The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia has launched the electronic passport in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority "SDAIA." It has been indicated that the issuance is currently taking place at passport offices across the regions, with appointments made via the "Absher" electronic platform, and the passport will be sent to beneficiaries via the Saudi postal service "Sabl" within three working days.
The directorate explained that the review process can be completed by scheduling an appointment from the list of available times on "Absher," selecting the icon for issuing or renewing a passport, then going to the passport office in the region, and providing the requirements for issuing the new electronic passport, which include "national ID and two personal photos along with the old passport if renewing." It also noted that the "Absher" electronic platform can be used to issue and renew the "previous version" of the passport.
The Passports Authority emphasized that the electronic passport is designed to the highest global standards for passports in countries worldwide, featuring an electronic chip to enhance security for the personal data and images of the passport holder, along with verification and automated reading capabilities through smart gates at international entry points.
