Saudi passport
The front cover of a contemporary Saudi biometric passport
TypePassport
Issued by Saudi Arabia
PurposeIdentification
EligibilitySaudi Arabian citizenship
Expiration5 lunar years or 3 solar years for people aged under 21
5 to 10 lunar years or 3 to 5 solar years for people aged 21 or older
Cost300 SAR / $80 USD for 5 lunar years or 3 solar years 600 SAR / $160 USD for 10 lunar years or 5 solar years

The Saudi passport (Arabic: جواز السفر السعودي) is a passport document issued to citizens of Saudi Arabia for international travel. It is valid for five or ten lunar years, equal to three or five solar years.

Passport issuance procedures

An applicant is required to fill in an online form for the first time. In the case of passport renewal, an applicant is not required to fill in the form where the passport can be renewed with a few online steps through Absher online platform. An applicant must have a valid Government ID to be able to issue the passport. The passport photo must be taken whilst the applicant is in Saudi dress, unless the applicant is underage and has no Government ID card. The photo must be 100 mm × 150 mm (4 in × 6 in) in size. The applicant must fill the form in both Arabic and English.[1]

In 2017, a new option of the passport issuance was introduced, the new option offers a validity of ten years.

On 10 February 2022, the Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced that they have begun issuing a new passport, with a couple of changes, most notably the addition of a biometric chip.[2]

All procedures are carried out electronically through the platform Absher. This platform enables applicants to apply for a new passport or passport renewal without the requirement of attendance in person.[3]

New edition

In 2022, the Ministry of Interior has announced the new version of the Saudi Passport,[2] containing a myriad of differences, including but not limited to:

  • A darker green cover page
  • The addition of an electronic chip
  • New data page, with multiple security features[4]

Physical appearance

The current Saudi passport is green , with the Emblem of Saudi Arabia emblazoned in the top of the front cover."المملكة العربية السعودية" "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" is written below the emblem. Toward the bottom of the cover are inscribed "جواز سفر" "Passport" and, below it, the international e-passport symbol ().

Identity information page

Saudi ePassport information page

The Saudi passport includes the following data:

  • Photo of passport holder
  • Type (of document, which is P for "personal")
  • Country Code (listed as SAU for "Saudi Arabia")
  • Passport No.
  • Name
  • Nationality (Saudi Arabia)
  • Sex
  • Date of birth (in Islamic and Gregorian calendars)
  • Date of issue (in Islamic and Gregorian calendars)
  • Date of expiry (in Islamic and Gregorian calendars)
  • Issuing Authority

The information page ends with the machine readable zone.

Passport note

The passports contain inside the front cover a note that is addressed to the authorities of all countries and territories, identifying the bearer as a citizen of Saudi Arabia and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms:

In Arabic:

باسم ملك المملكة العربية السعودية أطلب من موظفي المملكة المدنيين والعسكريين وممثليها في الخارج ومن كل سلطة أخرى تعمل باسمها ومن السلطات المختصة في الدول الصديقة أن يسمحوا لحامل هذا الجواز بحرية المرور وأن يقدموا له المساعدة والرعاية

In English:

In the name of the King, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I request all whom it may concern to permit the bearer of this passport to pass freely, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection required.[5]

Languages

The passport is printed in English and in Arabic

Visa requirements

As of 2023, Saudi citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 95 countries and territories, ranking the Saudi passport 48th in terms of travel freedom according to the according to the Global Passport Index.[6]

Saudi citizens do not need a visa to enter other GCC states and reside permanently. From June 2017 until 2021, Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic relations with Qatar, which is one of the GCC countries, and as a result, Saudi citizens were prohibited from traveling to the neighboring country.

Countries and territories with visa-free or visa on arrival entry for holders of regular Saudi passports

See also

References

  1. ↑ "إجراءات الحصول على جواز السفر السعودي". gdp.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "عام / المديرية العامة للجوازات تطلق جواز السفر السعودي الإلكتروني". Saudi Press Agency. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "How 'Absher' app liberates Saudis from government bureaucracy". Arab News. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  4. ↑ @aljawazatksa (February 11, 2022). "أبرز مميزات #الجواز_السعودي_الإلكتروني" (Tweet). Archived from the original on Feb 12, 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ "عام / سمو الأمير عبدالعزيز بن سعود يقف على سير العمل في المديرية العامة للجوازات ويدشن جواز السفر السعودي الإلكتروني الجديد". Saudi Press Agency. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Global Passport Power Rank 2023 | Passport Index 2023". Passport Index - Global Mobility Intelligence. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
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