As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts toward digital transformation and achieving the goals of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Interior continues to develop its electronic services through the "Absher" platform, streamlining procedures for citizens and residents and saving them time and effort. These services are part of a package of updates aimed at increasing the efficiency of government operations and reducing the need to visit government branches and offices.
How to transfer resident passport information
The General Directorate of Passports, through the Absher platform, explained the approved mechanism for transferring passport information for residents, which is a necessary step to update data after renewing the passport from the resident’s country’s embassy to ensure the legality of residency and avoid any complications in travel or official transactions.
This procedure can be completed entirely electronically without the need to visit the passport office, through the (Tawasul) service by following these steps:
- Log in to the Absher Individuals platform.
- Go to the (My Services) tab.
- Select (services).
- Click on (Passports).
- Select the (Connect) service and submit the request.
Terms and conditions for the national identity card photo
On another note, the Ministry of Interior's Civil Status Agency has established precise technical standards for accepting personal photographs when renewing national identity cards. This is to ensure that the photographs comply with the modern security and technical standards used in official documents.
The correct cases for the image are summarized as follows:
- The background should be completely white to ensure the features are clear.
- The photo must be recent (no more than 6 months have passed since it was taken).
- The face should be free of exaggerated expressions or cosmetics that alter basic features.
- The image should be free of any defects such as ink stains or holes.
- Take the picture straight up and facing the camera, avoiding the "red-eye" effect caused by light reflection.
Online first name change service
In a move aimed at increasing the flexibility of services provided to citizens, the Civil Status Department has launched a service to change first names through the Absher platform. This service allows citizens to change their own name or the name of a family member under the age of 18, in accordance with specific regulations that ensure the integrity of civil records.
Duration and fees
This service is free for all citizens, and the implementation time varies depending on the chosen name:
- Instant service: If the new name is already identified within the lists of names approved by the Civil Status Department.
- Within 5 working days: If the name is not defined, it requires review and approval before implementation.
Terms and conditions for changing the name
To ensure the proper organization of the name change process, the Civil Status Department has set several requirements, including:
- The first name may be changed only twice; provided that the second time is exclusively to revert to the previous name.
- The new name must comply with approved name registration standards (such as not violating Sharia or public taste).
- The new name must not be identical to the name of a living first-degree relative (father, mother, siblings), to avoid confusion.
- The consent of both parents is required to change the name of minor children (under 18 years old), except in the case of the death of one of them.
- The beneficiary's record must be free of any other amendment requests that are being processed at the same time.
