Middle East Business: Demand for consular services rising in Saudi Arabia – Gulf Digital News

Middle East Business: Demand for consular services rising in Saudi Arabia – Gulf Digital News

A steady surge in expat population living overseas has resulted in rising demand for passports and consular services, said VFS Global, the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions.

According to the Diaspora Alliance, the diaspora population has tripled in just about five decades - from approximately 75 million to over 230 million. VFS Global offers passport and consular services, as well as Citizen and Identity Services in nine countries across the globe, including Saudi Arabia.

“As per United Nations’ data for international migration, over 280 million individuals live and work outside their home country and we are now working with 18 governments to provide this essential service in 36 countries” said Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global.

In Saudi Arabia, VFS Global provides Passport and Consular services for India, the Philippines, and Sri Lankan citizens through permanent Passport Centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar and outreach centres in Jubail, Buraidah, Hail, Tabuk, Mecca, Madinah, Jizan, Najran and Abha.

VFS Global also launched Passport on Wheels, a solution whereby passport renewal services are provided in towns and cities where there is no permanent Passport Centre. In Saudi Arabia, these services are provided in cities such as Joud,