JEDDAH – The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah will accept applications for passport and passport-related services from Indian nationals directly from May 5 onwards. This is in view of the inability to reopen the Indian Passport and Visa Application Centers run by VFS Global despite the partial relaxation of curfew, which was enforced earlier as part of precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus. The Embassy and the Consulate said in press statement that Indian nationals who are in urgent need of these services will be entertained and it is subject to coronavirus-related norms and precautionary measures. Applications for re-issue of passports, which have expired or are due to expire before June 30, shall be given priority in appointments. For applicants not falling under the above criteria they may write to the Embassy at cons.riyadh@mea.gov.in or the Consulate at passport.jeddah@mea.gov.in, explaining the urgency along with the required documents. They will be dealt with on case-to-case basis. According to the norms, prior appointment for submission of application for passport and other passport-related services is mandatory and applicants without confirmed appointment shall not be entertained. The appointment can be sought through call center (Tel No. 920006139) during 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. Email can also be sent to the Embassy info.inriyadh@vfshelpline.com and Consulate info.injeddah@vfshelpline.com. The call center will start functioning from Monday, May 4 onwards. The timing for application submission and collection in the Embassy and the Consulate will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. Nobody except the applicant shall be allowed. Hence only the applicant with confirmed appointment should visit the Embassy and the Consulate at the designated time given to each one of them. Applicants must wear a mask for entry to the Embassy and Consulate premises. The statement said that the new arrangements have been made due to the denial of permission to open the passport and visa application centers, saying that efforts are being made with the Saudi authorities to allow reopening the centers.