Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Procedures to obtain a multiple exit-reentry visa and to transfer sponsorship will become much easier with Passport Department (Jawazat) announcing that they can be done through Absher electronic service on the Ministry of Interior's website starting this week. Col. Khaled Bin Hamad Al-Saikhan, assistant director general of Jawazat for technological affairs, said Absher is being continuously developed to provide all the services being extended by the department so that subscribers do not have to visit Jawazat offices personally. Absher is currently providing several services to Saudis and expatriates including issuance and renewal of iqama (residence permit), granting exit-reentry visa, extending leave, transferring data and providing travel permits. Al-Saikhan said Absher will this week introduce other important services including multi exit-reentry visas and transfer of an iqama to other sponsors. Since its launch, Absher has renewed 7.87 million iqamas, issued about 60,000 new ones, granted 807,000 exit-reentry visas, extended 1.362 million leaves and issued more than 1.2 million travel permits. He said the electronic services being provided by the Interior Ministry have raised the level of achievements and reduced pressure on the Jawazat. Al-Saijhan asked all expatriates to participate in "wasil" service of the Saudi Post so as to receive their IDs in a maximum time of three days. "The second phase of this service will including sending passports to Saudi citizens," he added. He said from now onwards only aged and people with special needs will be allowed visit Jawazat offices. "Cases which cannot be solved through Absher are also exempted," he said.
