In a significant regulatory step aimed at streamlining government procedures and improving the quality of services provided to citizens, the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enabled the issuance and renewal of Saudi passports without requiring the payment of outstanding traffic violations registered against the applicant, through the "Absher" electronic platform. This update removes the previous requirement that citizens clear their traffic records as a prerequisite for obtaining travel documents.
The context of digital transformation and Vision 2030
This decision comes as part of the Kingdom's accelerated digital transformation, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , which aims to automate government services and streamline the user experience. Whereas government services were previously closely intertwined to ensure the collection of fees and fines, modern systems are moving towards granting citizens their rights to obtain official documents, separating this from other financial obligations. This reflects a high degree of flexibility in procedural systems and an advancement in the digital infrastructure of the Ministry of Interior.
Steps and conditions for using the service
The Absher platform explained that benefiting from this service requires a set of simplified controls to ensure the process runs smoothly, including:
- Having a registered national address: It must be ensured that the beneficiary has a correct national address within his registered data, in order to be able to receive the passport via Saudi Post (Subul) after its issuance or renewal.
- Passport fee payment: Although the requirement to pay fines has been dropped, payment of the service fee for issuing or renewing a passport (whether for 5 or 10 years) remains a prerequisite for completing the application through government payment channels (SADAD).
- Active fingerprint and photo: The beneficiary's fingerprint and photo are present in the Ministry of Interior's systems.
Guidelines for reporting a lost passport
In a related matter concerning electronic passport services, the updates included specific regulations for reporting lost passports. The regulations stipulate that to complete the electronic reporting process, the person reporting the loss must be 21 years of age or older , or married if younger. These conditions aim to regulate procedures related to sensitive official documents and ensure the legal eligibility of the applicant before proceeding with the cancellation of the lost passport and the issuance of a replacement.
The importance and impact of the decision
This decision has broad positive implications, as it alleviates the hardship faced by citizens who may need to travel urgently (for medical treatment, study, or work) and who have outstanding traffic violations that could currently hinder their financial ability. Furthermore, this measure enhances the efficiency of the Absher platform as a unified service interface, reducing the need to visit passport offices and saving time and effort, thus contributing to a better experience for both citizens and residents.
