As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts towards comprehensive digital transformation and achieving the goals of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Interior continues to develop its electronic services through the "Absher" platform, to streamline procedures for citizens and residents and save them time and effort. These services enhance the efficiency of government operations and reduce the need to visit traditional branches and offices.
Steps to transfer resident passport information
The Absher platform has outlined the official steps for transferring resident passport information. This is a vital service for residents when renewing their passports at their respective embassies, ensuring their data is up-to-date in the Saudi passport system and avoiding any fines or service disruptions. This is done through the "Tawasul" service by following these steps:
- Log in to the Absher platform.
- Select (My Services) then (Services).
- Go to (Passports) and select the (Contact) service.
- Submit a new request for information transfer and attach the required documents.
New national ID photo regulations
For its part, the Ministry of Interior's Civil Status Agency emphasized the importance of adhering to the technical standards for personal photographs when renewing national identity cards, in order to ensure the quality of official documents and their compatibility with modern security systems. It specified the correct photograph requirements as follows:
- The background should be completely white to ensure the features are clear.
- The photo must be recent and no more than 6 months old.
- The face should be free of exaggerated expressions or cosmetics that alter basic features.
- The image should be free of any technical 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 significant advancement for civil services, the Civil Status Department has launched an online service for changing citizens' first names through the Absher platform. This service allows beneficiaries to change their own name or the name of a family member (under 18 years of age) without needing to visit a Civil Status office, reflecting the significant progress in automating government procedures.
Duration and fees
This service is completely free for all citizens, and the implementation time varies depending on the chosen name:
- Immediate: If the new name is already identified within the lists of names approved by the Civil Status Department.
- 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 process of changing names is organized and rights are preserved, the ministry has set several strict conditions that must be met to complete the application:
- The new name must comply with the approved name registration regulations (such as not violating Sharia law or public taste).
- The new name must not be a duplicate of the name of a brother or sister of the beneficiary from the same family (for living people).
- The consent of both parents is required if the change request is for one of the minor children (under 18 years old), unless one of them has died.
- There is no prior request pending to amend any part of the name.
- Only two edits are allowed; the second time is exclusively to revert to the previous name.
These updates are part of an integrated system aimed at improving the quality of life and facilitating government transactions, which puts the Kingdom among the leading countries in the field of e-government.
