The Saudi Arabian General Directorate of Passports (GDP) has mandated that all expatriates residing in the Kingdom must do biometric registration for family members of foreign workers aged six or above, effective immediately.
This project aims to improve processes and strengthen security measures for anyone living, working, or visiting Saudi Arabia.
Fingerprint registration for dependents is deemed essential for gaining access to numerous government services and getting official papers.
The GDP emphasizes that compliance with this law promotes smooth interactions with authorities and easy navigation of critical procedures.
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Saudi authorities have lately established simple visa alternatives for expatriates in response to the requirements of international residents.
Exit/re-entry visas now allow foreign residents to return to the Kingdom until the expiration of their valid visas, allowing for more mobility.
To make things even easier, the GDP has announced electronic visa renewals for exit/re-entry visa holders who are outside of Saudi Arabia.
This method enables visa extensions via the Absher platform or the Muqeem portal, as well as online payment of associated expenses.
Foreign nationals should ensure that their passports have at least 90 days of validity for departure/re-entry applications and 60 days for final exit visas to enable quick processing.
Saudi Arabia has a robust and diversified expatriate community that contributes greatly to the Kingdom’s economic and social scene.
According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, foreigners account for around 41.5% of the overall population of 32.2 million.
Bangladeshi citizens led the expatriate population with 2.1 million, followed by Indians (1.88 million) and Pakistanis (1.81 million). Yemenis, Egyptians, Sudanese, Filipinos, and Syrians are among the other notable expat populations.
The adoption of obligatory biometric registration demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to improving administrative efficiency and establishing a safe and streamlined environment for both nationals and resident expats.
