RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports, known as Jawazat, has issued an important clarification about passport activation rules for Saudi citizens, explaining which passports require activation and which do not.
According to the latest clarification, Saudi citizens who receive a passport for the first time do not need to complete a separate activation process. The newly issued passport becomes valid without requiring the holder to visit a passport office for activation.
However, the rules are different for citizens who renew an existing Saudi passport.
Jawazat said people who receive a renewed passport must have their previous passport checked and activate the new passport before using it. Citizens can complete this process at a passport office, a Jawazat branch, or an international port of entry.
The clarification is particularly important for Saudi citizens who recently renewed their passports or plan to travel internationally.
Authorities said passport holders do not need to book an appointment in advance to complete the verification and activation procedure.
Instead, citizens can visit an eligible location with their previous passport and complete the required process directly.
Jawazat also advised citizens to check the activation status of their new passport through the Absher platform after completing the procedure.
The latest clarification removes confusion among citizens over whether every newly issued Saudi passport requires activation.
In simple terms, first-time passports do not require activation. However, renewed passports require the previous document to be checked before authorities activate the new one.
This distinction can help travellers avoid problems before leaving Saudi Arabia.
A citizen who recently renewed a passport should therefore make sure the activation process is complete before reaching the airport for an international journey.
Saudi authorities have steadily expanded digital passport services through the Absher platform.
Citizens can now complete several passport-related procedures online instead of visiting government offices for every step.
According to Jawazat, users can access passport services after signing into their Absher account.
They can then select “My Services,” open the “Passports” section and choose the relevant Saudi passport service.
Applicants can review their information, select the required passport period, accept the conditions and declarations, and choose an available delivery option.
They can also provide their delivery address, review the application details and pay the required fees through the digital process.
The expansion of these services forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider effort to make government procedures faster and more convenient.
Absher already provides a large number of Ministry of Interior services to citizens and residents, allowing many procedures to take place without repeated visits to government offices.
However, the latest Jawazat announcement shows that some procedures linked to renewed passports still require an additional verification step.
The requirement allows authorities to check the previous passport while ensuring that the newly renewed document has the correct activation status.
Importantly, citizens do not need a prior appointment for this specific procedure.
They can complete it through a passport office, branch office or an international entry and exit point, according to the General Directorate of Passports.
The rule applies to Saudi passports and should not be confused with activation of an Absher account.
Absher account activation follows a separate process and can take place through several channels, including supported Saudi banks, self-service machines, passport offices and Civil Affairs offices.
This distinction matters because the term “activation” can refer to different government services.
In the latest announcement, Jawazat specifically addressed activation requirements for newly renewed Saudi passports.
Citizens receiving their first passport do not need to take the additional step.
Meanwhile, those replacing an older passport through renewal need to complete the verification and activation procedure.
The Directorate’s clarification can also help Saudi travellers prepare before international trips.
Passport issues discovered shortly before departure can create delays, particularly when travellers assume a renewed document is ready for use without checking its activation status.
Therefore, citizens who recently received a renewed passport may want to confirm its status through Absher well before their travel date.
They should also keep their previous passport available until they complete the required verification process.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in digital government services in recent years.
Platforms such as Absher now allow users to complete many procedures from their phones or computers, reducing paperwork and waiting times.
Passport services have become an important part of this transformation.
Citizens can start the passport application process online and choose delivery options without completing the entire process through a physical government office.
At the same time, Jawazat continues to issue guidance when specific passport procedures still require an in-person step.
The latest update makes the rule relatively straightforward.
Anyone receiving a Saudi passport for the first time can use it without a separate activation requirement.
Anyone receiving a renewed passport should have the previous passport checked and ensure authorities activate the replacement document.
Citizens can complete the procedure without making a prior appointment.
They can then use Absher to verify that the new passport shows the correct activation status.
The clarification is expected to help Saudi citizens better understand passport requirements and avoid confusion before travelling abroad.
Travellers should also continue to check their passport validity, destination-country entry requirements and any other travel rules before departure, as passport activation represents only one part of international travel preparation.
