Requirements for a photo to renew a national ID and steps to change a name via Absher

As part of the Saudi Ministry of Interior's commitment to streamlining and facilitating official document procedures for citizens, the Civil Status Agency has clarified the precise standards and correct formats for personal photographs required when renewing national identity cards. This clarification aims to reduce the rejection of online applications and ensure the quality of official documents in accordance with modern security and technological standards.

Terms and conditions for the national identity card photo

The Civil Status Department emphasized the necessity of adhering to a set of technical guidelines when uploading photos for ID renewal, in order to ensure immediate application processing and avoid any delays in card issuance. These guidelines are summarized as follows:

• Image background: The background should be completely white to ensure the clarity of the features and the required contrast.
• Photo recency: The photo must be recent and taken no more than 6 months ago, to accurately reflect the current features of the beneficiary.
• Clarity of features: The facial features must be perfectly clear, free of any expressions (neutral face), and without the use of cosmetics that alter the basic features or affect the facial signature.
• Image quality: The image must be clear, free from any ink spots, holes, or digital distortions.
• Shooting angle: Shoot the picture straight ahead (facing the camera directly), while avoiding red-eye, which is often caused by the direct light reflection from the camera flash.

These conditions gain their importance from the fact that the national identity is a sensitive official document, and uses biometric identification technologies that require high accuracy in the images entered into the system.

Online first name change service

In a related development, the Civil Status Department announced details of its "Change First Name" service via the "Absher" electronic platform. This service is part of the Kingdom's digital transformation initiative, making it easier for citizens to make changes without needing to visit offices. The service applies to the individual or their family members under the age of 18.

Duration and fees

The agency explained that the service is offered free of charge to all citizens, and the implementation time varies depending on the chosen name:

• Instant service: If the new name is already identified within the lists of names approved by the Civil Status Department.
• Within 5 working days: If the name is not identified in the lists, it requires review and verification before approval.

Terms and conditions for changing the name

To ensure the organization of the process of naming individuals and preserving family rights, the Civil Status Department has set several conditions for benefiting from this service:

• The new name must comply with the approved name registration standards and regulations (such as not violating Sharia or public taste).
• The new name must not be identical to the name of a living first-degree relative (children or siblings), to avoid confusion.
• If the name of one of the children (under 18 years old) is changed, the consent of both parents is required, unless one of them has passed away.
• The absence of a previous request to change the name is still being processed.

The Civil Status Department also noted that it is possible to amend the first name only twice; the change is allowed the first time, and if the change is desired a second time, it is required that it be a return to the previous name only, in order to ensure the stability of civil data.