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SAUDI ARABIA – Fingerprint Registration Now Required for Female Expats

From 31 March, 2012, Saudi Arabia will institute a requirement for female foreign national residents to register their fingerprints, according to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior (Department of Passports – Jawazat). The requirement was previously in place for male foreign nationals only.

How Will the Fingerprints be Taken?

Fingerprints will be taken at the Passports Administrations offices. The list of such offices is available on the Ministry of Interior website here.

When Must Female Expatriates Register Their Fingerprints?

The program is to be implemented in different phases. To start with, fingerprints will be taken from female applicants at time of residence permit (iqama) renewal, replacement (in cases where the iqama has been lost) or amendment (in case of a change in circumstances). At the moment, there is no information about the deadline for fingerprint registration in other cases, however, female expatriates with valid residence permits which do not yet require renewal may choose to submit their fingerprints voluntarily.

Action Items

  • Note the requirement for female expatriates in Saudi Arabia to register fingerprints, effective 31 March 2012
  • Note that currently, the requirement will be implemented at time of residence permit renewal or change

This news alert was prepared using information provided by Move One

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this immigration alert has been abridged from laws, court decisions, and administrative rulings and should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice. If you have specific questions regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Peregrine © 2017 Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd.