As part of Saudi Arabia's accelerated digital transformation to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Interior continues to develop its electronic services through the "Absher" platform, which serves as the technological arm and backbone of government services for citizens and residents. These services aim to streamline official procedures, save time and effort, and reduce the need to visit government branches, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing the quality of life and improving the business environment.
Steps to issue a resident's length of stay report
The Absher platform has explained the approved procedure for issuing and printing a "Resident Stay Period Report" electronically. This is an important official document that residents need to submit to relevant authorities or to document their periods of residence within the Kingdom. The steps for this service are summarized in the following points:
- Log in to the beneficiary's account on the Absher electronic platform.
- Click on the “My Services” tab.
- Select “Public Services” from the drop-down menu.
- Click on the “Absher Reports” option.
- Select the “Resident Length of Stay Report” service, then follow the instructions to view and print the report.
Available electronic reporting services
The reporting services in Absher are not limited to residency reports only; the platform has identified 7 types of reports that users can view and print for use in various official and legal procedures, including:
- My report: Contains basic personal data.
- Family members data report: To document dependents' data.
- Vehicle Report: Shows details of vehicles registered in the beneficiary's name.
- Traffic violation report: A list of all recorded violations.
- Traffic Accident Report: A Historical Record of Accidents.
- Travel log data report: Shows entry and exit movements from the Kingdom.
- Domestic Workers Report: Data on workers registered under the sponsorship of the beneficiary.
Regulations for renewing national identity card
In a related context concerning official documents, the Ministry of Interior's Civil Status Agency has specified the precise criteria for the personal photograph when renewing the national identity card to ensure the application is accepted. These criteria are:
- The background should be completely white.
- The photo must be recent (no more than 6 months have passed since it was taken).
- Clear facial features, free from exaggerated expressions or cosmetics that alter the features.
- The image should be free of any ink stains, holes, or technical defects.
- Take the picture straight while avoiding the “red-eye” effect caused by the reflection of the camera flash.
Online name change service
In recent updates, the Civil Status Department has enabled a service to change first names through the Absher platform, representing a significant step forward in streamlining personal status procedures. This service allows citizens to change their first name or the name of a family member (under 18 years of age) according to specific regulations.
Duration and fees
This service is free for all citizens, and the implementation time varies depending on the case:
- Immediate: If the new name is among the lists of names previously known to the Civil Status Department.
- 5 working days: If the name is not identified, it requires review and verification.
Terms and conditions for changing the name
To ensure that a name change request is accepted, the following conditions must be met:
- The new name complies with the standards and regulations for registering names approved in the Kingdom.
- The new name must not be identical to the name of a living first-degree relative (father, mother, siblings).
- The consent of both parents is required when changing the name of minor children (under 18 years old), unless one of them dies.
- The absence of a previous request to change the name is still being processed.
- Two edits are allowed, provided that the second edit is to revert to the previous name only.
