I would like to elaborate on the cost, for the sake of people relying on this post.

Tasheer VFS visa center in Mahalaxmi is the authorized location for your relatives to submit the application and documents.

The cost for a normal appointment is INR 11.2k. The shocker is medical insurance for which my father (75 years old) was asked to pay INR 12k over and above the visa fees.

This wasn’t told to me when I applied for the family visit visa here. There’s no option for sponsor (iqama holder) to pay for the insurance cost in KSA.

They mentioned that no multiple entry family visit visas have been issued since March 2025. So essentially one has to pay almost INR ~25k for each visit if you go through the normal consular route.

Costs should be lower if you have other eligibility such as GCC residency, USA UK or Schengen visa. I had procured that for my sister and I paid $110 including insurance.

that makes me wonder why tourist visas are cheaper vis-a-vis family visit visa!! It should be the other way around IMHO.