Services &Procedures

The General Directorate of Passports carries out many duties to serve citizens and residents in the Kingdom such as:

1. Implement Saudi Passports System and related instructions according to the Higher Order no. 17/3/2 dated 19/1/1385 H. This system defines the Saudi travel documents as in Saudi passports and Transient Tickets, individuals authorized to obtain them, validity, renewal, fees and violation penalties.
2. Implement Iqama (Resident Permit) System and related instructions according to the Higher Order no. 17/2/25/1337 dated 11/9/1337 H. This system organizes expatriates arrival to the Kingdom and related issues as in visas, entry registration, Iqama issuing, validity and renewal, required fees and violation penalties
3. Monitor Kingdom arrivals, departures and transit individuals and examine their information to ensure accuracy of their stamps, visas…etc. and deport violators, anonymous and overstaying expatriates. In addition, monitor companies and establishments that employ non-Saudis, disclose violators and penalize them.
4. Control alien re-assignments to ensure that they are working for their sponsors and apply penalties for violators.
5. Prepare lists of those who are banned to leave or enter the Kingdom and circulate them all over the Kingdom ports, Security Authorities and Saudi embassies abroad.
6. Prepare stamps required for visas, registration and Iqamas. In addition, prepare application forms, IDs and records required for this issue and modify them constantly.
7. Prepare annual statistic reports on the Kingdom arrivals whether they were pilgrims, visitors or employees
8. Establish new branches for the Directorate around the Kingdom according to necessities and establish additional centers to serve pilgrims in order to facilitate their arrival and departure in the required duration.
9. Carry out necessary procedures and precautions to ensure that all pilgrims stay in the required areas and track illegal expatriates.
10. Communicate with the Kingdom embassies around the world through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide Saudis residing abroad with passports whenever required.
11. Coordinate with the concerned Saudi authorities to ensure that they implement all rules related to Passports Systems.
12. Arrest, investigate and deport within granted authority.
13. Encourage citizens and aliens to cooperate with the department. Publish brochures periodically on their rights, duties and prohibitions; and issue directives and instructions to explain procedures required to implement systems. In addition, prepare executive regulations or modifications on the current systems.
14. Prepare internal regulations for the Directorate departments and branches.
15. Train work force on passports issues at the Passports Institute, specialized institutes in or outside the Kingdom.
16. Establish buildings for the Directorate and its branches and equip them to carry out functions effectively.
17. Practice financial and administrative authority, according to financial and military systems and regulations.

Requirements to accept application forms:

1. The application must be submitted by employer, family guardian, legal deputy or legal representative.
2. If the applicant is not the application owner, application type will vary according to the following:
• For companies and establishments: A legal authorization, sanctioned by the Chamber of Commerce and approved by Passports Administration, must be provided from the company or establishment. Expediting card will be issued for the representative.
• For Saudi individuals: A handwritten authorization, sanctioned by his employer or an official organization, must be provided by the application owner.
• For Non-Saudi individuals: Iqama and travel visa applications must be submitted by the family guardian or his representative.
3. Expediting procedures through services office:
   • Application submitted by services office will not be accepted unless it is signed and stamped by the employer and a legal authorization is provided.
   • The application must include all requirements, completed and signed by the application's owner or any representative. However, the Passports Administration must have an approved record of the office owner's signatures or his Saudi expeditors.
   • The services office must stamp the application officially after filling all information by the applicant along with required signatures and sanctions.
   • Services office is not permitted to expedite on issuing Saudi passports or Iqamas for those who have a non-work entry visa.