JEDDAH – The issuance and renewal of residency permits (iqamas) can now be done electronically without the need of a physical presence through the new “Abshir” online service of the Directorate General of Passports.
Interior Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Naif launched on Wednesday the free service for individuals and employers.
Lt. Gen. Salem Al-Bolaihed, Director General of Passports, said that the service was launched as a major step to realize the aspirations and directives of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to make e-services available to citizens and expatriates without directly contacting the passport offices.
Last September, the Directorate had opened a new section inside the ministry’s Riyadh headquarters to provide citizens and expatriates with many electronic services without having to appear in person.
Col. Khaled Al-Saikhan, Director of IT Department at the Directorate, said that the online service will facilitate the employers to renew iqamas of their workers on time. It will also enable the employers to issue iqamas from the Directorate’s website itself.
Col Badar Al-Malik, spokesman of the Directorate General of Passports, said that a beneficiary has to register at the website (www.epassport.gov.sa) to avail of this service. The registration should be activated through ID proof. He called upon all expatriates to sign up for the new free online services and benefit from them.
In 2010, the ministry launched the online service for expats to get the exit-re-entry visas for their dependents without visiting the passport offices.
The simple online service cut short the lengthy transactions in paper format for the issuance of exit-re-entry visas. – SG
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