RIYADH — The biometrics registration deadline for expat women has been extended till April, General Directorate for Passports spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Al-Laheedan was quoted as saying by Al-Hayat Arabic daily on Tuesday.
The deadline for fingerprint registration for all Passports Department (Jawazat) services except iqama (residence permit) renewal ended on Dec. 23, 2014. The fingerprint registration deadline for the renewal of iqamas was to end tomorrow (Jan. 21, 2015). No female expatriate will be able to renew her residence permit unless fingerprinting and iris scanning requirements have been met. “Anyone who has reached the age of 15 should register his or her fingerprints at the directorate,” Al-Laheedan said. The directorate has prepared 35 locations in 13 areas where women can register fingerprints. All applicants must bring their original iqamas and passports to complete the registration process. An expatriate who faces deportation or violates residency regulations must get the eye scanning done. Al-Laheedan called on all male and female expatriates who have not registered their fingerprints to do so at the earliest to ensure obtaining Jawazat services at any time, especially in emergencies.
Such services include obtaining exit/re-entry visas, which will not be processed unless the expatriate has registered his/her fingerprints. Expats can check whether they have registered their fingerprints by logging in to the Ministry of Interior website www.moi.gov.sa, and then clicking on e-services. They should click ‘Passports' in the template and select ‘Public Query FingerPrint Enrollment.' The fingerprint registration status will appear if they feed their iqama numbers.
