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

Iqama holders, read this first: The Embassy issues ECs mainly to Indians on a visit visa and to those leaving Saudi Arabia. If you hold a valid iqama and plan to stay, you are eligible for a new passport instead (normal re-issue, or a Tatkal passport, usually the same day, at the Riyadh and Jeddah VFS centres). An EC cancels your existing passport, and residents applying for one need a final exit visa, or a letter from the sponsor undertaking to get the exit visa issued.

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: The police station for your area. For a lost passport, the Embassy’s own checklist also asks for a Jawazat/police report with a legal English translation and a Jawazat printout of your passport and iqama, so report the loss to Jawazat as well. (The Ministry of Interior penalty table expects loss of a passport or iqama to be reported within 24 hours.)

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

The Embassy’s current EC checklist:

Also carry your iqama and your flight booking — they help, though they are not on the Embassy’s list.

Step 3: Apply at the Indian Embassy or Consulate

Riyadh (Embassy of India): EC applications are accepted at the Embassy between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM on working days (the Embassy works Sunday to Thursday).

Other cities in the Embassy’s area: EC applications are also accepted at the VFS centres in Dammam, Al Khobar, Jubail, Buraidah and Hail.

Western region (Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, etc.): apply at the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, which handles the western, northern and southern regions.

Processing: the Embassy states same-day delivery.

After hours: for a genuine same-day emergency, call the Embassy’s emergency helpline first (numbers below) to confirm the documents needed.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Emergency Certificate fee: SAR 56 + SAR 8 ICWF (Embassy of India, Riyadh). Passport-related fees were revised from 1 July 2026, so check the Embassy’s Passport Fee page before you go.

Pay in Saudi riyals, in cash, at the counter along with the application. Fees are not refunded even if the application is withdrawn or refused.

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: a single journey to India (the exact validity is printed on the EC — check it before booking)

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 normally need a fresh Saudi work visa — the EC does not preserve your iqama or work status, and residents leave on a final exit (or with a sponsor’s undertaking to arrange it).

How Long Does It Take?

The Embassy states same-day delivery for an EC when the application is complete. Missing documents (especially the sponsor letter or exit paper for residents) are the usual cause of delay.

Can Someone Else Apply on Your Behalf?

The Embassy’s EC page does not describe applying through someone else, and passport services generally require the applicant to be present. If you are in hospital or otherwise unable to go, call the Embassy (numbers below) and explain your situation before sending anyone.

Emergency Contact Numbers — Indian Embassy Riyadh

For VFS centre addresses and phone numbers, see the Embassy’s important contacts page.

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 expired a few days ago — do I need an EC?” Not necessarily. If you hold a valid iqama, apply for a passport re-issue (Tatkal if urgent) at VFS instead. If you are a visitor, or you are leaving on final exit and can’t wait for a new passport, the EC is the option. Don’t count on boarding with an expired passport.

“I’ll apply for EC at the airport.” You can’t. An EC must be obtained from the Embassy, the Consulate in Jeddah, or an accepting VFS centre before you travel.

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 through your Regional Passport Office — the Embassy says EC holders must contact the passport issuing authority in India for a new passport (processing time varies)
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:

• Online EC application printout (embassy.passportindia.gov.in)
• Final exit copy or sponsor’s undertaking letter (residents)
• Police / Jawazat report with English translation (if lost or stolen)
• Copy of old passport (original if available)
• 2 x 2 inch photos, white background
• Iqama and flight booking
• SAR 56 + SAR 8 ICWF in cash

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 was checked against the Embassy’s EC page in November 2026. Consular procedures can change — always verify with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh before travelling.