Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Obtaining or renewing a Saudi passport is no longer synonymous with endless queues at government offices. With the widespread adoption of the Absher platform and the rise of online services, a significant portion of the process can now be completed online, without mandatory in-person visits. However, this modernization comes with precise rules, strict conditions, and, for certain groups (children, expatriates, citizens abroad), specific procedures that are best understood before starting.
This guide details all the steps to obtain a Saudi passport, from registration on the Absher platform to receiving the document. It also covers special cases like passport loss, applications for children, citizens residing abroad, and expatriates. The information is sourced from Saudi institutions and verified experience reports.
Understanding the Saudi passport system
In Saudi Arabia, passport issuance relies on a well-defined ecosystem of entities. At the heart of the system is the General Directorate of Passports, better known as Jawazat. This service reports directly to the Ministry of Interior and relies on the Absher digital platform to process most applications.
Citizens residing abroad do not go through Jawazat but through Saudi embassies and consulates, which operate under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic missions use their own online services, while being interconnected with domestic databases for identity and citizenship verification.
The Saudi passport is a green biometric document, with the Kingdom’s emblem and text in Arabic and English on the cover. The version launched in 2022 includes an electronic chip and a redesigned data page displaying dates in both Hijri and Gregorian calendars. Inside, an official note in the King’s name asks foreign authorities to facilitate passage and grant assistance to the passport holder.
Two principles structure the entire system: the obligation for every Saudi citizen to exit and enter the country with a Saudi travel document, and the central role of the Absher platform, which now handles issuance, renewal, data updates, and reporting loss or theft.
Absher: The mandatory gateway for passports
Nearly all procedures related to the Saudi passport go through Absher, whether for first-time issuance, renewal, updating information on a foreign passport for a resident, or managing family members’ travel authorizations.
Absher is an official platform of the Ministry of Interior, accessible via the website www.absher.sa and as a mobile app on the App Store and Google Play. It is available in Arabic and English and has over 20 million users, offering more than 280 online public services for citizens, residents, and businesses.
Creating and activating an Absher account
To use Absher, the first step is creating an individual account. A single phone number can only be linked to one account, which prevents shared or anonymous accounts. It is illegal to use another person’s identification number to register.
The basic required information is as follows:
| Data required for Absher registration | Detail |
|---|---|
| National ID or Iqama | ID number for citizens, Iqama number for residents |
| Visitors | Can use the border number |
| Email address | Valid, for notifications and verification |
| Mobile number | Active, unique to each Absher account |
Once the online form is completed, the account must be activated. Activation is not done solely online: the user must go through one of the authorized channels, such as self-service kiosks, partner bank ATMs, banking apps, or the counters at passport/civil affairs offices. The list of banks and activation centers is on the Absher homepage.
In case of login issues (account locked after several failed attempts, services under maintenance, etc.), a customer service is available via a toll-free number (920020405 in Saudi Arabia, +966920020405 from abroad), a dedicated email address, and an official account on X/Twitter (@ABSHER).
First-time issuance of a Saudi passport
For a citizen applying for the country’s passport for the first time in Saudi Arabia, the process rests on three pillars: proof of citizenship, registration on Absher, and providing the required supporting documents, including an ID photo that meets very precise standards.
Eligibility conditions
The first non-negotiable condition is Saudi citizenship. The Saudi nationality system is strict: children born to a Saudi father are citizens, as are some children born to a Saudi mother if the father is unknown or stateless, or children found in the territory with no identified parents. In other cases (child of a Saudi mother and foreign father, naturalization), citizenship is granted case by case, after review by a committee and a decision by the Ministry of Interior.
For a first passport application, it is necessary to provide consistent civil status documents. The list of required documents varies slightly depending on the applicant’s age.
| Applicant profile | Main documents required |
|---|---|
| Citizen aged 15 and over | Valid national ID card, photos, family ID card, form via Absher |
| Child under 15 | Birth certificate, family ID card, consent of legal guardian, photos |
| Child abroad case | Proof of parentage (Saudi father or mother), mission documents (employer/university certificate, etc.) |
The principle is simple: the more “standard” the situation (citizen born and living in Saudi Arabia, with up-to-date documents), the faster the procedure. As soon as it involves a citizenship case not yet “settled” (child born abroad, naturalization file), processing times can take months, or even years.
