Saudi Passport Guide 2026, Issuance, Renewal, and Fees
Practical guide to the Saudi passport: issuance and renewal via Absher, statutory fees, validity periods, and the difference between ordinary and diplomatic passports.
The Saudi passport is the official travel document for every Saudi citizen, and issuance and renewal moved online for most cases with the digital transformation of the General Directorate of Passports. This guide covers the actual statutory procedures via Absher and when in-person attendance is required.
Types of Saudi Passport
The Saudi system recognizes four passport types:
| Type | Issued to | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary (blue) | All citizens | 5 or 10 years |
| Special (green) | Senior state officials | 5 years |
| Diplomatic (red) | Diplomats and their families | 5 years |
| Hajj / Umrah | Holders of temporary religious visas | Per visa |
The most common document is the ordinary passport. Other types follow special regulations issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Council of Grievances.
Validity Choice — 5 or 10 Years
Since the validity option expanded in 1440 AH, citizens choose on issuance and renewal:
5-year passport:
- Lower fee
- Suitable for infrequent travelers
- Children's features change fast (photo may need updating)
10-year passport:
- Roughly double the fee
- Suitable for regular travelers
- Saves repeat renewal procedures
Practical tip: for children under 12, choose the 5-year passport only — features change rapidly and some Schengen states refuse passports with old photos.
Absher Renewal Steps
The electronic procedure in Absher 2026:
- Log in to absher.sa with your personal account
- Navigate: My Services → Passport Services → "Passport Renewal"
- Choose validity period (5 or 10 years)
- Review current passport data and confirm accuracy
- Pay via SADAD with the bill number shown
- Select delivery: shipment to national address via Saudi Post (default), or pickup at a Jawazat branch
- Receive within 5–10 working days via Saudi Post
Critical prerequisite: your Splonline national address must be active and updated, since the passport ships there.
Official Fees
Rates as officially posted by the General Directorate of Passports:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| New passport issuance – 5 years | 300 SAR |
| New passport issuance – 10 years | 600 SAR |
| Renewal – 5 years | 300 SAR |
| Renewal – 10 years | 600 SAR |
| Lost replacement | 300 SAR + late fine (varies) |
| Damaged replacement | 300 SAR |
Fees are shown in Absher on service start and paid via SADAD before request execution.
When You Need to Attend in Person
Office attendance is mandatory for:
- First issuance for a child who never had a passport
- Loss or damage, with a police report
- Data correction such as name or birth date
- Photo update for those over 10 years since the current photo
- Emergency passport for travel within 24 hours (extra fee)
Passport offices are distributed across major cities and operate Sunday–Thursday 7:30–2:30. Booking an appointment via Absher is mandatory at most branches to avoid queues.
Passports for Children and Newborns
Every Saudi child is entitled to an independent passport from birth, not attached to the father's or mother's document.
Steps to issue a newborn passport:
- Register the child in Civil Affairs to obtain an electronic birth certificate (done at the hospital, then documented via Absher)
- Add the child as a beneficiary in your Absher account
- Go to "Issue Passport for Dependent"
- Upload an official photo matching passport specifications
- Pay and collect as any passport
Note: some embassies (like the U.S.) require in-person appearance of the child to obtain a visa, but that is the foreign embassy's requirement, not the Saudi Passport Directorate's.
Saudi Passport Strength Globally
The Saudi passport grants visa-free entry (or visa on arrival) to over 85 countries (per 2025 Henley Index), including:
- All six GCC countries
- Many Schengen states (following the 2025 agreement — verify with the consulate)
- Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan (conditional)
- Many South American and African countries
Prior-visa countries: Europe (pre-2025), USA, Canada, Australia, and others in the Riyadh embassies list.
Additional Questions
Can I use the Saudi passport for visa-free GCC travel? Within the six GCC states, a Saudi citizen enters with the passport or even the valid national ID. The passport is mandatory for all other countries.
Are Saudi passports stamped at airports? Some Saudi border points use the "Smart Passport Gate" electronic route without stamping. Others still use manual stamps.
What is the difference between the passport and the old family passport? The family passport was officially abolished in 2019. Every individual now holds an independent passport regardless of age or status.
Official Sources
- Absher platform, absher.sa
- General Directorate of Passports, gdp.gov.sa
- National Address (Splonline)
- Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mofa.gov.sa
Read also: Saudi National ID Renewal · Complete Absher Guide · Iqama Renewal
الأسئلة الشائعة
The ordinary Saudi passport is issued for either 5 or 10 years, chosen by the applicant. The fee differs between the two, and validity begins on issuance date, not collection date.
Go to [Absher](https://www.absher.sa) → Passports → 'Passport Renewal' and complete the request: choose the renewal period, pay the fee, and select delivery to your national address. Most cases complete online without visiting a Jawazat office.
First passport issuance, loss or damage, photo update after a long period, data corrections, and emergency passport for travel within 24 hours. Most other cases are handled online.
Statutory fees for the ordinary passport: 300 SAR for the 5-year passport and 600 SAR for the 10-year, per the General Directorate of Passports tariff. Paid via SADAD after starting the request in Absher.
Renew at least 6 months before expiry, since many countries require at least 6 months of validity on entry. The Saudi system allows early renewal within 6 months of expiry.
Yes. Every child needs their own independent passport from birth. Issued via Absher through the guardian's account after registering the electronic birth certificate. The child holds the passport from birth even without travel.
Go to the nearest Saudi embassy or consulate with an official loss report from local police, and request an emergency Travel Document to return. After returning, issue a replacement via a Jawazat office with the statutory fees.
Part of the series: Passport & Travel
Article 1 of 4Issuing and renewing the passport, visa-free destinations, foreign visas, and Hajj/Umrah permits.
- 1.Saudi Passport Guide 2026, Issuance, Renewal, and FeesPillar guide
- 2.Visa-Free Countries for Saudi Passport Holders 2026: Full List by Continent
- 3.Foreign Visas for Saudis 2026: Schengen, US, UK, Canada — Requirements & Steps
- 4.Nusuk Platform 2026: Umrah & Hajj Permits, Booking, and Overseas Pilgrims
Related Articles
Mawid App 2026: Booking Hospital and Primary-Care Appointments
Guide to the Mawid app — booking government hospital and primary-care centre appointments, rescheduling, choosing a health centre, and Mawid vs Sehhaty.
Sakani 2026: Eligibility for Singles, Divorced, Widowed — Programmes & Application
Complete guide to Sakani — general eligibility, rules for single applicants, divorced women, and widows, all programmes (financing, ready units, free plots), and step-by-step application.
Sehhaty App 2026: Complete Guide — Appointments, Prescriptions, Health Record
Guide to the Sehhaty app — health-centre registration, appointment booking, e-prescriptions, vaccination certificates, unified medical record, and insurance verification.
The Five Fragrance Families at Bath & Body Works: A Choosing Guide
The five fragrance families on the Bath & Body Works Saudi Arabia site, how they are distributed in their catalogue by the numbers, and what the new arrivals reveal about the season.
Is NEOM Open to Visitors? The Actual Status in 2026
What has actually opened from the NEOM project, and what's still under construction or scaled back? The status of Sindalah, The Line, Trojena, and Oxagon, based on facts, not marketing.
How to Know Your Tabby & Tamara Limit 2026: The Truth Behind the Number
How to find your Tabby and Tamara credit limit, what drives the cap up, how to raise it legitimately, and behaviours that lower it instantly.