A new step towards a paperless government: Saudi Passports launches innovative electronic services
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance digital transformation and streamline procedures for citizens and residents, the General Directorate of Passports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, announced the launch of four new electronic services through the Ministry of Interior's e-services platform, "Absher." This step represents a significant addition to the platform's services and underscores the Kingdom's commitment to achieving the goals of Vision 2030 in building a fully integrated digital government.
Details of the new services and their objectives
The new package of services launched by the Passports Department included four vital procedures aimed at saving time and effort for beneficiaries, namely:
- Resident Photo Update Service: This service allows residents to update their personal photos in their official records electronically without needing to visit passport offices.
- Dependent cancellation service: This service enables heads of households to cancel the records of their registered dependents directly through the platform.
- Dependent Separation Service: This service provides the possibility of separating a dependent record to become an independent head of household, which facilitates administrative procedures related to the personal status of resident families.
- Absher Travel Service at Salwa Border Crossing: This service aims to expedite and facilitate travel procedures through the Salwa border crossing with the State of Qatar, thus enhancing the smooth flow of travelers.
General context: Digital transformation and the Kingdom's Vision 2030
The launch of these services is an integral part of the comprehensive digital transformation strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the framework of Vision 2030. Since its inception, the “Absher” platform has become the most important executive arm of this strategy within the Ministry of Interior sector, offering hundreds of electronic services that have fundamentally changed how citizens and residents interact with government entities. The platform has contributed to reducing bureaucracy, eliminating the need for paper transactions, and providing services around the clock from anywhere, thus enhancing the efficiency of government performance and the quality of life in the Kingdom.
Importance and expected impact
Domestically, these new services will reduce pressure on passport service centers and provide a smoother experience for users. Instead of spending hours waiting and preparing paper documents, these vital transactions can now be completed in minutes. Regionally, the “Absher Travel” service at the Salwa border crossing serves as a model for how technology can be used to enhance integration and facilitate movement between GCC countries. The Acting Director General of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba, affirmed that these developmental steps aim to improve the quality of passport services and provide smart solutions that contribute to enhancing the efficiency of services provided to users, in line with the Kingdom’s future aspirations.
