Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has updated the conditions for its electronic authorisation service through the Absher platform. The service allows eligible users to authorise another person to complete selected passport and residency-related transactions digitally. The changes matter because they make a range of services easier to manage without visiting passport offices, although the rules apply to electronic authorisation and are not new passport validity requirements for travellers.
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Organisation: Saudi General Directorate of Passports
- Status: Updated electronic authorisation conditions announced
- Who is affected: Eligible Absher users and Saudi citizens authorised to complete services
- Impact: 23 passport-related services can be delegated electronically
- What’s next: Users can continue accessing eligible services through the Absher platform
Saudi Arabia has announced updated rules for electronic authorisation through the Absher platform, with the Saudi General Directorate of Passports confirming that 23 passport-related services can be completed by an authorised person.
Under the new conditions, the authorised person must be a Saudi citizen, while both the person giving the authorisation and the authorised person must have active Absher accounts.
The update is designed to make passport and residency-related transactions more accessible digitally. However, travellers should note that these are not new passport validity rules for entering Saudi Arabia. The announcement specifically concerns the electronic authorisation of passport-related services.
What are the new Absher electronic authorisation rules?
According to the Saudi General Directorate of Passports, electronic authorisation is now subject to two main conditions.
First, the person receiving the authorisation must be a Saudi citizen.
Second, both parties involved in the authorisation must have active accounts on the Absher platform.
The authorising party and the authorised person can also cancel the electronic authorisation at any time.
The system allows an eligible user to authorise another person to act on their behalf when completing selected passport-related transactions. This means certain services can be handled digitally without the account holder personally visiting a passport office.
The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider push towards digital government services, with Absher continuing to bring Ministry of Interior services online for users across the Kingdom.
Which 23 passport-related services are available?
The General Directorate of Passports has confirmed that 23 services are available through electronic authorisation.
These include a range of transactions connected to passports, residency permits, visas and dependents.
Among the services available are:
- Issuing and cancelling travel permits for dependents
- Reporting lost or damaged passports
- Issuing and renewing iqamas, or residency permits, for expatriates
- Receiving printed copies of iqamas
- Issuing and cancelling exit and re-entry visas
- Issuing and cancelling final exit visas
- Reporting lost iqamas
- Reporting lost passports belonging to expatriates
- Reporting absent workers
- Adding and removing dependents
Other services covered by electronic authorisation include transferring the status of a dependent to a head of household, changing professions, transferring services and updating information.
Eligible users can also use the system for extending visit visas, issuing and renewing passports, receiving passports and checking previous passport records.
The list also includes selected resident services and authorisation-related transactions.
The exact availability of a service can depend on the user’s eligibility and the requirements set by the relevant Saudi authority.
How does electronic authorisation make passport services easier?
Electronic authorisation allows a person to delegate an eligible transaction to another individual instead of handling every service personally.
This can be particularly useful when the original account holder is unable to visit a passport office or complete a transaction themselves.
Rather than relying on physical paperwork or in-person visits for every transaction, users can manage eligible authorisations digitally through Absher.
The system also gives users greater control over their authorisations, as either party can cancel the arrangement when necessary.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly expanded its digital government services in recent years, with platforms such as Absher playing a central role in handling services related to identity documents, residency, visas and other government transactions.
The latest update adds another layer of flexibility for users who need someone else to complete an eligible service on their behalf.
Why this is not a new passport validity rule for travellers
The original announcement has attracted attention because of references to passport-related services. However, it is important to separate the electronic authorisation update from Saudi Arabia’s travel entry requirements.
The new conditions announced by the Saudi General Directorate of Passports do not mean Saudi Arabia has introduced a new passport validity requirement for tourists or other travellers entering the Kingdom.
Instead, the rules apply to the electronic authorisation service available through Absher.
For UAE residents, tourists and GCC travellers planning to visit Saudi Arabia, passport validity, visa and entry requirements should still be checked separately through official Saudi travel and visa channels.
This distinction is important, especially for people searching for updates on whether their passport meets Saudi Arabia’s entry requirements.
Why It Matters for UAE residents and GCC travellers
The update is relevant to UAE residents who have family, business or residency connections in Saudi Arabia.
Those who are eligible to use the Saudi government’s digital services may benefit from having more passport-related transactions handled electronically.
For Saudi citizens and eligible Absher users, the service can reduce the need for in-person visits for selected transactions.
The update may also be useful for families and employers dealing with services connected to dependents, residency permits and visa-related procedures.
However, the new rules should not be confused with changes to travel regulations.
Anyone travelling from the UAE to Saudi Arabia should continue checking the latest official requirements for passports, visas and entry before making travel plans.
Saudi Arabia’s wider shift towards digital government services
The latest announcement reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued focus on moving government services online.
Absher has become one of the Kingdom’s key digital government platforms, allowing users to access a wide range of Ministry of Interior services through digital channels.
Electronic authorisation is particularly useful because it allows eligible services to be delegated while maintaining a digital record of the transaction.
The expansion of online government services also supports Saudi Arabia’s wider digital transformation plans, which aim to make public services faster and more accessible.
For users, the biggest benefit is convenience. Services that previously required physical visits can increasingly be managed online, depending on the type of transaction and the user’s eligibility.
The latest update also gives users access to a broader range of passport-related transactions through a single digital system.
What happens next?
Eligible users can continue using Absher to check whether a specific passport or residency-related service can be completed through electronic authorisation.
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has confirmed the availability of 23 services through the system, while the two conditions determine who can receive an electronic authorisation.
Users should ensure that both parties have active Absher accounts and that the person receiving the authorisation is eligible under the latest rules.
As Saudi Arabia continues expanding its digital government services, more transactions may increasingly move towards online platforms. However, users should always check the latest requirements directly through official Saudi government channels before starting an application or completing a transaction.
FAQs
What are Saudi Arabia’s new Absher electronic authorisation rules?
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports says the authorised person must be a Saudi citizen, and both parties must have active Absher accounts.
Are these new passport validity rules for travellers entering Saudi Arabia?
No. The announcement concerns electronic authorisation for passport-related services and does not introduce a new general passport validity rule for travellers.
How many services are available through electronic authorisation?
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has announced that 23 passport-related and related services are available through electronic authorisation.
Can an electronic authorisation be cancelled?
Yes. According to the Passports Directorate, either the authorising party or the authorised person can cancel the authorisation.
Can UAE residents use these services?
The service is subject to eligibility requirements set by Saudi authorities. UAE residents with connections to Saudi Arabia should check their eligibility and the latest official requirements through Absher and relevant Saudi government channels.
Saudi Arabia’s latest Absher update makes 23 passport-related services available through electronic authorisation, helping eligible users delegate selected transactions digitally.
The key change is clear: the authorised person must be a Saudi citizen, and both parties must have active Absher accounts. For UAE residents and travellers, the most important point is that this is an electronic services update, not a change to Saudi Arabia’s general passport validity requirements for entry.
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