Process via Absher for a first passport
For a citizen within the country, the initial application is entirely through Absher:
To apply for a new passport online via the Absher platform, follow these steps: log in to your account, access the “Passports” section under “My Services”, and select the new passport issuance service. Then fill out the online form with your personal data in Arabic and English, upload a photo compliant with biometric standards, and pay the fees via your bank account or the SADAD system. Schedule an appointment at a Jawazat office to submit original documents and for biometric capture if needed. Finally, attend the appointment with your ID card, family ID card, and the originals used during registration.
The passport is generally issued within 10 to 15 working days. For some categories, delivery via Saudi Post (Saudi Post/SPL) may be offered, subject to delivery fees.
Renewal of a Saudi passport
One of Absher’s major advancements is having almost completely digitized passport renewal. For a citizen already holding a valid passport, there is no longer a need to fill out a new paper form: all data is automatically pulled from the system.
Validity period and new policy
Generally, a Saudi passport is valid for five years from its date of issue, or until all pages are used. For older citizens, a ten-year validity is possible, with doubled fees. However, a recent policy introduced an important nuance for passports issued via Absher: some may be limited to a 12-month validity, as part of tighter monitoring and combating the use of expired documents.
An expired passport cannot be extended and must be renewed. It is recommended to start the process at least six months before its expiration date to anticipate any administrative delays.
Conditions and documents for renewal
The basic criteria for renewal in Saudi Arabia are as follows:
| Renewal condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Be a Saudi citizen |
| Presence in the country | Be physically in Saudi Arabia for a procedure via Jawazat |
| Passport validity | Existing passport still valid for at least 6 months (in some scenarios) |
| Identity | Valid national ID card |
| Legal status | Payment of any outstanding fines, especially traffic fines |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and photo recorded in the system |
Document-wise, the administration generally requests the current passport, a copy of the ID card, two recent photos, and proof of fee payment. For a standard renewal in Saudi Arabia, the Jawazat appointment serves to verify the originals, but the main data entry is done beforehand on Absher.
Renewal steps via Absher
On the platform, the typical scenario unfolds in several successive steps:
To renew a Saudi passport online via the Absher platform, the citizen must first log in to their account. They then open the “Passports” section and select the “Renew Passport” service. They enter their current passport number and date of birth, then upload a scanned copy of this passport if the system requires it. The next step is online payment of the fees, the amount of which varies based on the chosen validity period for the new document. Finally, depending on the case, the user must schedule an appointment at a Jawazat (Passports) office to finalize the process by presenting the required originals, or opt for delivery of the new passport to their registered national address via the Saudi postal service Wasel.
In practice, citizens report processing times of 10 to 15 working days for a standard renewal, with a range sometimes up to 2 to 3 weeks online, or even 6 weeks in case of backlog or irregularities in the file.
Fee schedule
Issuance and renewal fees are aligned, with two main duration options:
| Type of Saudi passport | Validity period | Standard fees (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric passport | 5 years | 300 SAR |
| Biometric passport | 10 years | 600 SAR |
In some urgent cases, surcharges may exist (for example 500 SAR for 5 years and 900 SAR for 10 years for expedited processing), but these amounts depend on service conditions and are not systematically applicable to all files.
Once fees are paid via SADAD or banking channels, they are considered non-refundable, even if the application is ultimately canceled.
Special cases: Children, family, and passports
The Saudi system places a central focus on family. Many passport-related services are designed to be managed by the head of the family via Absher, whether it’s issuing a passport for a child, renewing a minor’s document, or authorizing one parent to complete procedures on behalf of the other.
Passports for children under 10
Specific services allow the Absher account holder (usually the father or mother) to issue or renew a passport for a child under 10, subject to several precise conditions:
– the child must not already possess a Saudi passport;
– they must not have a national ID card (no biometric data recorded in the system);
– they must be physically present in Saudi territory;
– the head of family’s national address (Wasel) must be registered and up-to-date;
– the fees corresponding to the desired validity period must be paid.
Once the application is approved, the passport can be picked up at a Jawazat office or delivered to the home via Saudi Post. For delivery, the head of family must print the renewal notice from Absher, give it to the mail carrier along with the old passport, verify the address, and pay the delivery fees.
For minors under 18, the issue of parental authority is crucial. The Absher platform includes a dedicated service to specify to what extent the other parent (father or mother) is authorized to perform passport procedures for their shared children. This point is particularly significant in cases of divorce, separation, or exclusive custody.
