Issuance and renewal of a Saudi passport without paying traffic fines

An important step towards facilitating government services in the Kingdom

In a significant development aimed at streamlining procedures for citizens, Saudi Arabian authorities have announced the elimination of the requirement to pay traffic fines as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing Saudi passports. This decision is part of a series of updates to digital government services and reflects a commitment to enhancing efficiency and reducing burdens on citizens and residents.

Historical context and digital transformation

Previously, linking many government services to the settlement of outstanding financial obligations, including traffic fines, was a policy implemented to ensure compliance with the law. Any citizen wishing to renew their official documents, such as a passport or driver's license, had to settle all registered violations first. While this procedure was effective in collecting payments, it sometimes posed an obstacle for citizens who needed to complete their transactions urgently, particularly in cases of emergency travel for study, medical treatment, or work.

With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation aimed at restructuring government services to be more flexible, efficient, and citizen-centric. The Absher e-platform is a cornerstone of this transformation, enabling the completion of hundreds of services remotely without the need to visit government offices. This latest update to passport services is a natural extension of this vision, separating financial obligations from citizens' fundamental rights, such as obtaining a travel document.

The importance of the decision and its expected impact

This decision is of great importance on several levels. Locally , it provides citizens with significant flexibility, enabling them to complete their travel procedures without the immediate financial burden of settling fines. This does not mean canceling the fines, but rather separating the procedures, so that the obligation to pay them remains in place, but without impeding the citizen's movement and right to travel. This measure is expected to increase citizen satisfaction with government services and expedite the processing of transactions through the "Absher" platform.

At the regional and international levels , this step enhances the Kingdom's image as a modern state that adopts global best practices in providing government services. It also facilitates the movement of Saudi citizens for tourism and business, thus strengthening economic and cultural ties with countries around the world.

Updated service controls

The relevant authorities clarified that the updated service through the “Absher” platform requires adherence to other essential controls to ensure smooth procedures. These controls include the necessity of a registered national address for the beneficiary, in addition to paying the prescribed fees for issuance or renewal through approved government payment channels. Regarding exceptional cases, such as reporting a lost passport, the operational controls have established precise conditions, requiring the reporter to be 21 years of age or older, or married, to ensure credibility and legal eligibility to complete the necessary procedures.