in time.

If this is your situation right now — read this whole article. It will save you hours of confusion.

When Do You Need an Emergency Certificate?

You’ll need an EC when all of these are true:

• You’re in Saudi Arabia
• Your Indian passport is not usable (lost / stolen / damaged / expired)
• You need to travel to India urgently
• You don’t have time to apply for a full new passport

The key thing to understand: an EC is only valid for one journey to India. You cannot use it to travel anywhere else, and once in India you must apply for a full replacement passport at a Regional Passport Office.

Before You Panic — Know What You’re Dealing With

If your passport is lost or stolen, take a breath. The Embassy has seen this hundreds of times. The process is straightforward if you have the right documents.

Here’s what you’ll need, in order:

Step 1: File a Police Report (This Comes First)

Go to the nearest police station and file a report for the lost or stolen passport.

What to tell them:

• Your name,Iqama number
• When and where you lost it
• The passport number if you remember it (keep a photo of your passport on your phone — it helps enormously)

What you’ll get: A Arabic police report (حـادث / تقرير شرطة). Keep this safe — you need it for the Embassy.

Where: Any police station in your city. If you’re in Jeddah, the main Criminal Investigation department handles passport-loss cases. In Riyadh, go to the relevant police station for your area.

Time needed: 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the station.

Pro tip: If your passport was stolen, mention it was a theft (سرقة) not just lost (ضائع) — this makes a difference for insurance claims in India.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Before going to the Embassy, have these ready:

Step 3: Apply at the Indian Embassy or VFS

The Embassy in Riyadh handles EC applications between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Monday to Friday (except holidays).

Option A — Directly at the Embassy (Riyadh):

• No appointment needed for EC
• Walk in, collect a token, submit documents
• Processing: same day if complete, or next working day

Option B — VFS Global Centers:

• VFS centers in Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar also accept EC applications
• These are useful if you’re outside Riyadh
• Processing: 1-2 working days

What they check:

• Your identity (from police report, any ID you have)
• That you are an Indian citizen
• Your reason for travel
• Police report authenticity

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Emergency Certificate fee: SAR 61 (equivalent in INR at consular rate)

Pay via:

• SADAD payment at Embassy counters
• Bank transfer details provided by VFS

Step 5: Collect Your EC

The EC is a small booklet — not a full passport. It contains:

• Your photo
• Your details (name, date of birth, nationality)
• Validity: single journey to India, valid for 30 days from issue

When you land in India, the EC is surrendered at the immigration counter. You then apply for a full new passport.

What the EC Does NOT Do

Understanding this prevents problems at the airport:

If you need to return to Saudi Arabia after getting a new passport in India, you’ll need to apply for a fresh Saudi work visa — the EC does not preserve your Iqama or work status.

How Long Does It Take?

Can Someone Else Apply on Your Behalf?

Yes — but only with a notarized power of attorney.

If you can’t go to the Embassy yourself (e.g., you’re in a hospital, or outside Riyadh), a family member or agent can submit on your behalf if:

• They have your signed and notarized POA
• They carry their own ID
• They have all your documents

Alternatively, contact the Embassy directly and explain your situation — they do make exceptions for genuine emergencies.

Emergency Contact Numbers — Indian Embassy Riyadh

What People Get Wrong

“I lost my passport but I have a copy — I don’t need a police report.” Wrong. You always need a police report. The copy helps establish identity but isn’t a substitute.

“I’ll get the EC and then come back on it.” No — the EC is only valid for India. If you try to use it to return to Saudi, you will be refused entry.

“My passport is still valid, just expired by a few days — do I need EC?” Maybe not. If your passport is expired but not lost/stolen, you might be able to travel on it to India (some airlines accept expired passports within 1 year of expiry). Check with Saudia before booking. If it won’t work, EC is the option.

“I’ll apply for EC at the airport.” You can’t. EC must be applied for at the Embassy or VFS in advance.

After You Land in India

Once you reach India:

1. Surrender the EC at the immigration counter
2. Report the lost passport to the nearest police station in India
3. Apply for a new passport at your nearest Regional Passport Office — ask for “Lost Passport application” (this takes longer than a fresh application, typically 3-4 weeks)
4. Apply for a new Saudi work visa once your new passport is ready — your employer in Saudi Arabia handles this

Summary Checklist

Before going to the Embassy, tick each:

• Police report filed (Arabic, original)
• Copy of lost passport (photo/scan on phone is fine)
• Iqama (both sides)
• Flight booking (printed or on phone)
• 2 passport photos
• Indian address proof
• Annexure F form (filled and printed)
• SAR 61 fee

If something in this process was unclear, or if you found yourself in a situation this article didn’t cover — let us know. We update based on what people actually experience.

This article reflects the process as of June 2026. Consular procedures can change — always verify with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh before travelling.