In practice, the administration may require:
– signed consent forms;
– copies of the parents’ IDs;
– custody rulings or guardianship documents for contentious cases;
– explicit agreement from the non-Saudi mother when the child is under her custody.
Citizens under 21 must obtain a specific travel permit via the Absher platform. Furthermore, the wife of a citizen must also have a travel authorization for abroad, issued on the same platform.
Reporting lost or damaged passports
Another important service for families is reporting the loss, theft, or damage of a passport. The head of family can report via Absher the disappearance of a spouse’s or child’s document, which triggers the passport cancellation procedure and opens the way for a replacement application.
In the case of a lost passport, the administration generally requires:
– a police report (Balagh Faqdan);
– a specific loss declaration form (forms No.1 and No.2) in the Saudi system;
– remaining identity documents (national card, family ID card);
– payment of any additional replacement fees.
For a badly damaged but still readable passport, a simple renewal may suffice. If the document is destroyed to the point of being unusable, it is treated as lost.
Expatriates, residents, and updating foreign passports
The Saudi passport system is not only for citizens. Part of the services on Absher also targets foreign residents (holders of an Iqama) who renew their original passport at their embassy and must then update this information in Saudi files.
Naql Malumat: Updating passport data
When an expatriate renews their passport at their country’s embassy in Saudi Arabia, they must update the data of this document with Jawazat. This operation is known as “Naql Malumat” (data transfer). Previously, this required a physical visit to a Jawazat office; now, everything is done online via Absher.
The procedure follows a simple logic:
To update a passport on the Absher platform in Saudi Arabia, the sponsor or responsible person must first log in to their account. Then, they access the ‘My Services’ section, then ‘Passports’, and select ‘Resident Identity Services’. They must upload a clear photo of the information page of the new passport. The system automatically verifies the passport number and expiration date. Finally, the user validates the operation and proceeds to pay the service fees.
The official announced cost for this update service is 69 SAR, including VAT. It completely eliminates the need for a personal visit to Jawazat, representing a significant time saver for residents and their sponsors.
Conditions and limits of online update
Updating passport data via Absher is subject to several restrictions:
Online passport update is only possible once every five years and only if the document has less than one year of validity remaining. It is not allowed if the person holds multiple passports, or to modify the data of dependents who have obtained their own document; these situations require an in-person visit to a Jawazat counter.
When validating the request, the user also signs a declaration in the system, certifying that the old passport is still in their possession and secure. This guarantee prevents the multiplication of active documents for the same person.
Saudi citizens abroad: Embassies and laissez-passer
Saudi citizens living or traveling abroad have specific services managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These cover passport renewal, issuance of emergency travel documents (laissez-passer), and handling cases of loss or page exhaustion.
Renewal and issuance abroad
From abroad, the citizen does not go through Absher in the strict sense for passport creation, even though some information may be interfaced. The process generally unfolds as follows:
Key steps to submit an application for issuance or renewal of a visa with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Filling out the application on the eServices portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Adding personal data, Enjaz reference number, and uploading the ID photo
Uploading required documents (passport, resident card, letter, etc.) as JPG or PDF files under 2 MB
Printing the signed form after final validation
Submitting the file to the embassy or consulate, by mail or by appointment
Receiving notifications via email and SMS on the progress of the processing
When the new passport is ready, the citizen can, depending on the country, request postal delivery or pick it up in person. In all cases, the old passport is retrieved by the diplomatic mission to be canceled.
Issuance fees abroad can vary from one post to another, generally ranging between the equivalent of 100 and 500 SAR, depending on the type of document and any logistical surcharges.
Laissez-passer: Emergency travel document
In some scenarios, particularly for citizens whose nationality has not yet been definitively recognized (children of Saudi parents born abroad, for example), embassies can issue a laissez-passer. This is a temporary document, valid only for a specific trip to Saudi Arabia, where citizen status will then be examined in detail (citizen status will then be examined in detail).
The citizenship examination and passport issuance procedure can take at least six months.
For a citizen of another country, the same principle applies regarding their embassy: emergency documents (emergency certificate, emergency travel document) can be issued to allow a return to the country of origin, but they never substitute for a Saudi passport when dealing with a citizen of the Kingdom.
