On 14 October 2026 the Embassy of India in Riyadh published replies to bidders’ questions for its high-profile tender to outsource all Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services in Riyadh and Jeddah. The move is the final milestone before financial bids are opened later this month, with the new contract expected to go live in Q1 2027. Scope of the Contract The winning service provider will manage application-acceptance centres, biometrics collection, courier return of documents, premium lounge facilities and a 24-hour call centre. The RFP insists on secure data-storage inside India, reflecting the government’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2025. Highlights from the Q&A Document • Processing volumes: an estimated 450,000 passports and 320,000 visas annually across both missions. • Service-level agreement: 95 % of passport files must be lodged with the embassy within 24 hours of collection. • Pricing: bidders may levy a maximum additional service fee of SAR 39 per passport and SAR 48 per visa. Why Corporates Should Care Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest source of remittances and a major origin market for OCI, business and worker visas. A single vendor for both Riyadh and Jeddah could streamline submission logistics but may also lead to higher service-fees once the new cap is in place. Mobility teams should budget for revised charges from early 2027 and monitor transition announcements to avoid appointment backlogs. Next Steps Technical scores will be published on 28 October, after which price bids will be opened. The embassy aims to sign the contract before year-end, giving the vendor 60 days to establish premises and migrate data.
Source: Embassy of India, Riyadh
