Renewing the Saudi passport - all the details!
15 Nov 2023
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeks to facilitate the operations of government services for its citizens, with the aim of saving time and effort for the population and residents of the country. The Absher electronic platform represents one of the pioneering initiatives in this context, as it provides a wide range of electronic services to meet the needs of citizens and residents.
Among these electronic services, renewing the Saudi passport through the Absher platform allows this procedure to be carried out easily and conveniently, without the need to go to passport offices in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Absher platform is available as an application for iOS and Android smartphones, in addition to being an online portal.
The statement issued by the General Directorate of Passports announces the provision of two options for citizens to receive and activate their passports, which are as follows:
- Receipt through the postal carrier or passport offices: Citizens can receive their passports through postal services or visit the passport offices after completing the renewal process via the “ Absher ” online platform.
- Activation: Inspection and activation processes can be carried out through the services available at international ports, whether air, land, or sea, before the travel date, or from passport offices. It is required to bring the old passport for examination.
The Authority explains that citizens wishing to renew their passports can visit the “ Absher ” platform to choose either receipt via postal services or coming in person to one of the passport branches mentioned on the platform without the need to schedule a prior appointment.
Eliminate the need to activate the passport
Passports announced that it is now possible to travel using the national identity, previous or new passport without the need to complete the activation process from land, sea and air travel centers, or from passport offices, with the necessity of bringing the previous passport for the purpose of examination.
How to renew a Saudi passport?
Use the Absher electronic platform, which is affiliated with the General Directorate of Passports, to renew the Saudi passport.
Steps to submit the application:
1. Log in to the Absher platform from here.
2. Select “Services”.
3. Go to “Passports”.
4. Choose “Renew a Saudi Passport”.
5. Specify the name of the person whose passport you want to renew.
6. Fill in all the required data.
7. I agree to the terms and conditions.
8. Choose the passport delivery address.
9. Confirm the accuracy of the information entered.
10. Pay the renewal fees.
After that, you can receive the new passport and deliver the old passport using the “Wasel” service from the Saudi Post or through the passport offices. After completing the process, you must visit the nearest passport branch without booking a prior appointment to examine the old passport and activate the new one. You can also make this step via land, sea and air travel ports.
Details about the Saudi passport renewal service
A fee of 300 Saudi riyals is charged for renewing a passport for 5 years, while the fee for renewing a passport for 10 years is 600 Saudi riyals.
These fees can be paid via SADAD system.
A request to renew a passport can be submitted via mobile applications or the electronic portal of the concerned authority.
The service will be provided within two days of registering the transaction.
Available payment methods:
- Payment through the government payments system via the Absher platform.
- Resorting to the government payments system available in Saudi banks.
- Possibility of immediate payment during the service.
Conditions for renewing a Saudi passport:
- The citizen must have a valid passport.
- Validity of the national ID is considered a prerequisite for renewing or issuing a passport.
- The citizen who wishes to renew his passport must pay the recorded traffic violations, if any.
- A fingerprint and a photo of the citizen must be present.
- The citizen must be within Saudi territory during the renewal application.
- The passport can be renewed for a family member under the age of 21.
- The holder of a passport being renewed for a period of ten years must be over twenty years old.
Steps to renew a passport for individuals under the age of 15:
The General Directorate of Passports announced by publishing a video on its official Twitter account explaining the necessary steps to renew the passport for individuals under fifteen years of age.
Conditions for obtaining a passport for those under 15 years old:
1. The passport is renewed for 5 years only.
2. The individual must be alive.
3. Not issuing a national ID card for the family member.
4. Passport renewal fees must be paid.
5. Family members under 15 years of age must not have a fingerprint in the Ministry of Interior’s systems.
6. The family member has not been issued a national ID.
7. The person requesting the service must be within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
When sending a passport renewal application for an individual and family under 15 years old, a recent photo no older than 6 months must be attached.
How to issue and renew a Saudi passport for a family member who is under 15 years old and does not have a fingerprint in the system via the Absher platform:
1. Log in to the Absher platform and create or register an account.
2. Choose electronic services from the main menu and then choose services for family members.
3. Choose the service related to passport renewal.
4. Select the family member whose passport you wish to renew.
5. Verify the accuracy of all registered family member information and data.
6. Attach a recent photo of the family member, not older than 6 months.
7. Select the city and passport branch where you would like to receive the passport.
8. Approval of the declarations after reading them, then confirming the implementation of the passport renewal service for an individual under 15 years of age.
The third phase of updating the Saudi electronic passport has been completed, and the age group under 21 years of age can renew it via the Ministry of Interior’s “Absher” platform. The citizen can benefit from these two services during the issuance and renewal of his passport and for his dependents. It is stressed that it is necessary to visit the nearest passport branch with the previous passport for examination, without the need to book a prior appointment.
To renew the passport for Saudis residing outside the Kingdom, follow the following steps:
- Submit the application through the Fanar system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Coordinating with the Kingdom’s representatives abroad to renew passports in accordance with established procedures.
- Renewal of passports is carried out by the Kingdom’s representatives abroad based on their directives.
Renewed passport delivery service via the Absher platform, take the following steps:
- Submit proof of renewal for the current and previous passport from your account on the Absher platform to the relevant employee at the post office.
- Verify the validity of the national address registered in the registry.
- Pay the required fees for the delivery service.
- The new passport will be sent with the previous passport to your registered national address.