Complementary services around passports on Absher
Beyond simple application or renewal, Absher brings together a whole set of related services revolving around passports and personal status (citizen, resident, head of family, employer).
Among these services are notably: services
The Saudi passport service (Jawazat) offers several online procedures: view the digital passport, issue powers of attorney, manage travel permits for minors, process exit/final exit visas, schedule appointments, and file complaints via the Tahseen service.
For visa matters, Absher is closely connected to the General Directorate of Passports system. A final exit visa, for example, can only be issued after settlement of any outstanding fines. For residents, the platform also allows remote renewal of the Iqama for family members located outside the Kingdom.
Passport loss: Coordination between police, embassy, and Jawazat
The loss or theft of a passport in Saudi Arabia triggers a chain of procedures involving several authorities: local police, the embassy or consulate of the holder’s country, Jawazat, and sometimes the sponsor (kafeel) for foreign residents.
The typical scheme, for a non-Saudi resident, follows several steps:
If you lose your passport in Saudi Arabia, follow these crucial steps: 1. Immediately report the loss to the Saudi police to obtain an official report. 2. Contact your embassy or consulate to request a new passport or an emergency travel document (emergency certificate, laissez-passer). 3. Notify Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports), often with your sponsor’s assistance, to regularize your situation. 4. Once the new document is obtained, update your passport data in Absher (via Naql Malumat) if you hold an Iqama. 5. Obtain, if necessary, an exit or return visa based on your travel plans.
For a Saudi citizen, the logic is similar, but it is Absher that allows reporting the loss and triggering the replacement procedure, in coordination with Jawazat. Abroad, the local police and Saudi embassy become the main points of contact.
Legal issues and practical recommendations
The Saudi passport system cannot be understood without considering its legal background. The country does not in principle recognize dual citizenship and requires citizens considering acquiring another nationality to obtain prior authorization from the head of government. In case of unauthorized dual passport, the citizen is still considered Saudi, but faces potential nationality revocation by decree, especially if they serve a foreign government or acquire foreign nationality fraudulently.
Every Saudi citizen must enter and exit Saudi Arabia exclusively with a Saudi travel document. Using another document, such as a laissez-passer, requires regularization before departure. No other nationality exempts one from the obligation to possess a valid exit visa or Saudi passport.
For foreign residents, the foreign passport and the Iqama form a tandem. To leave the country, they must have an exit and re-entry visa (or final exit) and a passport still valid for at least six months at the time of application. Any passport change must be reflected in the Saudi system via Absher, otherwise visa procedures become impossible.
Several best practices emerge from the analysis of this architecture. It is essential to identify and apply them to ensure the robustness, maintainability, and effectiveness of the designed system.
– plan passport renewals well in advance, ideally six months before expiration;
– keep contact details (phone number, Wasel address) updated in Absher, as they condition access to services;
– immediately report any loss or theft, to block the document and avoid suspicions of fraudulent use;
– for residents, promptly update new passport data in Absher after a visit to the embassy.
The Saudi passport as a tool for international mobility
Beyond Saudi Arabia, the country’s passport grants access to a growing number of destinations. The latest available rankings indicate that Saudi citizens benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to approximately 85 to 90 countries and territories, including Gulf Cooperation Council members (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates), parts of Asia and Europe, and several countries in Africa and Latin America.
The Saudi tourist eVisa, launched in 2019, requires a valid biometric passport with a minimum validity of 6 months. The travel authorization is electronically linked to the passport number. For Saudi citizens, strict adherence to passport validity and renewal rules is crucial, not only for their own travel but also to be able to obtain eVisas from other countries.
Conclusion
Obtaining the country’s passport in Saudi Arabia, whether for the first time or as part of a renewal, now largely goes through a digital environment, centered on Absher and interconnected with Jawazat services, Saudi Post, and diplomatic missions abroad. This digitalization comes with increased demand for accurate data, compliant photos, traceable payments, and adherence to deadlines.
For residents in Saudi Arabia, the online Absher platform is recommended to avoid travel, track files, and manage family passports. For Saudis living abroad, one must contact embassies or consulates, which use the same databases and documentary requirements.
As for foreign residents, they must consider updating their passport information in Absher as a step as essential as the renewal itself at their embassy. In a system where the passport conditions access to territory, work, exit and re-entry visas, and sometimes even the recognition of citizenship, administrative rigor is not a luxury, but a necessity.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
